Chicory into clover

KDdid

Active Member
I have a 2 acre strip of ladino clover that will be used as a base for a tree planting next year. I recently mowed off the weeds, and after a good rain, the clover has recovered nicely. Is it too late to broadcast some chicory or other brassicas into selected spots near some stand locations? I'm in zone 5b/6.
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If the clover has rebounded - I would suggest using a drill for best results. You can broadcast into clover but it works best to do so with the clover knocked back if possible to give the other plants a chance. You might be able to have decent success if you mow the clover really short, but I would wait until you know for sure you have rain coming. You might consider a sort of throw and mow process as well. Brassica (turnips) are pretty cheap and small seed to be able to get the soil contact needed so they may be worth a shot. Radish or chicory are a little bigger seed size wise and I would think they would do OK, but I'm not 100% sure of that. Give it a shot, take plenty of notes and pics and share what happens!
 
Will do. I've got some spots where the clover is thin enough to see soil, maybe I'll experiment on those spots. I'm more curious about the limited growing season left, wasn't sure if I should go now or wait for next year.


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Will do. I've got some spots where the clover is thin enough to see soil, maybe I'll experiment on those spots. I'm more curious about the limited growing season left, wasn't sure if I should go now or wait for next year.


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The chicory is a perennial and is often planted in the fall with clover so the sooner the better to give it a chance. The brassica might be limited based on what your planting. Some take 60 days while other are more like 90 growing days to get the best result. You will get some tuber I'm sure, but depending on how things go and what you plant it may not be all that impressive. I will be adding PTT with some cereal grains in a few weeks into my beans once they start to yellow. PTT is pretty cheap so even if you just get some different forage and not much tuber .....big deal. You can typically get PTT for a couple of dollars a pound.

I like to try different things as you will find what works for you and what doesn't. It's only a failure it you fail to learn anything from your efforts!
 
I ended up putting 5 lbs of chicory and 2 lbs of PTT on yesterday- the clover was mowed pretty short, and got .7" of rain a day after mowing. I should get a good rain on my seed tomorrow, but while walking the seed on, I had an audience:
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