Planting Tips

Tillage Radish® Planting Tips

You will have success with Tillage Radish seed wherever agricultural crops are grown (pH range 5.5-7.5).
For best results, plant cover crop radish seed in late summer to early fall, at least 3 weeks before the average first killing frost date.
Tillage Radish seed will germinate rapidly and typically start appearing within days. If using a burndown herbicide to clean up existing weeds, wait no longer than 2 days after planting Tillage Radish seed.
Tillage Radish begins to winterkill when temperatures fall to the mid-teens for 2 or 3 nights, similar to fall-planted spring oats.
In most areas, Tillage Radish will decompose in time for spring planting, preparing the field for planting conditions and enhancing the availability of nutrients already in your soil.
If Tillage Radish does not winterkill, apply a combination of 1 pint 2,4-D type herbicide along with 1 quart glyphosate when first flowers appear.
Fertilizer input needs are significantly reduced; available leftover (N) has been held and herbicide is reduced due to Tillage Radish suppression of winter annuals.

IMPORTANT: If Tillage Radish seed is planted very early as a cover crop, flowering can develop before they are winterkilled. This can be controlled with mowing or burndown with the active ingredient Glyphosate or 2,4-D equivalent at flowering.

Planting Depth - 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep but can plant 1” to moisture if necessary

NITROGEN: In order to grow to their fullest potential they will need 40-60 lbs of (N) – accumulated or residual. Most fields have enough (N) left over from the previous crop. Upon decomposition in the spring, Tillage Radish will give (N) back in time to utilize in the spring crop.

Applying manure or chicken litter is preferred before planting but can be done just prior to emergence. Liquid manure can only be spread after plant leaves are 4” in size. The practice may cause some burning of the leaves and will have plant damage along tire tracks.

The Tillage Radish tuber will take up to 150 lbs/acre of (N) from the manure, so it is a great benefit to store nutrients when there is a need to spread manure after planting.

Seeding Rates for Tillage Radish Planted Alone

Precision Planter - 4 lbs/acre

15” rows using 60-cell small milo or small sugar beet plates with 4” in-row spacing
Seed is selected for Precision Planting performance

Drill Seeder - 6 lbs/acre

Using small grass box, use alfalfa setting as a guide to set seeding rate. A large seed box can be used but the setting is very low and somewhat difficult to establish. Plant a few rounds with a known amount of seed to determine correct seeding rate

Broadcasting/Aerial Seeding - 8 lbs/acre

Strive for good soil and moisture contact
Corn seeding indicator is when 1” patches of sunlight on soil surface are seen or approximately 4 weeks prior to anticipated harvest time
Soybean seeding indicator is at leaf yellowing
Cotton seeding indicator is right before defoliation
Improve success rate by using drop tubes when seeding with a high clearance cover crop seeder

Tillage Radish® Blending Tips

Tillage Radish Mixed With One or More Cover Crop Species

Using Precision Planter with other cover crop species in alternating 15” rows: 2-3 lbs/acre Tillage Radish seed
With a drill - with one other cover crop species: 4 lbs/acre, or with two other cover crop species: 2 lbs/acre Tillage Radish seed

Cover Crop Blending Options – Best Suited For These Applications

When blending Tillage Radish with grains cut Tillage Radish seed rate to 4 lbs/acre and cut the grains rate by 25% of your normal seed rate, eg. If your normal grain seed rate is 1 bu/acre, cut it to ¾ bu/acre, etc. Same rule applies with planting Tillage Radish seed with Sorgam-Sudan grass.

Erosion control areas and/or Fall/Spring grazing

Tillage Radish seed 4 lbs/acre with Small Grains - ¾ -1 lb/acre
Tillage Radish seed 4 lbs/acre with Annual Ryegrass - 12 lbs/acre

Breakup compaction, Fall Grazing, add & store (N)

Tillage Radish seed 3 lbs/acre with Hairy Vetch - 20 lbs/acre
Tillage Radish seed 4 lbs/acre with Crimson Clover - 10 lbs/acre
Tillage Radish seed 4 lbs/acre with Austrian Winter Peas - 30 lbs/acre
Tillage Radish seed 4 lbs/acre with Sunn Hemp - 10 lbs/acre

(For Sunn Hemp, at least 8 weeks before first killing frost)

Tillage Radish® Grazing Tips

Always mix a grass species with Tillage Radish seed planted at 4 lbs/acre
Provides a high protein diet into early winter
Allow the cattle to only graze off the top one-third in order for adequate re-growth

Planting Tips For Established Pastures

Tillage Radish seed needs a chance to get started in pastures, it is ideal to have the grass grazed low or cut low with adequate moisture prior to planting.

Have the soil (N) content at least between 40-60 lbs. Seeding rate is 4 lbs/acre drilled. Broadcasting will only work if there is adequate seed to soil contact - use 6 lbs/acre.

The cover crop radish is very digestible and provides many nutrients. Having other species established provides a balanced diet.

Tillage Radish seed 4 lbs/acre when direct drilling into pastureland
Tillage Radish seed 6 lbs/acre when broadcast seeding into pastureland
Follow soil test recommendations
Nitrogen available between 40-60 lbs
Allow 3-4 weeks before grazing
Re-graze approximately on a monthly interval
Graze no lower than 4” if you desire multiple grazing
For best palatability, graze before it flowers

Here's everything you need to know for successful planting of our cover crop seed products, including seeding rates and blending tips.