Cover Crop Brassicas

Brassicas are a cost-effective option to add to cover crops or forage mixes to increase diversity and benefit soil. Brassicas offer strong root systems to help recycle nutrients, alleviate compaction, suppress weeds and enhance water infiltration. Brassicas can also be an important forage component for grazing systems. Brassica seeds tend to be very small, making it so just a couple pounds per acre are needed. With the exception of winter camelina, most brassica species will winter kill in the Midwest.

Hand holding a brassica plant with its root

Nitro Radish

This daikon radish is great at helping to break up compaction and recycle nutrients. Nitro Radish can be added to a mix at a rate of 3-5#/acre! For best results, seed before Sept 15.

Purple Top Turnips

Purple top turnips are a great option for those looking for forage value or soil health. They help to recycle nutrients, alleviate compaction, and provide feed value. Seed 2-3#/acre in a mix!

Freshly harvested turnip and radish on green grass

Forage Turnips

Forage turnips often have less of a tuber and more of a taproot than purple tops. Forage turnips also have significantly more top growth for additional tonnage to graze! Use 2-3#/acre!

Dwarf Essex Rape

DER is a great option for those looking for weed suppression, nutrient cycling and more! Also, it is great forage and slightly more frost tolerant than radish and turnips. Seed 1-3#/acre in a mix.

Sprouting brassica plants in a field with crop residue

Winter Camelina

Winter camelina is the only brassica that reliably overwinters in IL. When planted after October 1, its survival rate is around 90%. Camelina helps to add diversity to CC mixes, improving soil health! Seed 1-3#/acre in a mix.

Other Brassicas

We carry several other brassicas, including:

Kale
Winfred Hybrid
Collards
Cabbage
& More!

Cover Crop Brassicas

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