Why does the sowing date of rye matter? Can rye be sown after life? Does hybrid rye have an earlier sowing date?

Nowadays we are witnessing how weather conditions change a lot. Sometimes this is to the farmer's advantage, but the changes that have occurred make sowing dates very flexible.

Winter rye has a high tolerance to climatic conditions and soil quality. Its resilience has made it one of the most frequently chosen crops by Polish farmers. Rye itself does not have special requirements, but the crop itself must always be approached wisely and certain standards must be maintained.

Basic threats to grain producers.

Weather has always been and will always be a great threat to soil conditions, as well as the plants themselves (that's why, for example, we created our app - Meteotrack Agro!). The farmer, having no influence whatsoever on the weather during the season, should take care of a sufficiently large supply of soil water for the plants to use.

In addition, we can forget about sowing rye on sandy soil, as it will not be able to provide adequate conditions for our crop. A farmer who wants to minimize losses should familiarize himself with the principle: "as much as necessary, as little as possible."

We recommend that the basis of each crop should be crop rotation, the cultivation of catch crops and the spreading of manure. Such practices greatly improve crop development, while not degrading the soil, which is where every plant thrives.

Why does the ideal choice of rye matter?

When choosing a variety, we should pay attention to the specific requirements that need to be guaranteed in order for rye to produce a fantastic result on harvest day. If a farmer is set on sowing later, he should know that some varieties can bring him completely different results than those he saw from another farmer.

In fact, the basis of any crop should be adequate knowledge of the soil reaction of one's own field, the sowing depth of the chosen rye, the selection of the optimal date based on knowledge of the specific crop in one's country, and knowledge of plant density.

Growing rye itself is fairly safe.

Rye begins to germinate at 2 degrees Celsius and has high frost resistance. The crop itself is also quite tolerant of high air temperatures, however, it is worth knowing that too high can paralyze development, which at the same time will significantly shorten the growing season, which at the optimum time should last about 50-60 days.

Of great importance is the acid reaction of the soil, which the rye plantation does not like, and this is influenced by a strong and well-developed root system. Therefore, soil with a low pH will be as ideal as possible for growing rye.

When to sow winter rye?

The practice of sowing winter rye is characterized by the principle: "the earlier the sowing date, the better". Fodder plants such as rye, thanks to early sowing, are able to realize their yield potential with dignity. This is quite important, since rye should reach the full tillering stage before winter dormancy. Taking into account the peculiarities of the Polish terrain and different climate, we define the sowing date of cereals in this way:

• In western Poland, we sow rye in the autumn period between September 20 and 30.
• In the northwestern part of Poland from September 20 to October 5.
• Note that in the northeast of the country, sowing of winter cereals begins at the earliest, from September 5 to 15.
• The recommended sowing dates in eastern Poland are September 10 to 25.
• From September 15 to 25 it is recommended to start sowing in the center of the country.

It is important to remember that sowing dates are very flexible, so if last year you planned to sow on September 20, next year the September 20 date may be too late. Therefore, the crop must be approached with reason, after more analysis.

Importantly, we remind you that the ideal date must provide about 50-60 days of autumn vegetation!

Good agrotechnical conditions allow intensive tillering of rye plants. In addition, well-prepared sites result in the growth of attractive ears. It so happens that the development of rye is limited by the lack of ideal soil conditions, however, this saves seed.

At the same time, sowing too early increases the risk of various diseases such as powdery mildew, rhynchosporiosis and brown and stem rust due to the density of plants in the field.

On the other hand, delaying sowing can cause plants to not root properly before frost, which will result in stalled crop development. That's why choosing the optimum sowing date for rye will allow you to work quietly, without worrying about the upcoming side effects of plant compaction or delayed vegetation.

Which variety for early sowing?

Keeping the right sowing date is a difficult task, but there are winter cereals that are best suited for early sowing. If you are looking for plants that bush less intensively, shoot to stalk faster and are more resistant to lodging, while being less prone to diseases and pests, hybrid and population rye are recommended.

Hybrid rye, what is worth knowing about it?

Looking for a more reliable crop that is quite easy, while being drought-resistant and with a higher yield capacity, farmers choose rye formed from a cross between two different parental lines.

Hybrid rye allows harvesting a rich crop, despite deteriorated soil quality and unfortunate weather that spared rainfall. However, cereal care is necessary to enjoy healthy plants. The timing of sowing is also important, of course, but it is necessary to keep an eye on manufacturers' recommendations. It is recommended to use natural fertilizers, at the same time it is recommended to promote the formation of ears on lateral shoots and to prevent the restriction of ear buds and productive shoots.

The optimal sowing date for the hybrid winter rye variety should be by September 30, however, each manufacturer shares its recommendations on the label of the product purchased. Moreover, the cultivation of hybrid rye is possible throughout Poland, where the recommended sowing depth is 1 to 2 cm.

Summary

For any sowing, it is advisable to be flexible in setting dates. To sow winter cereals, it is necessary to prepare the field well and secure organic fertilizers to support our plants. At the same time, sowing winter rye is characterized by a high winter hardiness of the crop.

In Poland, we use rye for animal feed and for making rye bread. If you want to enjoy decent harvest results, it is worth planning your activities sooner.