Bizarre field crop
 

I passed a field (between Fowlmere and Triplow, for locals) that was
planted with a mixture of what I think was maize, flax, buckwheat and
Phacelia. The buckwheat and Phacelia were in flower, the flax would
be in a week (given the current weather), and the maize was doing
nothing much and was the same height as the others. What on EARTH
was this planted for?

It was a fairly large, unfenced field, is not a pheasant-shooting area,
is not an area where silage is important, and there were no hives
(pretty obviously, given the maize).


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Bizarre field crop
 

On 01/09/2016 20:38, Nick Maclaren wrote:
I passed a field (between Fowlmere and Triplow, for locals) that was
planted with a mixture of what I think was maize, flax, buckwheat and
Phacelia. The buckwheat and Phacelia were in flower, the flax would
be in a week (given the current weather), and the maize was doing
nothing much and was the same height as the others. What on EARTH
was this planted for?

It was a fairly large, unfenced field, is not a pheasant-shooting area,
is not an area where silage is important, and there were no hives
(pretty obviously, given the maize).

Curious. We passed a field of flax last weekend near Hundon. It was
seeded, dying back, and looked pretty well ready to harvest.

And that's only 25 miles or so!

Andy

Bizarre field crop
 

In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:

I passed a field (between Fowlmere and Triplow, for locals) that was
planted with a mixture of what I think was maize, flax, buckwheat and
Phacelia. The buckwheat and Phacelia were in flower, the flax would
be in a week (given the current weather), and the maize was doing
nothing much and was the same height as the others. What on EARTH
was this planted for?

It was a fairly large, unfenced field, is not a pheasant-shooting area,
is not an area where silage is important, and there were no hives
(pretty obviously, given the maize).

Green manure, AKA cover crop. To be ploughed in, later in the year.
That would explain the buckwheat, flax and phacelia. Not sure about
the maize.

I thought of that, but it doesn't really fit. The plants are more
the density of a crop, far larger and more mature than green manure
is normally let get to, and it's not a common practice around here.
Still, it is the only thing that makes sense, as you imply.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Bizarre field crop
 

"Nick Maclaren" wrote

Chris Hog wrote


I passed a field (between Fowlmere and Triplow, for locals) that was
planted with a mixture of what I think was maize, flax, buckwheat and
Phacelia. The buckwheat and Phacelia were in flower, the flax would
be in a week (given the current weather), and the maize was doing
nothing much and was the same height as the others. What on EARTH
was this planted for?

It was a fairly large, unfenced field, is not a pheasant-shooting area,
is not an area where silage is important, and there were no hives
(pretty obviously, given the maize).

Green manure, AKA cover crop. To be ploughed in, later in the year.
That would explain the buckwheat, flax and phacelia. Not sure about
the maize.

I thought of that, but it doesn't really fit. The plants are more
the density of a crop, far larger and more mature than green manure
is normally let get to, and it's not a common practice around here.
Still, it is the only thing that makes sense, as you imply.


May it be something to do with the RSPB, they have a place at Fowlmere.
Might be worth a phone call to check.

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

Bizarre field crop
 

In article ,
BobHobden wrote:

I passed a field (between Fowlmere and Triplow, for locals) that was
planted with a mixture of what I think was maize, flax, buckwheat and
Phacelia. The buckwheat and Phacelia were in flower, the flax would
be in a week (given the current weather), and the maize was doing
nothing much and was the same height as the others. What on EARTH
was this planted for?

It was a fairly large, unfenced field, is not a pheasant-shooting area,
is not an area where silage is important, and there were no hives
(pretty obviously, given the maize).

Green manure, AKA cover crop. To be ploughed in, later in the year.
That would explain the buckwheat, flax and phacelia. Not sure about
the maize.

I thought of that, but it doesn't really fit. The plants are more
the density of a crop, far larger and more mature than green manure
is normally let get to, and it's not a common practice around here.
Still, it is the only thing that makes sense, as you imply.

May it be something to do with the RSPB, they have a place at Fowlmere.
Might be worth a phone call to check.

Ah! THAT makes sense. Especially if what looked like maize was
actually millet. Clearly they had sown with birdseed :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Bizarre field crop
 

On Fri, 02 Sep 2016 18:10:18 +0000, Nick Maclaren wrote:

In article ,
BobHobden wrote:

I passed a field (between Fowlmere and Triplow, for locals) that was
planted with a mixture of what I think was maize, flax, buckwheat and
Phacelia. The buckwheat and Phacelia were in flower, the flax would
be in a week (given the current weather), and the maize was doing
nothing much and was the same height as the others. What on EARTH
was this planted for?

It was a fairly large, unfenced field, is not a pheasant-shooting
area,
is not an area where silage is important, and there were no hives
(pretty obviously, given the maize).

Green manure, AKA cover crop. To be ploughed in, later in the year.
That would explain the buckwheat, flax and phacelia. Not sure about
the maize.

I thought of that, but it doesn't really fit. The plants are more the
density of a crop, far larger and more mature than green manure is
normally let get to, and it's not a common practice around here.
Still, it is the only thing that makes sense, as you imply.

May it be something to do with the RSPB, they have a place at Fowlmere.
Might be worth a phone call to check.

Ah! THAT makes sense. Especially if what looked like maize was
actually millet. Clearly they had sown with birdseed :-)


Maybe they also intend to harvest it *as* birdseed?

Just a wild thought.

Bizarre field crop
 

In article ,
Ermin Trude wrote:

May it be something to do with the RSPB, they have a place at Fowlmere.
Might be worth a phone call to check.

Ah! THAT makes sense. Especially if what looked like maize was
actually millet. Clearly they had sown with birdseed :-)

Maybe they also intend to harvest it *as* birdseed?

Just a wild thought.

I don't think so, both because the plants are at different stages
of development and because even the earlier ones probably won't
ripen seed before the dark and wet starts. Planting for winter
feed for birds is more likely.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Bizarre field crop
 

"Nick Maclaren" wrote


BobHobden wrote:

I passed a field (between Fowlmere and Triplow, for locals) that was
planted with a mixture of what I think was maize, flax, buckwheat and
Phacelia. The buckwheat and Phacelia were in flower, the flax would
be in a week (given the current weather), and the maize was doing
nothing much and was the same height as the others. What on EARTH
was this planted for?

It was a fairly large, unfenced field, is not a pheasant-shooting area,
is not an area where silage is important, and there were no hives
(pretty obviously, given the maize).

Green manure, AKA cover crop. To be ploughed in, later in the year.
That would explain the buckwheat, flax and phacelia. Not sure about
the maize.

I thought of that, but it doesn't really fit. The plants are more
the density of a crop, far larger and more mature than green manure
is normally let get to, and it's not a common practice around here.
Still, it is the only thing that makes sense, as you imply.

May it be something to do with the RSPB, they have a place at Fowlmere.
Might be worth a phone call to check.

Ah! THAT makes sense. Especially if what looked like maize was
actually millet. Clearly they had sown with birdseed :-)


It's not this place is it...

http://www.rspb.org.uk/forprofession...ming/hopefarm/

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

Bizarre field crop
 

In article ,
BobHobden wrote:

It's not this place is it...

http://www.rspb.org.uk/forprofession...ming/hopefarm/

No. Sorry.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.