Growing Rye

[N1ST]

Some questions for those of you experienced with growing cereal grain...

I live in Connecticut. I just mowed last winter's rye to about 4". Will it continue growing or die?

If I plant a 2nd crop now, will it grow well? How high will it be when it's time to plant the Fall crop?

Thanks in advance.

 

[RickB]

Last winter's rye will continue to grow and will head out after being cut. Grain yield will be affected.
Spring planted rye will grow only a few inches tall and will not head out because it has not had a winter dormancy cycle.

 

[Egon]

I live in Connecticut. I just mowed last winter's rye to about 4". Will it continue growing or die?

Where I have my play farm the deer preform this function every spring. At some point they move on to other food and the Winter Rye will continue growing to end with a nice crop.

They also do this for the proper fall planting reducing the small field to almost bare ground.

Plant Winter rye in the spring and you will end up with a field of six inch tall rye grass come fall. The next spring it will grow and produce a grain crop.

 

[N1ST]

Thanks for the replies.

It doesn't sound like it's worth planting another crop of rye before Fall considering my goal is to turn it under as green manure. I read somewhere that you can grow 2-3 crops of it per year. I don't see how that's possible from what you've told me.

I should have mentioned that when I cut it, most of it had started heading out and I'd estimate that the height was between 24 and 36". So, will the rye that started heading out, head out again, or just grow leaf?

 

[Egon]

I should have mentioned that when I cut it, most of it had started heading out and I'd estimate that the height was between 24 and 36". So, will the rye that started heading out, head out again, or just grow leaf?

That will now be good Green Manure.

Are the two or three crops a year referring to green manure which may be possible in some areas.

 

[N1ST]

Yes, green manure. So, any idea if cut after head out, it will grow another head, or even survive?

 

[RickB]

It would not be mature enough yet this year to not regrow and head out after cutting. Rye in CT is going to grow and react as it would here, and if I cut rye here today, it would come back for certain. As I stated before, yield will be affected.
I can't possibly see how a single planting of rye can supply more than one crop of green manure. By definition, a green manure crop is killed or plowed under, providing nutrients for other crops. Once that happens, there is no actively growing plant to provide a second green manure crop.

 

[Egon]

For sure you would only get one crop of green manure per planting but it may be possible to plant more than once.

 

[N1ST]

It would not be mature enough yet this year to not regrow and head out after cutting. Rye in CT is going to grow and react as it would here, and if I cut rye here today, it would come back for certain. As I stated before, yield will be affected.
I can't possibly see how a single planting of rye can supply more than one crop of green manure. By definition, a green manure crop is killed or plowed under, providing nutrients for other crops. Once that happens, there is no actively growing plant to provide a second green manure crop.

I agree, a single planting can't supply more than 1 crop of green manure. The article I read said that you can grow 3 plantings.

Thanks for the info guys, I'll see if you're right.

 

[Duffster]

I agree, a single planting can't supply more than 1 crop of green manure. The article I read said that you can grow 3 plantings.

Thanks for the info guys, I'll see if you're right.

Why do you need more than one crop of green manure?