OSR Companion Crops

Companion crops for oilseed rape (OSR) to protect against flea beetle and provide nutrients to the oilseed rape crop. Choose from our range of companion crop seed mixtures or selected straight varieties - including TABOR berseem clover, LIFAGO buckwheat and fenugreek. Boston Seeds proudly supplies thousands of hectares of oilseed rape companion crop seed each autumn, utilising only the most suitable and proven varieties. Click here for more information on the EnviroSeeds Companion Crop range.
 

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Buckwheat Seed (Fagopyrum esculentum)

Buckwheat is a fast-growing annual crop, with a dense canopy for excellent weed suppression. Buckwheat scavenges phosphates, helping to reduce leaching. 

  • Rapid establishment and growth make it an ideal short-season crop
  • A dense canopy works efficiently as an excellent weed suppressant
  • Nectar-rich, helping boost pollinators and other beneficial insects
  • Scavenges phosphates from the soil for future crops
  • Sowing rate: 50kg / ha
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BINGO Purple Vetch Seed (Vicia atropurpurea)

BINGO purple vetch is an exciting development in short term cover cropping and establishes quickly producing good levels of bio-mass. Purple vetch is very susceptible to frost and will be removed quickly when temperatures drop below freezing. 

  • Very frost sensitive
  • Fast to establish
  • Nitrogen fixing
  • Suites early autumn sowings 
  • Sowing rate: 20kg / ha
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IPM3 Beetle Blaster - Oilseed Rape Companion Crop

Maximum action against flea beetle provided by buckwheat's thick and dense canopy and fenugreek's degterring odour.

  • Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
  • Killed by frost without regrowth
  • Best sown 7 days before drilling OSR
  • Contains: 70% LIFAGO Buckwheat, 30% Fenugreek
  • Sowing Rate: 10kg/ha
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IPM3 Fix and Protect - Oilseed Rape Companion Crop

Popular combination of  TABOR berseem clover to fix nitrogen and the protective canopy of LIFAGO buckwheat.

  • Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
  • Protects the oilseed rape plants from flea beetle
  • Best sown 7 days before drilling OSR
  • Contains: 40% TABOR Berseem Clover, 60% LIFAGO Buckwheat
  • Sowing Rate: 10kg/ha
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IPM3 Shielder - Oilseed Rape Companion Crop

The complete companion crop - tried, tested and recommended by us. Provides the ultimate protection from flea beetle with buckwheat's protective canopy and fenugreeks deterring odour, combined with nitrogen-fixing, fast growing berseem clover.

  • Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
  • Deters and protects from flea beetle, fixes nitrogen
  • Killed by frost without regrowth
  • Best sown 7 days before drilling OSR
  • Contains: 50% LIFAGO Buckwheat, 25% TABOR Berseem Clover, 25% Fenugreek
  • Sowing Rate: 10kg/ha
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Fenugreek Seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) produces a natural odour to deter flea beetle from the oilseed rape crop. Very tender to frost and therefore reliably winter-killed.

  • Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
  • Rapid establishment, high vigour
  • Produces natural odour to protect the oilseed rape plants
  • Sow individually or combine in a mix of other companion species
  • Best sown 7 days before drilling oilseed rape
  • Sowing rate: c.10kg/ha as a companion crop
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LIFAGO Buckwheat Seed (Fagopyrum tataricum)

LIFAGO buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a different species to conventional buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) - particularly suited to grow as a companion crop with oilseed rape.

  • Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
  • Rapid establishment and high vigour
  • Creates a dense canopy to protect the oilseed rape plants
  • Smaller seeded and easier to drill with oilseed rape than standard buckwheat
  • Scavenges phosphates from the soil for future crops
  • Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
  • Sowing rate: c.10kg/ha as a companion crop
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TABOR Berseem Clover Seed (Trifolium alexandrinum)

Tabor berseem clover is an annual, nitrogen-fixing legume often used in forage or green manures and as a key variety for companion cropping with oilseed rape.

  • Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
  • The only single-cut berseem clover variety - does not regrow after frost kill
  • Compatible in seed mixtures with grass and legumes
  • Nitrogen fixing legume with rapid growth and establishment
  • Sow from spring to early autumn. Not frost tolerant
  • Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
  • Sowing rate: 15kg/ha.
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