All Game Cover Seed Crops

White millet is a popular choice as it provides cover and a source of food. Particularly attractive to English and French partridges.

• Produces a plentiful supply of small seeds for birds
• Often sown in conjunction with maize or kale
• It is vigorous and will grow to a height of up to 90cm
• Thicker leaved and higher seed production than red millet
• Sowing rate: 5kg acre. Pack size: 10kg

Red Millet is best sown alongside other crops to provide a source of food which will help to keep birds in the covers. 

• Will produce a plentiful supply of small seeds for birds
• Often sown in conjunction with maize or kale
• Red millet is earlier maturing than white millet
• Susceptible to frost
• Sowing rate: 5kg acre. Pack size: 10kg

Japanese Reed Millet is a stronger and hardier member of the millet family when compared to Red and White Millet.

• Stronger plant than others of the millet family
• Improved winter hardiness
• Mix with white millet to provide an excellent cover and feed crop
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack size: 10kg

A mix of white, red and Japanese reed millet. The white millet provides a source of food  whilst the Japanese reed millet provides cover.

• The strong reed millet plant provides long season cover for flushing
• White and red millet provides feed to hold birds in the cover
• Winter hardy allowing it to be used through the shooting season
• 40% White Millet, 40% Red Millet, 20% Japanese Reed Millet
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack Size: 10kg

A blend of carefully selected red, white & panorama millets. Can be cross drilled or broadcast in maize crops to add feed value and warmth.

• Mixture ensures a wider window of seed shed
• Feed value from September to December
• Provides a good feed block if sown adjacent to maize
• Contains red, panorama and white millets
• Sowing rate 5kg/acre. Packsize 10kg

Fodder Radish is a quick growing cover crop which scavenges nitrogen, produces large amount of organic matter and improves soil structure.

• Quick growing, produces high organic matter in short periods
• Suppresses weeds and deep roots benefit soil structure
• Ideal as a green manure crop sown in early autumn
• Effective as a standalone green cover or in mixtures
• Sowing rate: 15-25kg / ha

Very popular for use in potato rotations to control soil borne pests and can be incorporated into moist soil to maximise biofumigation.

• Green manure crop with biofumigant properties
• Winter-hardy, easy to establish, cost effective
• Reduces wireworm and PCN populations and their effect on potatoes
• Suppresses Verticillium wilt and Sclerotinia in potato production
• Sowing Rate: 5kg / ha
• VITTASSO Brown Mustard Brochure

Ethiopian mustard is a fast growing frost hardy, brassica which produces a dense leafy canopy and acts as an excellent weed suppressor.

• Produces a dense leafy canopy to supress weeds
• Fast and easy to establish providing rapid ground cover
• Frost hardy cover crop ideal for use in later sowings
• Can tollerate and improve poor soil conditions 
• Sowing rate: 5kg / ha

Quinoa will provide cover and a plentiful supply of seed making it a popular crop for holding partridges, pheasants and attracting seed eating song birds.

• Produces a number of seeds to provide a valuable source of food
• Also attractove to many species of seed-eating song birds
• Often grown with kale as it begins to collapse with first frosts
• Available ready blended with Kale, see Overdrive Seed Mixture
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack size: 2 kg

Thousand Head Kale is a popular, tired and tested variety with good standing ability and winter hardiness.

• Thousand Head is a slender stemmed variety bearing leafy foliage. 
• Excellent winter hardiness providing forage for feeding after Christmas. 
• Can supply approximately 90 tonnes/ha of green forage matter.
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack Size: 2kg

Voltage Kale is a dual purpose variety, suitable for use as game cover and for fattening young cattle and sheep.

• Voltage is a medium height kale with good standing ability.
• Leafy variety with high crop utilization
• Excellent disease tolerance & lodging resistance
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack Size: 25kg

A blend of three varieties of maize with different maturity dates to provide effective cover and feed for the duration of the season.

• A blend of early, intermediate and late varieties
• Varieties selected for good early vigour and standing ability
• Redigo M or equivalent Fungicide treated seed
• Sow at 45,000 seeds per acre. Pack Size 45,000 seeds 

A new variety with the potential to deliver high dry matter yields making it and ideal choice for dairy, beef or lamb producers.

• A taller stemmed variety with excellent resistance to lodging
• High leaf to stem ratio
• Treated seed, Start-uP & Sepiret
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Packsize: 1-2kg

Fast-growing, quick to establish, and frost hardy. Ideal to sow in late summer or early autumn to provide cover that will last all winter.

• Rapid growing catch crop
• Excellent as a "rescue" mixture for patching failed crops
• Ideal for when a late sown cover crop is required
• Includes: Texsel Greens, Hybrid Brassica, Fodder Radish, Brown Mustard
• Sowing rate: 2.5 -4 kg per acre. Pack size: 10kg

Broadshot is a mixture of selected species that contribute to feed and cover. 

• An excellent mixture where both cover and feed are required
• Can be left to regenerate for a second year
• Facilitates economical weed control 
• Contains: Buckwheat, Goldeneye Kale, Phacelia, White Millet, Forage Rape, Red Millet, Japanese Reed Millet, Quinoa, Yellow Blossom Clover
• Sowing rate: 6kg per acre. Pack size: 10kg. 

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 makes it an ideal short season crop
• 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: 70kg / ha

Caledonian Kale is the first variety to be bred with resistance to club root. A taller variety which gives easier access for birds underneath the leaf canopy. 

• Taller variety to allow birds to move freely under the leaf canopy
• Club root resistant, can be sown on sites suffering from brassica sickness
• Specially bred for UK conditions. High germination and early vigour
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack size 2kg

Canary Grass (Phalaris aquatica) gives excellent long term nesting cover for partridges and pheasants.

• A perennial species which can last for 10 years.
• Perfect for poor quality sites where annual sowing is difficult or impractical.
• Can grow to 60cm in first year and over 150cm in following years.
• Requires sowing in wide rows to prevent it from becoming to thick
• Sowing rate: 2.5 kg/acre Pack Size: 2.5kg.

Cocker will provide a full season of cover as well as an excellent supply of seeds to keep the birds close to the covers.

• Suitable for Environmental Stewardship Schemes.
• Full season cover for up to two years.
• Butisan herbicide tolerant.
• Contains; Kale, Mustard, Fodder Radish and Linseed.
• Sowing rate: 16kg per hectare. Pack size: 8kg. 

Decoy is an easy to establish mixture which will provide cover as well as a plentiful supply of seeds to feed the birds.

• An excellent mixture where both cover and feed are required.
• Provides a source of food throughout the season.
• Easy to sow and establish as all the seeds are of similar size.
• Contains: Linseed, Buckwheat, Red Millet, White Millet, Fodder Radish, White Mustard, Japanese Reed Millet, Gold of Pleasure 
• Sowing rate: 10kg per acre. Pack size: 10kg. 

Short stemmed, sturdy, broad-leaved and has a substantial seed head. Its shorter growing habit is ideal for exposed sites.

• Average height 1 - 1.25m
• Often sown alongside maize, see Four Ten Mixture
• Very good standing power due to short growth habit
• Ideal cover providing a warm holding area for birds
• Sowing rate 12kg per acre. Pack size: 8kg.

Dwarf sunflowers are a shorter stemmed hybrid variety which provide better standing ability over conventional varieties.

• A stiff stemmed, shorter hybrid variety
• An effective feed crop for shoots in the southern half of the UK
• May require 'swiping' down to allow game birds to access the seeds
• Frequently sown as part of a game mix or with kale
• Sowing rate: 5kg acre. Pack size: 5kg

This fastest growing rye, TURBOGREEN is a high yielding variety which can grow at the lower temperatures, making it ideal for late sowing or early harvests.

• Fast initial development, high tillering and high output
• Good growth in cold conditions, excellent winter hardiness
• High nitrogen uptake throughout autumn
• Sow in autumn for incorporation and use in the spring
• Sowing rate: 150kg / ha

A popular mixture of Maize and Dwarf Sorghum which provides cover and a source of food throughout the season.

• Provides cover and food throughout the season.
• Dwarf Sorghum provides warmth and cover below the Maize.
• Both crops have similar husbandry for ease of management. 
• 70% Game Maize, 30% Dwarf Sorghum
• Sowing rate 14kg per acre. Pack size: 14 kg. Fungicide treated seed.

Giant Sorghum is a cross between Sorghum and Sudan Grass Hybrid. It can grow over two metres tall providing excellent cover.

• Produces warm and dense cover that can grow 2-3 metres tall.
• Deep roots help it to withstand drought conditions
• Works well as a windbreak protect more vulnerable crops
• Sorghum is useful for flushing as it encourages the birds to lift above the cover
• Sowing rate: 12kg per acre. Pack size: 12kg. 

A crop well suited to poorer and nutrient deficient soils. Fast maturing, free-branching plant producing seed attractive to birds.

• Useful mixture for exposed areas.
• Sow April/May for use from September onwards.
• Available mixed with Triticale, Barley and Linseed, see Partridge Mix.
• Annual specie providing cover up until Christmas.
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack size: 5kg.

Golden Retriever game cover seed mixture will provide a full season of cover as well as steady supply of seeds to hold the birds in the covers.

• Excellent holding potential for pheasants and partridges.
• Tried and tested reliable mixture.
• Stomp Aqua herbicide tolerant. 
• Contains; Dwarf Sorghum, Dwarf Sunflowers, Fodder Radish and Millet blend.
• Sowing rate: 24kg per hectare. Pack size: 12.5kg. 

Goldeneye kale is a giant type bred for the game cover market, selected for the optimum combination of height and leaf production. 

• Leafy top, strong stem, good winter hardiness and good tolerance to disease, making it the ideal choice for game cover use
• Goldeneye achieves a higher vigour score than Caledonian kale and better club root tolerance.
• Sowing rate: 3kg per acre. Pack Size: 5kg

Very tall variety with excellent winter hardiness. A branching, umbrella shaped canopy creates plenty of room underneath for pheasants and partridges.

• Good winter hardiness and excellent feeding quality
• Fresh yields 15% higher than Caledonian and 10% higher than Bittern
• Tried and tested for many years and is still very popular today
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack Size: 2kg

Intermediate Sorghum as the name suggests grows to a height between the Giant and Dwarf varieties. 

• Grows to a height of around 1.5 metres.
• Useful as a windbreak around other game cover crops
• Tall cover provides birds with protection from overhead predators
• Similar to maize but does not produce a cob
• Sowing rate: 10kg per acre. Pack Size: 10kg.

Interval is a hybrid variety, produced by crossing rape and kale together. Creates a thick, leafy canopy only a short period of time.

• Fast growing properties of rape with the greater leaf canopy of kale
• Winter hardy for a full season of cover
• Grows to a height of 80-100cm
• Sowing Rate: 2kg per acre. Packsize: 2kg Treated, 5kg Untreated 

Keeper Kale will provide excellent cover and maximum protection for your birds.

• A shorter variety with excellent lodging resistance
• High leaf to stem ratio, providing excellent leaf cover
• Winter hardy and tested for germination and vigour to ensure the maximum establishment
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack size 2kg

The name says it all! Kwik Fix provides rapid cover for late sown or for patching failed spring sown game cover crops.

• Ideal mixture to replace or patch failed spring game cover.
• A unique combination of the fastest growing game cover species.
• Can provide cover up until Christmas.
• 80% Fodder Radish, 20% White Mustard
• Sowing rate: 5 kg per acre. Pack size: 10kg.

Labrador is designed to be used on cooler or more exposed northern sites. Features Triticale which is resistant to rabits.

• Ideal for use on cold or exposed northern sites.
• Full season cover for up to two years.
• Creates ideal habitat for brood rearing.
• Contains; Triticale, Mustard, Kale, Linseed and Quinoa.
• Sowing rate: 40kg per hectare. Pack size: 20kg. 

A combination of four rapidly establishing species to give season-long cover. Will provide cover of 2-3 feet in height.

• A versatile and easy cover to establish in all areas.
• A rapidly establishing and maturing mixture providing winter cover.
• Used as a patching crop when spring crops fail, will tolerate drought conditions.
• 75% Forage rape, 14% White Mustard, 11% Fodder Radish
• Sowing rate: 5 kg per acre.  Pack size: 10kg.

Late Shot is an extremely late maturing variety and could not feature anywhere on a UK Maize List due to its lateness.

• Produces a small immature cob that rarely develops past the 'bright white' stage
• Very late maturity and of less interest to rats and badgers
• Will still be looking good at the end of the shooting season 
• Late maturing varieties - cob maturity rate can vary depending on the growing season, time of sowing and husbandry
• Fungicide and bird repellent treated
• Sowing rate: 45,000 seeds/acre. Packsize: 1 acre (50,000 seeds)

A high yielding, shorter stem variety - a popular option for spring sowings to help control black grass and broad leaved weeds.

• Very quick and early to mature, generating excellent yields
• Strong reputation for producing high yields in following wheat crops
• Performs well on thin soils. Not frost hardy
• Provides interest well into the winter, particularly sown with other species
• Sowing Rate: 50kg / ha

Lucerne is a longer term perennial clover which fixes large amounts of nitrogen from the air to enrich the soil.

• A longer term perennial clover which fixes large quantities of nitrogen
• Widely used for green manure
• Large tap root which is ideally suited to light and chalky soils as well as dry climates.
• Seed is supplied inoculated with rhizobium bacteria
• Sowing rate: 25kg / ha

Northern Shot Mixture is ideal for sowing in colder more exposed areas, suitable to last up to 2 years.

• The kale, yellow blossom clover and chicory will provide cover and feed for the second year.
• It is designed to provide cover and feed as well as being a haven for wildlife throughout the season.
• Spring Barley, Spring Triticale, Spring Wheat, Kale, Hybrid Brassica, Perennial Chicory, Yellow Blossom Clover, Green Fennel
• Sowing rate: 20kg per acre. Pack size: 20kg. 

Northern Star is a specially designed mixture that uses ingredients that are better suited to colder northern climates.

• Ideal for use in colder, more exposed areas. Provide a haven of cover & feed.
• Advisable to sow in wide rows to enable birds to have free access.
• Triticale is beneficial as it is resistant to rabbits.
• Spring Beans, Spring Triticale, Spring Wheat, Forage Rape, Kale, Gold of Pleasure, Quinoa, Yellow Blossom Clover
• Sowing rate: 20kg per acre. Pack size: 20 kg.

Mix of two differing heights of sorghum. The Dwarf Sorghum gives birds protection from predators and Giant Sorghum acts as a windbreak.

• Creates thick and sturdy cover which will last for a full season
• Best sown from May-June
• 90% Dwarf Sorghum, 10% Giant Sorghum
• Sowing rate: 10kg per acre. Pack size 10kg

An excellent combination of winter hardy cover provided by the Kale and high quality feed provided from the Quinoa.

• Winter hardy cover of kale and feeding potential of quinoa.
• Quinoa provides high protein feed with kale keeping the birds dry
• Kale will provide cover for two seasons.
• 50% Quinoa, 50% Goldeneye Kale 
• Sowing rate: 2.5kg per acre. Pack size: 2.5kg.

A very hardy seed mixture that will perform well on colder, poorer quality soils. Creates an open canopy which is preferred by partridges. 

• Very hardy mixture. Thrives on colder, poorer soils
• The mixture has an open canopy that encourages and holds partridges. 
• Useful as a break crop from Kale.
• Spring Barley, Spring Triticale, Linseed, Spring Oats, Gold of Pleasure, Kale
• Sowing rate: 25kg per acre. Pack Size: 25kg 

Phacelia is a prolific seed producer, very fast to establish and an excellent source of pollen and nectar. This makes it attractive to both insects and wild birds.

• A popular green manure crop which is an excellent weed suppressor
• Establishes fast and matures within 10-12 weeks
• Produces a large root mass making the plant an excellent soil improver
• Will produce a multitude of flowers - loved by bees and other insects
• Sowing rate: 5-8kg / ha

Pinfold Kale will provide excellent yields in a short period of time.

• Fast growing and ideal for early sowings
• Flexible utilisation, summer use as well
• Excellent digestibility
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack size 2kg

Pointer game cover seed mixture will provide fantastic feed value whilst also giving excellent driving cover.

• Excellent holding potential for pheasants and partridges.
• Tried and tested reliable mixture.
• Full season cover
• Stomp Aqua herbicide tolerant. 
• Contains; Bombardier Kale, Interval rape/kale hybrid, Quinoa
• Sowing rate: 7kg per hectare. Pack size: 3.5kg. 

Pro Driver game cover seed mixture is designed to have a thinner canopy to allow easier access for birds to give more controlled drives.

• Huge feeding potential from seed bearing species.
• Provides blend of feed and cover.
• More open canopy favoured by partridges.
• Combines; Kale, Quinoa, Linseed, Mustard.
• Sowing rate: 16kg per hectare. Pack size: 8kg. 

Rapid Fire remains one of the most trusted game cover maize products on the market. Varieties are selected for standing ability, early vigour and low cob carriage.

• A good hybrid selection with high germination that will provide feed and cover
• Treated with bird repellent and fungicide.
• Very good standing, medium maturity and good cob development
• Sow at 45,000 seed per acre. Pack size 50,000 seeds 

Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is similar to Canary Grass (Aquatica) however it is much hardier.

• A perennial species which can last for 10 years
• Suitable for exposed northern sites - good frost and winter hardiness
• Strong stems and thick leaves provide reliable cover for ground-nesting birds
• Similar to conventional canary grass with improved hardiness 
• Inoculated with rhizobia
• Sowing rate: 2.5kg per acre Pack Size: 2.5kg

A fast establishing, maturing mixture ideal for patching failed crops or where a later sown crop is wanted. 

• Provides cover and potentially seeds within 16 weeks of sowing
• Rescue mixture for failed crops 
• Rapid establishment
• 50% Buckwheat, 15% Fodder Radish, 15% White Mustard, 10% Gold of pleasure, 10% Texsel Greens
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack Size: 10kg 

Setter game cover seed mixture is a traditional mixture which combines a broad range of species. Provides two full seasons of cover.

• Full season cover for up to two years.
• Very reliable mixture with excellent holding and feed potential.
• Combines; Phacelia, Sweet Clover, Millet Blend, Maize, Mustard, Kale, Buckwheat and Sunflowers.
• Sowing rate: 25kg per hectare. Pack size: 12.5kg. 

Spaniel is a summer sown, drought tolerant game cover mixture which is easy to establish. Combines four different seed species.

• Drought tolerant mixture which can be sown in the summer months.
• Can be used for patching failed spring sown crops.
• Easy to establish, can be broadcast directly into cereal stubble.
• Combines; Mustard, Fodder Radish, Interval Rape/Kale, Carbon.
• Sowing rate: 10kg per hectare. Pack size 5kg.   

High protein content and high dry matter yield. Late flowering variety that will perform well whether sown for summer, autumn or winter use. 

• Good winter hardiness
• Clubroot tolerant
• Sowing rate: 2.5kg per acre. Pack Size: 10kg and 25kg

Spitfire Hybrid Forage Rape is a rape and kale hybrid, is a good companion to use with other fast establishing brassicas. 

• Provide cover for a whole season
• Very vigorous and quick growing, ideal for replacing failed crops or patching
• Good disease and bolting resistance
• Sowing rate: 2.5kg per acre. Pack Size: 5kg and 25kg

Triticale produces long straw with an excellent resistance to lodging. Impressive root development extracts nutrients from deep in the soil profile.

• A wheat/rye hybrid cereal providing good cover and feed in low fertility areas.
• Clean crop with a low susceptibility to fusarium and ergot 
• Resistant to attack from rabbits
• Higher grain yield than other leading varieties
• Sowing rate: 100kg / ha

Springer game cover seed mixture is ideal for areas which are difficult to sow on an annual basis. A blend of Perennial Chicory and Triticale.

• Triticale provides feed for the first year, Perennial Chicory gives permanent cover.
• Chicory is drought tolerant and will grow to a height of up to 1.5m.  
• Triticale is resistant to damage from rabbits.
• Contains: Perennial Chicory and Triticale.
• Sowing rate: 40kg per hectare. Pack size: 20kg.

Sundown mixture combines Sunflower and Maize seeds, two of the most popular game cover seed species used in the UK.

• Combines the fantastic feeding potential of both species.
• Provides full season cover and feed.
• Fungicide treated seed.
• 65% Game maize, 20% Sunflower, 15% Dwarf Sorghum
• Sowing rate: 13kg per acre .Pack Size: 13kg. 

Sunflowers are another great option when it comes to cover crops, whether used straight or in a mixture to produce combined benefits.

• Standard tall variety.
• Excellent nectar rich flowers provide food for pollinators.
• Dead flower heads provide an ideal overwintering habitat for pollinators. 
• Frequently sown as part of a game cover mixture or with Kale.
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack size: 10kg.

A combination of three excellent game cover kale varieties will provide a tall varied canopy over an extended period of time.

• Provides superb cover.
• Kale provides cover for two shooting seasons.
• The flowering kale will attract insects and songbirds.
• 40% Goldeneye, 30% Gruner Angeliter, 30% Inka
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack size: 2kg

Texsel greens are a fast growing, shiny leaved brassica developed from Ethiopian mustard. Very easy to establish and provide frost hardy cover.

• Produces a broken canopy, ideal for flushing birds.
• Texel Greens are fast and easy to establish.
• Frost hardy cover crop.
• Ideal for suppressing weeds.
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack Size: 2kg. Treated seed.

The Traditional Game Cover Mixture combines a broad range of species which will give a full season of cover and a supply of food.

• A tried and tested mixture species that provide feed and cover
• Sunflowers provide an attractive splash of colour
• Differing seed sizes mean it is best to broadcast rather than drilled
• Game Maize, White Millet, Red Millet, Buckwheat, Intermediate Sorghum, Kale, Sunflower, White Mustard, Forage Rape, Gold of Pleasure, Phacelia
• Sowing Rate: 10kg per acre. Packsize: 10kg

White mustard is an ever popular choice for game cover. Very easy to establish and grows rapidly, providing cover until the first winter frosts. 

• Can be sown alone or as a companion to other species
• Ideal for early cover, killed off by frost will create shelter for birds
• Quick growing - ideal for patching failed spring cover crops
• Also opular as a green manure crop
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB2 
• Sowing rate: 15kg / ha

A blend of Winfred Hybrid Brassica and Forage Rape. A vigourous and quick growing seed mixture making it ideal for failed crops.

• Provide cover for a whole season
• Vigorous and quick growing, ideal for replacing failed crops or patching
• Good disease and bolting resistance
• 50% Winfred Hybrid Brassica and 50% Forage Rape
• Sowing rate: 2.5kg per acre. Pack Size: 5kg

New and unique game cover crop which combines the excellent cover of kale with the easy and rapid establishment of mustard. 

• Produces amazing cover in a short period of time
• Excellent frost tolerant cover by November
• Can be used for new sowing or for patching failed crops
• Best sown in June or July.
• Sowing rate: 2kg per acre. Pack size: 2kg