Puna II Chicory Seed

Chicory

Puna II is bred in New Zealand, this deep ‘tap’ rooted herb provides high forage yields with high protein content and high mineral content.

Puna II chicory has achieved outstanding animal performance with drought resistance once established, and good pest tolerance.

Puna II can be sown into grass and clover mixtures or on its own to provide leafy forage from spring to autumn.

Puna II prefers well drained soils with P and K indices of 2 and pH6.

MANAGEMENT

Sow from April onwards, autumn driling can work but seed must be well established before winter.

Sow 1cm below soil at 0.75-1.00kg/acre if included with grass and clover, or 2kg/ha if sown as a pure stand.

Slug pellets can aid establishment and broad leaf weed control will kill the chicory.

It can be grazed from about 8 weeks of drilling or when the crop is 10-12 inches tall, graze hard to prevent flowering, preferably with a strip grazing method to reduce wastage, down to about 2 inches. Puna II does regrow, allowing regrowth by resting will ensure longevity and quality of the crop.

Rotational length should be about 3-6 weeks depending on stage of growing season. If it's let to get to above 30m it becomes less palatable. Chicory rarely flowers in the first year.

Accumulated regrowth should be graezd off before winter, however damage to the crown should be avoided in wet conditions as this will affect long term persistence and performance of the crop.

For more information please call Adam at the seed office on 01939 210777