How to Grow Winter Canola“It All Starts With The Seed”

© 2009 OSU Canola in the Classroom

Canola Growth and Development

Divided into easily recognizable growth stages.

Length of each growth state is influenced by temperature, moisture, light, nutrition, and variety.

The growing point of winter canola is above the soil.

Canola Growth Stages

Seedling

Rosette

Bolting

Flowering

Maturation

Ripening

Seedling/Cotyledon

Emerges 4-10 days after planting

Growing point above the ground

True leaves visible 4 -8 days after emergence

Seedbed conditions more critical than wheat

Rosette

Larger, older leaves at the base, smaller, newer leaves at the center

Most tolerant to freeze damage at this stage

5 -8 true leaves and 6”-8” fall growth to increase winter survival

Overwinters in this growth stage

Stem length remains unchanged but thickens

Bolting Growth resumes in late winter/early spring

(Feb/Mar)

Bolting does not occur until after 700 to 800 hours of chilling temperature.

Vegetative rest ends when temperatures are steadily greater than 41℉

Stem elongates and flower parts become visible at the center of the rosette

Reaches 30-60% of total height before flowering

Flowering

Buds at the base of the stem open first

3-5 flowers open per day

Flowers 2-4 weeks

Only half the flowers turn into productive pods

Ripening Characterized by plant color changes

Stems and pods turn yellow and brittle

Seed coat turns from green to brown

Seed moisture is lost at 2-3% per day

Ripe when the pods are dry and rattle when shaken

Plant dies when seeds in all pods are mature

Field Site Selection

Medium-textured, well drained soils

Cannot tolerate water logged conditions

Soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0

Consideration of past herbicide applications

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYSznUDCzy0

Seed Varieties

Most important factor is winter survival

Other factors include: oil quality, seed yield, shattering, and disease resistance

Never plant seeds without seed treatment

Several Roundup Ready varieties

Wichita, Sumner and DeKalb 47-15 most common varieties to the region

Seeding Date

Plant late August to early October

Plant six weeks prior to the first killing frost for the area (25 )℉

Planting too early or two late will decrease winter survival

If winter canola cannot be planted by Oct. 1, plant small grains instead

Seeding Rate, Depth and Row Spacing

Seeding rate of 5 pounds per acre

Harvest rate of 4-10 plants per acre is ideal

Do not just plow under poor stand in spring, plant will develop additional branches and fill in spacing

Reduce seeding rate by 1 pound/acre for each week before optimum planting and increase 1 pound/acre for each week beyond optimum planting.

Best germination and emergence occur at seeding depths of ½” to 1”

6”-15” row spacing is acceptable

Fertilizer Application

Test soil prior to seedbed establishment (N,P,K,S)

25% more N (90-150 pounds/acre) than wheat

Twice as much S required as wheat

Only 1/3 of N applied in August before planting

Other 2/3 applied in Jan/Feb prior to dormancy break

Weeds, Insects, and Disease Dense growth of leaves usually makes the crop a strong

competitor against weeds

Herbicides currently labeled for weed control in winter canola include Treflan, Stinger Select, Assure II, and Roundup Ultra Max II on Roundup Ready winter canola varieties.

Diseases can attack canola at any stage of development

Soil borne, seed borne, or airborne

Blackleg, Sclerotinia stem rot, powdery mildew, Alternaria black spot, and aster yellows

Fungicides include Abound, Curalan, Ronilan, Quadris, Endura, M-Pede, and Trilogy.

Weeds, Insects and Disease Cont. Winter canola production in the region has been

limited, these pests have not posed a large threat or problem.

Starting in November and continuing through harvest, scouting should be done on the field to identify insect infestations

Flea beetles, cabbage seedpod weevils, cabbage worms, alfalfa looper, diamond moth larvae, and aphids

Insecticides include Helix (seed treatment), Capture, Warrior T, Confirm, methyl and ethyl parathion as well as several others.

Harvesting

Harvest early June through July

Winter canola is either swathed and then combined or combined directly

Should be harvested immediately when ripe to avoid shattering

Plug any holes in the combine and truck to prevent seed loss