Currently Offered at $1.49 per Pound

Italian Ryegrass is a winter annual that requires vernalization (a period of cold and reduced daylight) to initiate heading. Best sown during the fall, the plant will head significantly the following spring. This is an extremely high-yielding grass and typically one of the highest quality grasses available. Due to its ease of seeding, Italian Ryegrass is a great choice as a nurse crop for other grasses or a short-term forage option. However, Italian Ryegrass does not perform well in hot or dry climates.

• Planting Depth: 0.25″ to 0.50″ 

• Planting Rate: 30 to 40 Pounds per Acre. In Mixtures, Italian Ryegrass Should Make Up Less Than 20% of the Overall Mixture. 

• Planting Dates: August to September. Shorter Days and Cooler Nights Will Help with Establishment. 

Product ships in a 50-pound bag.

Establishment

Whether sown alone or in mixtures, Italian Ryegrass is an excellent nurse crop for slower-establishing grasses. No-till drilling is recommended to thicken existing stands. Depending on the time of planting and conditions, the first harvest can occur as early as 45 days after planting.

Management

Where nutrients are abundant, Italian Ryegrass can effectively utilize and even recycle those nutrients. It may also be used to extend a thinning alfalfa or mixed stand for one to two more years. Better suited for mechanical harvest due to its upright growth habit, heavy grazing is not recommended. Due to a waxy coating, similar to Perennial Ryegrass, drydown is hindered, making it not ideal for dry hay production.