A simple guideline to Game Cover Crop Species

With the option to provide Mixes to your Specification
 

FORAGE RAPE
Very fast growing, fully established often within 7 to 8 weeks. DON'T sow before mid April, as propensity to bolt.
Sow at 3 to 4kgs/acre

KALES
Winter hardy - providing a range of canopy heights, dependent on variety. Sow April to latest mid July, and note Kales are Nitrogen and Potash hungry.
Sow at 1.5 to 2.5kas/acre (dependent on whether broadcast or drilled)

STUBBLE TURNIPS
Can be a good food source as well as bird cover. Many varieties are winter hardy, producing a palatable bulb.
Sow at 2 to 3kas/acre

PHALARIS ARUNDINACEA (REED CANARY GRASS)
Very, very frost hardy and ideal for exposed Northerly sites. A long term option, can last over 5 years. Sow from April onwards. 
Sow at 2 to 3kas/acre

ARTICHOKES
An almost permanent cover, lasting 5 to 6 years or more. Sow in rows. (Seed is supplied as tubers.) Sow at 500 to 800kgs/acre (dependent on row width)

CANARY GRASS (PHALARIS AQUATICA)
A long term species, suited to low fertility "harsh" sites. Grows up to 2.5 ft tall, and ideal as prime nesting cover in the north of the country (often termed Holdfast). Can last as cover for over 5 or 6 years.
Sow at 2 to 3kgs/acre

TEXEL GREENS
A very tall growing brassicae (up to 5 or 6 feet at times!), with the attribute of excellent frost hardiness. Provides winter long "green" cover. Best sown from early May onwards.
Sow at 2 to 2.5kgs/acre

QUINOA
Sometimes slow to establish, and needs warm fertile compact seedbeds. Best sown not before late April/early May, particularly in the north of the country. (Excellent source of protein for birds).
Sow at 1.5 to 2.5kgslacre.

BUCKWHEAT
Generally sown with other game cover species to provide both feed and cover for partridge and pheasant, Bushy in appearance and can smother out weeds. Matures within 14 weeks from late April/May sowings. Produces nectar in abundance. Avery attractive crop to deer.
Sow at 20 to 25kgs/acre

FODDER RADISH
Very, very fast to establish, so an ideal catch crop especially in far North and Scotland. Full cover in 8 to 9 weeks, but not totally winter hardy. Useful on ground that exhibits kale sickness.
Sow at 2 to 3kgs/acre.

MUSTARD
Probably the cheapest seed cost per acre in terms of cover crops. Germinates and establishes on a range of soil types, and is quite drought tolerant. Ideal fast cover where rabbits have caused damage, Sowing rate range of3 to 5kgs/acre

SWEET YELLOW BLOSSOM COVER
Avery seedy nitrogen fixing perennial legume which can last 3 to 4 years. Suited best
to lighter, loamy soils. It is nectar producing. This species is very robust from April/May sowings providing good bird shelter amongst its dense woody stem structures.
Sow at 3 to 3.5kg/acre

WHITE MILLET
Best suited to the warmer parts, and milder climes of this country. It is a good choice too, to
sow as a windbreak on more exposed sites. Can grow 80 to 90 cm in height, so ideal for flushing areas as well as a feed source for large and small birds. Combines well with sunflower, sorghums and maize plus it matches them for herbicide usage.
Sow at 10 to 13kgs/acre

RED MILLET
Similar attributes, game usage and plant characteristics to white millet!! Differences being lower rate of seed production and is thinner leaved. (A less 'warmer' cover if sown on its own). Red and white millet mixed are high producers of protein feeds for wild birds.
Sow at 10 to 13kgs/acre

SUNFLOWERS
Best used in game cover mixtures, on warmer sites of mid and southern U.K. A great attracter of birds, insects and small mammals, giving a preferred varied habitat within game cover mixes.
Sow at 5 to 8kgs/acre

GIANT SORGHUM
A cross of Sorghum with a Sudan grass hybrid from Australia. It is deep rooted and thus drought resistant and exhibits Atrazine tolerance (ideal for weed control). Produces dense vegetative cover perfect for flushing, and can grow to approx 2.5 to 3m tall !! Conducive to high inputs of N fertiliser, but not a food source for birds. Combines well with sowing of kale, millet, maize or sunflower. Sow late April to mid May.
Sow at 12kgs/acre

DWARF SORGHUM
Like Giant Sorghum giving good dense cover from April/May sowings. Dwarf types are less likely to lodge and are best suited to free draining lighter soils or more exposed sites. Dwarf Sorghum grows to 1.75 to 2m tall and provides excellent game cover during critical winter months, (loves N fertiliser).
Sow at 8 to 9kgs/acre

AMBUSH MILLET MIX
Ambush contains Japanese Red Millet and White Millet. A very winter hardy blend for use right until the shooting season finishes. Gives both solid game cover plus a holding food source (via the White Millet content). Best to sow April/May.
Sow at 5 to 6kgs/acre

MAIZE (FOR GAME COVER)
Suited to game cover regimes, because it gives both a food source via cob/grains, plus areas for easy bird movement in open ground between plants. In addition Maize exhibits an almost natural habitat (when established) for large and small birds. Maize is an excellent product to combine with Millet/Sunflower/Sorghum etc, to provide warmer or denser ground cover, or a more varied habitat. Benefits are further enhanced, as such crop seed combinations don't negate potential good weed control (eg. via Atrazine, Jester etc.) Best sow late April to 3rd week in May.
Sow at 40 to 45.000 seeds/acre
All seed is Mesurol treated with Cruiser as an option.
Packed in 50,000 seed packs

Additional useful Game Cover seed options

PHACELIA
Attractive green manure or cover crop used across Northern Europe. Easy to establish, giving a dense habitat. Best sown April to July.
Sow at 3.5 to 5kgs/acre

TARES (VETCHES)
Good bird food source, dense cover and winter hardy pertaining to an all season presence in shooting period. Can be sown spring or autumn (a good suppressor of weeds).
Sow at 5 to 25kgs/acre. (Dependent on inclusion level required)

INTERVAL
A kale / rape cross exhibiting extreme winter hardiness. Best sown May to mid July. Can produce excellent all winter cover and alternatively an excellent ruminant catch crop feeder.
Sow at 2 to 3kgs/acre.

FIELD/TICBEANS
Superb food source for pheasants. Perform well on heavy land from spring sowings. Useful to mix with Kale, Millet or Triticale.
Sow at 50 to 70kgs/acre (lower in mixtures)

TRITICALE
Can be mixed with Beans, Buckwheat, Millet or Sorghums. Survives well where rabbit infestation may be a problem, as it is quick and robust to establish.
Sow at 60 to 80kgs/acre.

LINSEED
A good choice particularly in small bird mixtures. Provides a food source, hardiness and open cover (therefore good small bird access). Cheap and easy to establish from late March to mid May sowings. Also a good alternative to some brassicae's where Club Root or "Brassicae" sickness (due to over frequency of sowing) has occurred.
Sow at 5 to 20kgs/acre. (dependent on whether on its own or in mixtures)