Tonic plantain seed (NI)
Tonic plantain is a broad-leaved perennial forage herb that is an ideal companion in multi-species swards with Germinal red and white clovers and Aber High Sugar Grasses.
Tonic plantain seed products a coarse-rooted plant that is well adapted to a range of soil types.
With similar total annual yields to Puna II perennial chicory, it has slightly better spring and autumn growth.
Tonic plantain is highly productive and provides a high-quality feed that can boost liveweight gain in livestock. It is ideally suited to intensive or rotational grazing systems, with rapid regrowth post-grazing in dry summers.
Key benefits of Tonic plantain seed
- More milk or meat production
- Increased daily liveweight gain
- Heavier weights at weaning
- High dry matter production from early spring to late autumn
- Reduces the effects of internal parasites
- High in minerals, especially copper and selenium
- High digestibility to drive intakes and growth
Ask an expert
You can contact our grass and forage seed experts if you have any questions about our Tonic plantain seed.
Sowing rate: 1 kg/acre with 12 kg grass and clover (2.5 + 35 kg/ha)
Sowing time: April to mid-August, into warm soils (>10°C)
Sowing depth: 10 mm
Sowing instructions: Sow in well-drained soils. Control broad-leaved weeds before sowing. Cultivate to achieve a fine, firm seedbed. Ploughing will help level rough fields. Sow in good conditions (warm with rain forecast), no deeper than 10-15 mm. Roll well after sowing to ensure good soil/ seed contact. N, P and K fertiliser requirements are similar to that of grass. Ensure optimum soil pH, P and K indices.
After sowing
- Graze when the crop reaches a height of 10-15 cm and when plants are resistant to uprooting. Generally ready for grazing 8 weeks after sowing
- Rotationally graze for best results
- Ensure short, intensive periods of grazing with adequate recovery periods
- Ideally graze to a residual of 4cm
- In the second and subsequent years, plant height must not exceed 25 cm to limit seed head development and maintain feed quality
- Ensure adequate N, P and K fertiliser is available to the plant