What’s that blue crop growing in your field?
May 28, 2010
A few neighbours have stopped us and asked ‘What’s that blue crop growing in your fields?’ Well, it is linseed which is also sometimes known as flax. This year it is being used as a break crop instead of the usual oil seed rape or winter beans.
Linseed can be planted in the Autumn (Winter Linseed) or the Spring. Historically, winter linseed has been quite a difficult and temperamental crop to grow because it is sensitive to the climate and could suffer badly in harsh winters but, if the winters are mild then often the crop becomes too thick.
The crop below was planted last Autumn and will be harvested on the farm this year, probably at the end of July or early August.
linseed - view from Newland bank
It was sown using the direct drill. It is a beneficial crop to grow on the farm as it allows the farmer to control some weeds more easily than in wheat, and should allow an easy low till entry into wheat. Slugs do not appear to like linseed and no chemical pesticide control is normally required.
linseed flower
The yield for winter linseed should be in the range 2.5 – 3.5 t/ha (1.0 – 1.4 t/ac) however, as this is the first year we have grown the crop, we will have to wait and see if our expectations have been met.
Traditionally linseed has been grown because of the oil it produces; this is added to paints and varnishes and assists with the drying and hardening processes. More recently linseed seeds are used in health foods because it is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 3 and 6. It can also be added to animal feeds and has been woven to make a fabric.
linseed in flower
The linseed plants can grow up to a metre tall but height is normally controlled to about 50cm. Linseed produces very pretty, light blue flowers.
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7 Responses to “What’s that blue crop growing in your field?”
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Thank you. I saw a field recently with this flower and I was curious to know what it was.
I have seen quite a number of fields growing flax (linseed) this year in S Warwickshire. In previous years there have been none. I saw a few fields a number of years ago!!! Why is it grown so spasmodically?
Why is it being grown as a “break crop” THIS year instead of oil seed rape.?
Dear Arthur
Thank you for your questions. Years ago linseed was subject to a subsidy from the old common market and some farmers grew it just for this reason. Sometimes it wasn’t even harvested! This regime has long passed and so now linseed is grown as and when the demand is there. For example the price has risen from around £200 a tonne to over £400 over the last two years. This is partly due to the fears of contamination from GM crops from imported crops – see http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2009/11/06/118376/Linseed-price-leaps-following-GM-fears.htm .
We grow linseed and oilseed rape as break crops. Both crops allow use of different cultural and chemical control of weeds. Linseed is not favoured by many farmers as it is often late and difficult to harvest. However I suspect the answer to both your questions is answered by the high price paid for linseed this year.
Thanks for that Chris
Some more inquisitive questions.
how is it harvested – it looks like a very small blue flower – so must have small seeds. Similar to oil seed rape suppose.
And, where and how is the oil extracted – being that its such a spasmodically grown crop.?
regards
Arthur W Lewis
Harvesting linseed is carried out using a normal combine (the same as for oilseed rape or cereals) though there are a number of changes required e.g. sieve settings, fan speed etc. However it can prove to be a very difficult crop to harvest, causing problems feeding into the combine header. Pre-harvest dessication is essential, a hot sunny day, a sharp cutter knife and patience are required. I suppose the seed is about the same size as OSR but is a different shape – more like a tear drop – and will leak out of every hole in the combine or trailer. Linseed straw is not particularly useful and I believe is the only straw that is still allowed to be burned in the field, though my neighbour does use it for bedding cattle.
As to where and how the oil is extracted, the answer is I don’t know as I deal directly with a merchant not the end producer though I think most is exported to Europe. You could try merchants such as http://www.robin-appel.com/linseed.php or http://www.premiumcrops.com/linseed/linseed.htm.
The Spring linseed crops are in fully flower at the moment and I always think it one of the prettiest crops we grow.
Thanks very much for that information Chris.
I also think that the blue fields makes for a very nice view, especially the contrast with the wheat and barley fields that we’ve seen between Southam and Coventry in Warwickshire.I bet it looks nice from the air.
regards
Arthur W Lewis
just what I wanted to know, thank you. On 28/06/11 I photographed a very large field of blue flowers quite near to Twycross Zoo, on the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border. While I was standing admiring the view I heard several Skylarks singing above the field – what joy – I haven’t heard these birds for many, many years. I hope to see more fields of these lovely flowers.