Crops > Orchardgrass

Cool Season Perennial Grass Medium- Late Maturity Best suited to moderately well- drained to excessively drained soils and does well in mixtures with legumes such as alfalfa, red and white clover Uses: Olympia Orchardgrass can be grown for hay, green chop, silage and pasture. Olympia combines superior grazing tolerance with outstanding Forage Yield Planting Rate: 15- 20 lbs. per acre Drilled or Broadcast Adaptation: Best suited to moderately well-drained to excessively drained soils and does well in mixtures with legumes such as alfalfa, red and white clover. Orchardgrass will not tolerate wet soils or prolonged flooding. Orchardgrass is tolerant of shade and more tolerant of heat and drought than perennial ryegrass, timothy, or Kentucky bluegrass, but less so than tall fescue. Uses: Olympia orchardgrass can be grown for hay, green chop, silage, and pasture.  Olympia combines superior grazing tolerance with outstanding forage yield. It is compatible with many legumes (alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, red and white clovers) and other grasses (perennial ryegrass, tall fescue). Pure stands or simple mixtures (one grass and one legume), however, are easiest to manage. Nutrition: With good management practices, orchardgrass can produce crude protein levels of 12 – 18%; Total Digestible Nutrients ranging from 65 – 68%. Results depend largely on maturity stage at harvest and fertility. Planting: Rate: 15-20 lbs/acre drilled or broadcast. Date: August 15 – October 15; February 15 – April 15. Fall plantings are generally more successful than spring plantings particularly in the southern areas of adaptation. Depth: ¼ - ½ inch into a fi rm seedbed; a presswheel, cultipacker, or other soil-firming device will increase success.