North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Richard MURPHY" <murphman108@msn.com>]

Hi Kids;

 

I actually grew an acre of Rapeseed (Rape, Cooper Seeds Co.)

Planted in late summer of last year in zone 4 Maine for a quick cover to prevent erosion.

Not a bad choice.

It's leafy, and has a decent taproot; good for busting up clay soils.

 

Well, the stuff got about 6" high and stalled. Didn't die; stalled.

 

Next Spring (this last one) I noticed that the stuff actually survived the winter in New Sharon Maine.

Wow !!

Then it began growing again.

It looks a lot like tired old Broccoli (cousin) and makes good animal fodder, too.

 

   DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED  !!!

    

Yikes ! It seeds like a huge radish plant (family reunion)...

This seed is really cheap, and makes a good plow-down.

Don't know how allelopathic it is... not much I guess because the New Zealand Clover I followed it with grew like mad.

 

Canola Oil is fine to eat. Sure; Canada named it Canola.

I would too. "Rape Oil" just doesn't have that appealing sound to most folks.

 

 

Murph