top of page

Phacelia

WARM Season - Broadleaf

Phacelia is a versatile plant that is quick to grow and flower.  It grows well in dry soil and does a good job of limiting nitrate leaching when planted in early fall.  It winterkills at about 18°F.  Phacelia is a herbaceous, non-leguminous, flowering annual.  Height ranges from 6 to 47 inches.  The foliage appears ferny, and the flowers are in flat-topped clusters in shades of purple or occasionally white.  The benefit of Phacelia is its ability to quickly grow a dense and deep root system, sequestering available nutrients, and improving soil aggregation and pore volume.

SOIL ADAPTABILITY:

 

Drainage:  Poorly to well-drained soils

 

Fertility:    Good tolerance of low fertility (does not like : clay or crusty soils)

 

pH Level:   5.5 -6.8

 

Minimum Soil Germination Temp: 38-68°F

 

 

 

 

 

SEEDING / GROWTH:

 

 

Dates: Frost-seed or 5-7 weeks before avg first frost

 

Rates:

         Precision:   Not recommended

           Drilled:           7-12 lb/A , 1/4' to 1/2' deep

         Broadcast:   9 lb/A

          Aerial:             11 lb/A

 

Average seeds/lb: 234,960

Inoculate: no

Emergence: 3-11 day depending on temp and light (Needs dark and cool soil temps for good germination)

Height: 6" - 2'

 

Drought & Heat:  Good drought tolerance

                                      Good heat tolerance

 

Flooding:   Does not tolerate flooding or ponding

PROS:

  • Attracts beneficial insects (one of the top 20 crops for honey production)

  • Soil building

  • Fertility improvement

  • Nematode control

 

 

 

CONS:

 

  • Slow to establish

  • Soil temperature and germination (Soil temperature needs to be between 37 – 68°F for best results)

  • Winter-kills at about 18ºF, and the residue breaks down quickly

  • Facebook Clean
bottom of page