Interow Mix

For vineyards, orchards and cover cropping

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A specially formulated blend of perennial grasses, Saia oats, tillage radish, legumes, subterranean and aerial seeded clovers that will provide; EXCELLENT ground cover suppressing weeds, bulk for mulching, quick growth to reduce erosion and attracts beneficial insects, especially bees. Interow increases the retention of nutrients through increased levels of organic biomass while its legumes provide an important source of nitrogen. Interow is also a great mix to consider as Regenerative or Cover Cropping. Biological BioNPK S Coated. ECOCERT APPROVED.

Key attributes

  • Hard wearing inter-row ground cover
  • Controls erosion between rows
  • Improves soil structure
  • Low maintenance ground cover
  • Tolerates traffic between rows

Mix components

Formulation 2023

Component
Avalon Perennial Ryegrass
A very persistent, densely tillered perennial ryegrass that produces well through winter into late spring
A very prolific seeder, early maturing, produces well in winter
Roper Perennial Ryegrass
Roper Perennial Ryegrass deep rooted perennial ryegrass that can work as an annual or a perennial where there is adequate summer moisture
High quality, high yielding, long growing season
Saia Oats, tillage radish and various Clovers that makes it suitable to a wide range of soil types and management systems and can been successfully used in vineyards and orchards throughout Western Australia. Interow Mix™ is designed to provide a good balance of cover growth over the year, attract beneficial insects to assist in controlling insect pests, improve soil structure, aids with waterlogging, and can be cut for mulching, however this action may affect seed set for regeneration for the following year if cut late. Interow Mix™ components:
Trikkala Subterranean Clover
Trikkala Subterranean Clovers will produce across a wide range of soils in Pasture and Vineyard systems.
Arrowleaf Clover summer. Later flowering to the companion aerial seeded
Crimson Clover aerial seeded arrow leaf clover, which assists in providing a good spread of production and flowering over the growing season. Produces a high-quality feed into late spring. A highly productive clover. Deep rooted enabling excellent production in late spring/early
Tribute White Clover
Tribute White Clover. A perennial clover that, moisture depending, can produce all year round. Drought tolerant and persistent.
Tillage Radish
Tillage Radish. Excellent cover crop to assist in breaking a compaction layer in the soil. Being deeply rooted it will relocate nutrients further down in the soil profile and bring them back to the surface when decomposition starts. Also produces high levels of biomass, especially below the surface. Recommended pH Rate: 5+ Recommended Rainfall Rate: 500mm+ Recommended Sow Rate: Vineyards and Orchards: 35 to 40 kgs/ha. (Increased sowing rates will increase the interplant and weed competition assisting in reducing the weed burden and the requirement for early herbicide applications).
Continental Tall Fescue
Continental Tall Fescue and various Clovers that are suited to a range of soil types and management systems which has been successfully used in vineyards and orchards throughout Western Australia. Interow Mix™ is designed to provide a good balance of cover growth over the year, attract beneficial insects to assist in controlling insect pests, improve soil structure, aids with waterlogging, and can be cut for mulching, however this action may affect seed set for regeneration for the following year if cut late. Interow Mix™ components:
Increased winter / spring production & hardseedness.
Very persistent and prolific seeder.
Riverina Subterranean Clover An annual sub clover that, moisture depending, can produce very
Balansa Clover (aerial seeded)
Persian Clover (aerial seeded)
Leura Subterranean Clover
Leura Subterranean Clover late into the season and is highly productive.

*Occasionally some varieties in our mix will be replaced with a like-for-like variety where the original is not available or not easily accessible. Varieties in the mix will be specified on the bag label.

About this variety

The Interow Mix is an Irwin Hunter blend for the ground between rows: vineyards, orchards, and any cropping situation where a cover is needed in the inter-row space.

The requirements there are different from a grazing paddock. The cover has to establish reliably, hold the soil against erosion and traffic, improve structure over time, and then stay low maintenance without competing unduly with the crop it sits beside.

Erosion control is often the immediate reason for sowing. Bare inter-row ground loses soil in heavy rain and compacts under machinery traffic, and a living cover addresses both, while its root system opens the profile and improves water infiltration.

The mix is chosen to tolerate the traffic that inter-row ground receives, and to persist without needing regular attention.

It also works as a general cover crop where a durable, low input ground cover is wanted, and it can be mown or left standing depending on the situation.

Planting & grazing notes

Optimal sowing time Autumn/Winter; spray out existing pasture/persistent weeds before sowing; prepare an optimal seed bed; fertilise to assist germination and establishment; after sowing can be left as a cover crop, cut for mulch (may affect next year's seed set/regeneration if cut before seed set), or grazed

Disease & pest resistance

Excellent vigour with high stress and disease tolerance.

Stand life

Regenerative if allowed to go to seed in spring (self-regenerating annual/perennial ryegrass and clover blend). Interow Mix is a very versatile mix and has been successfully used in vineyards and orchards, as a Cover crop and is an excellent regenerative mix, if allowed to go to seed in spring. Avalon Perennial Ryegrass: Avalon Perennial Ryegrass a very persistent and densely tillered that will produce well through the winter and into the late spring.

How it's sold

FormPackStatus
BioNPK-S coated25 kgIn stock
Interow MixInterow Mix

FAQs

What should I sow between the rows in my vineyard to control weeds and erosion?

We recommend our Interow Mix, blended for vineyards, orchards and plantations. It combines perennial and annual ryegrasses, Saia oats, tillage radish and sub and aerial clovers to give excellent ground cover, suppress weeds and reduce erosion. It suits sandy to heavy soils with pH 5.0+ in 500mm+ rainfall areas.

What cover crop attracts bees and beneficial insects into an orchard?

Our Interow Mix is designed to attract beneficial insects, especially bees, which helps with insect pest control. Its flowering clovers, such as Arrowleaf and Crimson, support this. The mix also builds organic matter and adds nitrogen through its legumes, and flowers at roughly August to November.

How much cover crop seed per hectare for vineyard mid-rows?

For our Interow Mix we recommend 25 to 35 kg/ha, sown in autumn or winter. Spray out existing pasture and persistent weeds first, prepare a good seedbed and fertilise to help establishment. It needs 500mm+ rainfall and pH 5.0+. Sowing into a firm, clean seedbed gives the most even establishment between rows.

Our vineyard inter-rows get waterlogged in winter. What cover crop helps?

Our Interow Mix is designed to help with waterlogging and improve soil structure. Tillage radish opens up the soil with its deep taproot, while the ryegrasses and clovers build organic matter. It suits sandy to heavy soils in 500mm+ rainfall areas like the South West.

Will mowing my inter-row cover crop stop it coming back next year?

It can. Our Interow Mix regenerates if allowed to set seed in spring, so cutting for mulch before seed set may reduce regeneration the following year. We recommend timing mowing after the clovers and ryegrass have set seed where you want the sward to return.

What's a good regenerative cover crop for an avocado or citrus orchard in the South West?

We recommend our Interow Mix for orchards and plantations. It gives ground cover, weed suppression, bulk for mulching and nitrogen from its legumes. It is coated with biological BioNPK Powder S and is Ecocert approved. It suits 500mm+ rainfall on sandy to heavy soils with pH 5.0+.

How can I get mulch from my own inter-rows instead of buying it in?

Grow it. Our Interow Mix produces bulk for mulching from Saia oats, ryegrasses and clovers, and increases nutrient retention through organic biomass. Cut it and throw the residue under vines or trees, keeping in mind that cutting before seed set may reduce regeneration next year.

What's in Interow Mix?

The current Interow Mix contains perennial and annual ryegrasses, Saia oats, tillage radish, Riverina and Leura sub clovers, and Arrowleaf and Crimson aerial clovers. The blend has changed over time, so check the bag label for the exact varieties. All components are coated with BioNPK Powder S.

Can I graze Interow Mix?

Yes, Interow Mix can be grazed as well as left as a cover crop or cut for mulch. In vineyards and orchards, check chemical withholding periods and tree or vine damage risks before running stock. Rotational grazing helps the ryegrass and clovers recover and set seed.

Interow Mix vs Nitro Mix for a vineyard?

Interow Mix is a grass, oat, radish and clover blend for ground cover, weed suppression and mulch in vineyards and orchards. Nitro Mix is all legumes, sown at 5 to 10 kg/ha, and focused on building soil nitrogen and fertility. Choose Interow Mix for more bulk and cover, and Nitro Mix for a lower-growing legume boost.