Forage Plantain or Ribbed Plantain as it is sometimes known is a perennial grassland herb commonly found in productive grass leys. Easily identifiable due to its thick ribbing along the length of each of its leaves. Plantain can be sown alone to create a single, highly nutritious crop rich in calcium and selenium. Producers wanting to improve the productivity of existing grassland often mix Plantain with fresh grass seed and “stitch” it into tired leys bringing them back into production. With a deep fibrous rooting system plantain does well on most soil type across the UK providing good grazing in the summer and autumn months. Plantain can be grazed by both sheep and cattle with trials showing daily forage intake rates increase on grassland containing herbs such as Plantain. Being more persistent than other herbs Plantain will remain productive for up to four years with over grazing and weed ingress being the main causes for its decline.
To get the best from Plantain selecting the right site on which to sow it is important. Although growing well on most soil types Plantain thrives on well drained soils that are not prone to waterlogging. It is recommended that when sowing a stale seed bed is used prior to drilling. Although a grassland herb Plantain does not compete well with weeds, particularly in its early growth stages.
When drilling a firm, fine seed bed is needed to allow the Plantain seed to remain at a sowing depth of no more than 10mm. Uneven and cloddy seed beds will prevent Plantain from establishing are may cause uneven emergence as seed depths will vary. If sowing as a single species stand Plantain seed should be drilled at 8-10kg per hectare. We recommend a sowing rate of 2-4kgs per hectare is sowing into a grass or clover ley. In some areas drilling may not be an option and it is possible for Plantain to be broadcast. Establishment rates on sites that have been broadcasted are commonly much lower so increasing the seed rate is worth considering.
