Winter Canola Production in Ontario(pdf) - This document covers almost any winter canola production questions.

Benefits of Winter Canola

• Winter canola can help to spread the workload for both seeding and harvest.
• Provide a living ground cover over winter
• Offer land available during the summer for manure application.
• Allow for timely planting of winter wheat. Marketing of the crop, targeting old crop prices for canola because of the early harvest date.

Seeding Rate

Seeding rates of 3.5 -4 lbs.(1.4 –1.8 kg) per acre are adequate for a good stand. Accuracy of delivering this rate is difficult but cost effective given the price of seed. Higher seeding rates can result in smaller, spindly plants that are less able to survive the winter. The variety Kronos contains approximately 113,400 seeds per pound, which is equal to 453,600 seeds/ acre at 4 lb seeding rate. Based on final plant stand of 80% of seeding rate can result in a stand of 7.5 - 8 plants/square foot. Seed can be “bulked up” by mixing it with MAP (monoammonium phosphate), corn cob grits, or elemental sulphur . Other fertilizer types should not be used, because they have a much higher salt index increasing the risk of fertilizer injury. . These products must have a flow rate similar to the canola seed to be effective.