Can anyone tell me when is the best time to harvest Guinea Palm Grass , my first crop is seeding !
Should I pick it early or wait til it produces a seed kernel ?
At the moment it is flowering , heres a picture .....
BEST TIME TO HARVEST GUINEA PALM GRASS
-
Craig52
- ...............................
- Posts: 5079
- Joined: 11 Nov 2011, 19:26
- Location: victoria
That is actually Pitpit palm grass,the skinny leaf variety.My birds used to eat it as it emerged out of the sheath when it was in the aviary.The best way is to feed it to the birds at the different stages to see which stage they prefer and harvest it and freeze at that stage for over Winter. Craig
-
Bmac27
- ...............................
- Posts: 150
- Joined: 19 Feb 2013, 07:19
- Location: Perth WA
Is it Craig ?
I'm a bit confused now ... how wide are the guinea palm grass leaves then if this is pit pit ? This stuff has leaves as broad as the back of my hand .
Are the 2 seed heads completely different in appearance ?
Cheers
I'm a bit confused now ... how wide are the guinea palm grass leaves then if this is pit pit ? This stuff has leaves as broad as the back of my hand .
Are the 2 seed heads completely different in appearance ?
Cheers
-
gomer
- ...............................
- Posts: 4484
- Joined: 23 Nov 2008, 17:41
- Location: Victoria
- Location: Victoria Australia
My birds prefer it at the milk stage,before it opens up the younger the better.However they will still eat it if given at any stage.All my seeding grasses are mixed in with the chitted seed etc.. for best results.
Keeper of Australian Grass Finches
-
Tiaris
- ...............................
- Posts: 3517
- Joined: 23 Apr 2011, 08:48
- Location: Coffs Harbour
I'd leave it another few days at least. When some of the seeds get a slight purple tint they are fuller.
Pit pit is the better seeding grass compared to palm grass. Much higher proportion of seed on this one. Palm grass has wider leaf and smaller seed head. If given the opportunity to eat at any stage (growing in the aviary) the birds will eat it as soon as its palatable but it then isn't allowed to mature to give the far better nutrition it will provide if allowed to develop properly. My birds eat it very enthusiastically when picked at the fully developed stage. Where I have it growing in aviaries the only aviaries which eat it out before it develops contain Red-faced PFs (Green hogs).
Pit pit is the better seeding grass compared to palm grass. Much higher proportion of seed on this one. Palm grass has wider leaf and smaller seed head. If given the opportunity to eat at any stage (growing in the aviary) the birds will eat it as soon as its palatable but it then isn't allowed to mature to give the far better nutrition it will provide if allowed to develop properly. My birds eat it very enthusiastically when picked at the fully developed stage. Where I have it growing in aviaries the only aviaries which eat it out before it develops contain Red-faced PFs (Green hogs).
-
Greg41
- ...............................
- Posts: 586
- Joined: 10 Mar 2010, 21:09
- Location: Kingsley Suburb of Perth
- Location: Kingsley. Suburb of Perth Wa
Unfortunatly we can't even import one seed over here to the West. I wanted to buy 3 packets of grass seeds off ebay
at a cost of $10. and then run the risk of having to paying $56 in inspection fees.
Cheers Greg
at a cost of $10. and then run the risk of having to paying $56 in inspection fees.
Cheers Greg
GDG