Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - October 22, 2014
From: Beeville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Edible Plants, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Native Grasses as a Hay Crop in Beeville, TX
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
I am looking to cut Hay on about 38 acres just west of Beeville, Texas. I want to convert the land to native grasses, but I still want to have a decent hay crop that I can sell. What is a good set of native grasses to establish in that region.ANSWER:
When Mr Smarty Plants went looking for references and information on this topic, he was pleasantly surprised! There is quite a bit of literature out there that supports hay production using native grasses.
Here are some of those references:
AgWeb: Hay Production with Native Grasses
Univ. of Tennessee: Producing Hay from Native Warm-Season Grasses in the Mid-South
Native Prairie Hay Meadows: A Landowner’s Management Guide
Missouri Dept of Conservation: NATIVE WARM-SEASON GRASS PASTURES
Univ. of Nebraska Extension: Switchgrass, Big Bluestem, and Indiangrass for Grazing and Hay
These grasses are both listed in the above publications and in the List of Recommended Species which covers the area around Beeville [Postoak Savannah] :
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Andropogon gerardii (Big bluestem)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
From the Image Gallery
More Edible Plants Questions
Grafting Pecan Trees
July 05, 2013 - I have planted two pecan nuts and now they are about 4 feet tall trees, they have not been grafted but can I graft one of the trees to the other and vice versa and expect pecans from then, they are he...
view the full question and answer
Fruit crops to grow in Tennessee mountains
May 27, 2013 - My property has a lot of rock formations throughout it and has hundreds of cedars where it is not pasture. I am wanting to grow fruit trees and berry bushes but don't know what can grow in this e...
view the full question and answer
Need information about Pignut (Hoffmannseggia glauca).
November 30, 2009 - I wanted to know a little about Pignut (also called Indian Rush-pea and Hog Potato); botanical name Hoffmannseggia glauca. Is it edible, and at what point does the plant produce a tuber (looks like a ...
view the full question and answer
Lindheimer's Muhly Grass Seeds for Human Use?
July 07, 2016 - Does anyone know if Lindheimer's Muhly seeds were ever used as human food source?
view the full question and answer
Identification of a plant with bumpy red fruit
April 26, 2011 - I have a bush with red berry like pods on it. They are about 3/4 of an inch bumpy round with a big seed inside. The leaves are smooth and oval shape. Please let me know if it is poisonous or not, and...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |