Canola — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Brassica napus |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 5–10 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 7.2–23.9 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 200–240 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 10.2–15.2 |
| Mature height (cm) | 91.4–152.4 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 30.5–45.7 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 5–9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Drill seed 1/2–1 inch deep into a firm, fertile seedbed in full sun; establish well before hard frost, since a strong rosette is essential for winter survival. Canola is a low-erucic-acid cultivated form of Brassica napus, grown both as an oilseed cash crop and as a deep-taprooted cover crop that scavenges nitrogen, breaks up compacted subsoil, and adds substantial organic matter ahead of a following summer crop. In spring, the overwintered rosette bolts rapidly and produces tall stems topped with abundant small yellow flowers that are highly attractive to honeybees and other pollinators during an otherwise thin nectar period, making it a valuable dual-purpose planting for growers interested in both soil building and pollinator forage. Terminate by mowing, rolling, or incorporation before or at flowering if grown strictly as a cover crop, since the residue becomes fibrous and slow to break down once the plant sets seed. Zone 5–9.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0