Finally, play it safe. Use a late summer or early fall fertilization plan and avoid cutting after September 15 to 20. Cutting after a killing frost is okay if you need the hay and if you leave enough stubble to catch snow for a cover. Remember that the amount you remove after the killing frost is about equal to the reduction in yield you will see the following spring. Fungicide seed treatments, properly applied, are highly recommended and can be considered as inexpensive stand establishment insurance.
Seed treatments minimize losses from seed decay, seedling blights, and seed and soilborne diseases.
Some products have enough systemic fungicide activity to provide early spring disease control, e.g. Baytan. Wheat varieties with high levels of disease resistance may only need a seed treatment such as Raxil-thiram or Vitavax 200 for loose smut, seed rots and seedling decay, while powdery mildew susceptible varieties may need Baytan or Dividend. Comparison of effectiveness of seed treatments in the management of diseases that typically occur in the Mid-Atlantic region. Vegetable Crop Insects - Joanne Whalen, Extension IPM Specialist. A mixture of imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper and diamondback can be found in most cole crop fields.