Flax Flax Linum perenne Look at the delicate little flax plant with its masses of open, silky flowers, often in purest blue, and it's hard to imagine that it can also produce tough linen fibers. Each bloom lasts but a day, but the plant stays in bloom for a while since it produces so many -- not only in blue, but also clear yellow, depending on the variety. Flax must have a light, free-draining soil. Wet feet will kill it. Flax enjoys full sun but will tolerate light shade, especially in the Southern portion of the United States. Oops, we're sorry. Something went wrong. Please try again later. Oops, we're sorry. Something went wrong. Please try again later. Share your take on this idea! Upload your photo here. Under 6 inches to 3 feet Width: Peony Perhaps the best-loved perennials, herbaceous peonies belong in almost every garden. Their sumptuous flowers -- single, semidouble, anemone centered or Japanese, and fully double -- in glorious shades of pinks and reds as well as white and yellow announce that spring has truly arrived.

The handsome fingered foliage is usually dark green and remains good-looking all season long. Provide deep rich soil with plenty of humus to avoid dryness, and don't plant the crowns more than 2 inches beneath the surface. But these are hardly fussy plants. Where well suited to the climate, they can thrive on zero care. Shasta daisy Easy, always fresh, and always eye-catching, Shasta daisy is a longtime favorite. All cultivars produce white daisy flowers in various degrees of doubleness and size. The sturdy stems and long vase life make the flowers unbeatable for cutting. Shasta daisy thrives in well-drained, not overly rich soil. Taller sorts may need staking. Veronica Easy and undemanding, veronicas catch the eye in sunny gardens over many months. Some have mats with loose clusters of saucer-shaped flowers, while others group their star or tubular flowers into erect tight spikes. A few veronicas bring elusive blue to the garden, but more often the flowers are purplish or violet blue, rosy pink, or white. Provide full sun and average well-drained soil. Regular deadheading extends bloom time.

Flowering Flax | Garden Guides Flowering Flax Flowering Flax - Garden Basics - Flower - Annual (Linum grandiflorum) This attractive, easily grown annual from North Africa is happy in most any soil. Colorful, two inch flowers bloom atop 18-inch stems. Most varieties bear red blossoms, but some have bluish purple, pink or white flowers with a satiny appearance. The leaves are narrow and grasslike. Common flax, from which linen and linseed oil are made, is rarely used as a garden flower, but it makes an attractive annual, growing 2 to 3 feet tall and bearing sky-blue, or occasionally white, flowers. Flax is very difficult to transplant, so it's best to sow the seeds outdoors where you want them to grow any time in the fall, or as early in spring as you can prepare the soil. Space the seeds so that the plants will stand 8 to 10 inches apart. Sow more seeds at intervals of three to four weeks to have successive crops of flowers. This is necessary because each plant blossoms only three to four weeks. Flowering flax needs full sun and well drained soil. Expect flowers about 100 days after sowing seeds.

Flax makes a colorful border plant, and blooms most profusely where summers are cool. Type red, bluish purple, pink or white Bloom Time Linum lewisii Prairie Flax Native Blue Flax Seed & Plants 4 to 8 Lb per acre Seed shipping chart at bottom of page Linum lewisii, Prairie Flax or native Blue Flax, light blue flowers attract butterflies, this western native wildflower does best in dry sunny conditions and light soils, blooms late spring into summer, blooms first year, perennial, 1 to 2 feet tall, All flax species are noted for their value in mixes for erosion control and beautification values. The six week flowering period and showy blue flowers make seedings more aesthetically pleasing and increase plant biodiversity. Due to the semi-evergreen nature of the species, flax can also be used as a fire suppressant species in greenstrip plantings. Flax is considered desirable forage for deer, antelope, and birds, either as herbage or seed. They may also provide some cover for selected small bird species. Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax is beneficial in mixes for erosion control and beautification values.

Prairie Flax is considered desirable forage for deer, antelope, and birds, either as herbage or seed. They may also provide some cover for selected small bird species. They provide diversity to the plant community. Linum lewisii is native to the US. In general, flax is an annual or short-lived, semi-evergreen perennial forb, sometimes semi-woody at base with attractive blue flowers. Common to the western United States. Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax wildflowers do well on infertile, disturbed soils. They have excellent cold winter and drought tolerance. They will tolerate weakly saline to weakly acidic sites. They are usually found in open areas, but will tolerate semi-shaded conditions. They are fire resistant due to leaves and stems staying green with relatively high moisture content during most of the fire season. Prairie Flax should be broadcast or seeded with a drill at a depth of 1/4 inch or less into a firm seedbed. The ideal seeding depth is 1/8 inch. Prairie Flax should be used in mixes and is not recommended for single species seedings.

The full seeding rate (not recommended) for these forbs is 4 pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre or 24 seeds per square foot. The best seeding results for Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax are obtained from seeding in late fall to very early spring on heavy to medium textured soils and in late fall on medium to light textured soils. Late summer (August - mid September) seeding is not recommended. Dormant fall seedings (preferred seeding period for flax) will pre-chill seed and reduce seed dormancy which may be present. Mulching, irrigation, and weed control all benefit stand establishment. Seedling vigor is good, but not as good as most grasses. Germination normally occurs the first growing season, but may not occur until the second growing season. Full flowering should not be expected until at least the second growing season. Seed is generally harvested in late July to mid-August by wind-rowing before seed shatter and combining with pickup attachment once green stems have dried. Seed is mature when capsules are dry and seed is hard and dark in color. Flowering is indeterminate with mature capsules and the possibility of some flowers present at harvest period. Some seed will shatter once capsules open.

Seed should be allowed to dry to 12 (bins) to 15 (sacks) percent moisture and then stored in a cool dry area. Seed retains viability for several years under these conditions. Growth of Native Linum lewisii Prairie Blue Flax begins in early spring and flowers appear in mid May through early July The map below shows areas where native Blue Flax (Prairie Flax) plants grow wild but it can be planted and will grow over a much wider area than shown. USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 9. Linum lewisii Prairie flax Uses Ethnobotanic: Cultivated flax (Linum usitatissimum) is grown both for fiber (flax) and seed oil (linseed). Linseed oil may cause skin irritation upon contact. Ingestion of linseed oil causes difficulty of breathing, paralysis, and convulsions (Russell et al. 1997). Grazing/rangeland: Blue and Lewis flax are noted to have fair forage value for livestock and wildlife during spring and winter. Plants stay green throughout the growing season providing some forage value. Birds use the seed and capsules in fall and winter.

All species provide diversity to the seeded plant community. Erosion control/reclamation/greenstripping: All flax species are noted for their value in mixes for erosion control and beautification values. The six week flowering period and showy blue flowers make seeded landscapes more aesthetically pleasing and increase plant biodiversity. Due to the semi-evergreen nature of the species, flax can also be used as a fire suppressant species in green strip plantings. Wildlife: Flax is considered desirable forage for deer, antelope, and birds, either as herbage or seed. They may also provide some cover for selected small bird species. Status Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plantï¿½s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values. Description General: Flax Family (Linaceae). Linum perenne is introduced from Eurasia. Linum lewisii is a comparable U.S. native plant (Figure 1). In general, flax is an annual or short-lived, semi-evergreen perennial forb, sometimes semi-woody at base with attractive flowers ranging from white to blue to yellow to red in color.

The flax species with yellow to red flowers can be toxic to livestock. Common in the western United States, blue flax is considered a woody sub-shrub in the PLANTS database (USDA, NRCS 2000). According to Cronquist et al. (1997), ï¿½the only significant difference between Linum lewisii and the Eurasian Linum perenne appears to be that the former is homostylic, and the latter heterostylic.ï¿½ Flax plants have many narrow, small, alternate (rarely opposite), simple and entire leaves that are sessile (lacking stalks) on the stems. The perfect and regular, generally showy flowers are borne in racemes or cymes. The sepals, petals, and stamens are five, the fruit a capsule, and the seeds in most species are mucilaginous when wet. Distribution Lewis flax can be found from Alaska to California and east to Minnesota in mixed grass, sagebrush, shadscale, piï¿½on-juniper, mountain brush and aspen communities and in openings in coniferous forests.

Blue flax is native to Eurasia and has been planted successfully throughout the United States. For current distribution, consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Adaptation Flax species do best on well-drained soils. Most ecotypes do well on infertile, disturbed soils. They have excellent cold winter and drought tolerance. They will tolerate weakly saline to weakly acidic sites. Plants are usually found in open areas, but will tolerate semi-shaded conditions. They are fire resistant since leaves and stems stay green with relatively high moisture content during most of the fire season. Figure 2. Test plots of ï¿½Apparï¿½ blue flax (Linum perenne) . Derek J. Tilley, USDA NRCS Establishment Planting: Flax should be seeded with a drill or broadcast at a depth of 1/4 inch or less into a firm seedbed. The ideal seeding depth is 1/8 inch. Flax is not recommended for single species seedings. The full seeding rate (not recommended) for these forbs is 4 pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre or 24 PLS per square foot.

When used as a component of a mix, adjust to percent of mix desired. For mined lands and other harsh critical areas, doubling the seeding rate component of flax is not required. The best seeding results are obtained from seeding in late fall to very early spring (due to the grass component of mixes) on heavy to medium textured soils and in late fall on medium to light textured soils. Late summer (August - mid September) seeding is not recommended. Dormant fall seedings (preferred seeding period for flax) will pre-chill seed and reduce seed dormancy which may be present. Mulching, irrigation, and weed control all benefit stand establishment. Seedling vigor is good, but not as good as most grasses. Germination normally occurs the first growing season, but may not occur until the second growing season. Full flowering should not be expected until at least the second growing season. Stands may require weed control measures during establishment. Because flax is a broadleaf plant, use of 2,4-D is not recommended. Mow weeds at or prior to their bloom stage. Grasshoppers and other insects may also damage new stands and pesticides may be needed.

Management Growth of flax begins in early spring and flowers appear in mid May through early July depending on species. Weed control and removal of very competitive species may improve chance of establishment. Damage from wildlife and rodents may occur and they may need to be controlled. Disease problems are minimal with flax; however fungus problems have been noted for some native species. Environmental Concerns Flax species establish relatively quickly and easily via seed under favorable climatic conditions. They are not rhizomatous or considered "weedy" or invasive species, but could spread into adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic and environmental conditions. They coexist with other species and add biodiversity to those plant communities. ï¿½Apparï¿½ blue flax seed normally germinates the first growing season following planting under favorable temperatures if moisture is available and it generally does not maintain a viable seed-bank. Native flax accessions tested maintain a portion of seed, which does not germinate the first growing season, as a viable seed-bank.

Seed Production Flax should be seeded in 24 inch rows at the rate of 2.5 pounds PLS per acre or 36 inch rows at the rate of 1.5 pounds PLS per acre (25 to 30 seeds per linear foot of row) to allow mechanical weed control. It should be seeded in early spring (April - May). Seeds that do not germinate in the year of planting will probably germinate in the following year. Hand rouging within row and cultivation between rows may be required. Split applications of nitrogen in spring and fall and application of phosphorus in fall will enhance seed production. For optimum production, alleviate moisture stress on plants during late-bud stage, pollination and re-growth. Seed is generally harvested in late July to mid-August by windrowing before seed shatter and combining with pickup attachment once green stems have dried. Seed is mature when capsules are dry and seed is hard and dark in color. Flowering is indeterminate with mature capsules and the possibility of some flowers present at harvest period. Some seed will shatter once capsules open.

Seed should be allowed to dry to 12% moisture or less before placing in bins or to 15% moisture or less before placing in sacks, and then stored in a cool dry area. Seed retains viability for several years under these conditions. Seed yields of 600 to 700 pounds per acre of blue flax can be expected under irrigated conditions and 200 to 300 pounds per acre under dryland conditions. Seed yields of Lewis flax from irrigated fields average 300 to 350 pounds per acre. Seed production of Lewis flax under dryland conditions is not recommended below 16 inches of average annual rainfall. Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Foundation and registered seed is available for each variety through the appropriate state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources. 'Appar' blue flax (Linum perenne) is a selected release from seed originally collected in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Appar was selected by the Forest Service Forest and Range Experiment Station and Aberdeen Plant Materials Center for outstanding vigor, beauty, and competitiveness with grasses prevalent on sites where it was collected.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and the Forest Service Forest and Range Experiment Station released Appar in 1980. Appar was released as native flax (Linum lewisii), but was later determined to be Linum perenne,a naturalized introduced species of European origin. Appar was named in honor of A. Perry Plumber, Forest Service (retired), who collected the original material. Appar is a hardy, relatively short-lived, introduced perennial forb, 12 to 36 inches tall, with deep blue flowers that bloom profusely for about six weeks beginning in mid May. It is well adapted to sunny open slopes, well-drained soils from moderately basic to weakly acidic, 10 to 18 inch rainfall areas, at 1,000 to 6,000 feet elevation. It has some shade tolerance, but is not tolerant of poor drainage, flooding, or high water tables. It does well seeded in mixtures with other species. Its intended uses are erosion control, reclamation, highway right-of-ways, homes, gardens, parks, diversity, and beautification.

Special note: Prior to release Appar was evaluated by the ARS Poisonous Plants Laboratory (Logan, UT) for poisonous compounds toxic to mammals and was found to not have any. Certified seed is readily available through commercial sources and breeder seed is maintained by Aberdeen Plant Materials Center. Maple Grove Germplasm Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) is a recent (2003) Selected Class Germplasm release of a native collection from the Maple Grove, Utah area. Maple Grove was selected by the Forest Service Forest and Range Experiment Station and Aberdeen Plant Materials Center for outstanding vigor, beauty, and competitiveness with grasses prevalent on sites where it was collected. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and the Forest Service Forest and Range Experiment Station released Maple Grove in 2003. Maple Grove is a hardy, relatively short-lived, native perennial forb, 12 to 36 inches tall, with light blue flowers that bloom profusely for about six weeks beginning in mid May.

It is well adapted to sunny open slopes, well-drained soils from moderately basic to weakly acidic, 10 to 18 inch rainfall areas, at 1,000 to 6,000 feet elevation. It has some shade tolerance, but is not tolerant of poor drainage, flooding, or high water tables. It does well seeded in mixtures with other species. Its intended uses are erosion control, reclamation, highway right-of-ways, homes, gardens, parks, diversity, and beautification. Certified seed is available through the University of Idaho Foundation Seed Program and Utah Crop Improvement Associations and Soil Conservation Districts in Idaho, Utah and Nevada. Certification of seed shall be limited to not more than two generations from the Generation-3 seed. There are numerous flax species native to the U.S. that may be available through native plant nurseries and seed companies. These include the following: Linum alatum (TX and LA), Linum arenicola (FL), Linum aristatum (UT Separating Appar Blue Flax from Maple Grove Lewis Flax Appar: darker blue flowers and styles of two different lengths (much shorter than anthers, or somewhat longer than the anthers).

Maple Grove: pale blue flowers and styles much longer than the anthers. and AZ to TX), Linum berlandieri (CO to LA), Linum catharticum (northeast US), Linum compactum (MT and ND to NM and TX), Linum intercursum (Atlantic states), Linum lewisii (central and west US), Linum medium (east and central US), and Linum virginianum (east and midwest US). Please check the PLANTS database for other native flax species. References Cronquist, A., N.H. Holmgren, and P.K. Holmgren 1997. Intermountain flora. Vol. 3, Part A. Subclass Rosidae (except Fabales). The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. Mosquin, T. 1971. Biosystematic studies in the North American species of Linum, section Adenolinum (Linaceae). Canadian Journal of Botany 49:1379-1388. Rogers, C.M. 1968. Yellow-flowered species of Linum in Central America and western North America.

Brittonia 20:107-135. Russell, A.B., J.W. Hardin, and L. Grand 1997. Poisonous plants of North Carolina. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. USDA, NRCS 2000. The PLANTS database. Version: 000419. < National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Prepared By Flax Flax E.S. Oplinger1, E.A. Oelke2, J.D. Doll1, L.G. Bundy1, and R.T. Schulerl 1Departments of Agronomy, Soil Science and Ag. Engineering, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Cooperative Extension Service, University of WisconsinMadison, WI 53706. 2Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. Nov., 1989. I. History: Common flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) was one of the first crops domesticated by man.

Flax is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean region of Europe; the Swiss Lake Dweller People of the Stone Age apparently produced flax utilizing the fiber as well as the seed. Linen cloth made from flax was used to wrap the mummies in the early Egyptian tombs. In the United States, the early colonists grew small fields of flax for home use, and commercial production of fiber flax began in 1753. However, with the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, flax production began to decline. During the 1940's fiber flax production in the U.S. dropped to nearly zero. Today a few individuals still grow fiber flax for their own use to make linen. Presently the major fiber flax producing countries are the Soviet Union, Poland, and France. Wisconsin had 2,000 acres for seed in the state in 1966 with an average yield of 18 bushels per acre, however there has been no acreage reported in recent years.

Minnesota had 378,000 acres in 1920 and over 1,600,000 acres in 1943. Since 1943 acreage has steadily declined with only 15,000 acres grown in 1988. The state average yield was 9.5 bushels per acre in 1920, while in 1987 it was 16 bushels. The yield dropped to 10 bushels per acre in 1988 due to dry conditions. States having the largest seed flax acreages are North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Flax is an alternative cash crop, especially in areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota where allocated acreages for other cash crops are limited or where other crops are not adapted. At one time the flax acreage was concentrated on the clay soils in eastern Wisconsin. However, flax is adapted and has been successfully grown in other areas of the state. In Minnesota, flax acreage is concentrated in the northwestern part, however flax has been grown successfully in nearly all counties. II. Uses: A.

Industrial Uses: Flax is still produced in the United States for its oil rich seed. Linseed oil has been used as a drying agent for paints, varnishes, lacquer, and printing ink. Unfortunately these markets have eroded somewhat over the years with the production of synthetic resins and latex. One bright spot in the market has been the use of linseed oil as an antispalling treatment for concrete where freezing and thawing effects have created problems on streets and sidewalks. Occasionally the straw is harvested and used to produce some paper products. B. Livestock Feed: Linseed oil meal is an excellent protein source for livestock containing about 35% crude protein. Flax straw on the other hand, makes a very poor quality forage because of its high cellulose and lignin content. Green flax straw should not be grazed or fed as it is high in prussic acid. The danger of prussic acid poisoning is greater immediately following a freeze. C. Human Food: Recently there has been some interest in seed flax as a health food because of its high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the oil (Table 1).

Table 1: Oil and Mineral compostion of flaxseed.1 Character measured 1Adapted from "Growing Seed Flax in the North Central States" 2Shown on ovendry basis III. Growth Habits: Seed flax is an annual plant that grows to a height of 12 to 36 inches. It has a distinct main stem with numerous branches at the top which produce flowers. Branches from the base of the plant may also occur depending on variety, stand, and environment. The plant has a branched taproot system which may extend to a depth of 3 to 4 feet in coarse textured soil. Spring-sown varieties of the North Central region are less cold tolerant, exhibit less basal branching, and grow more upright in the seedling stage than fall-sown varieties of Texas and southern California. The flax flower has five petals and a five-celled boll or capsule, which may contain up to 10 seeds when filled. Under most conditions an average of six to eight seeds per boll is normal. Some varieties produce bolls that tend to split open from the apex in varying degrees, whereas other varieties have bolls that remain tightly closed.

Varieties with tight bolls suffer less weather damage to ripe seeds and resist shattering better than varieties with split bolls. Most current commercial seed flax varieties have semitight bolls. Flax is normally self-pollinated, but insects cause some natural crossing. Frequency of cross pollination seems to be associated with varietal differences and environmental conditions. Individual flowers open in the first few hours after sunrise on clear, warm days, and the petals usually fall before noon. Most commercial varieties have blue petals. Petals may also be white or different shades of purple, blue or pink. The seeds may be various shades of yellow, brown, greenish-yellow, greenish-brown, or nearly black. Seed color of most commercial varieties is light brown. Flax is an excellent companion crop to help establish small seeded grasses and legumes. Plant characteristics that favor its use as a companion crop are (1) limited leaf area and short stature which allow much light to reach the forage seedlings, (2) early maturity, and (3) less extensive root system than many crops which reduces competition for soil moisture. Flax in Wisconsin and Minnesota is a spring annual with a 90 to 110 day growing season.

The typical life cycle consists of a 45 to 60 day vegetative period, followed by a 15 to 25 day tlowering period, and 30 to 40 day maturation period. Proper harvest time is important in flax production. Early harvest reduces yield while late harvest can change the chemical make-up of the oil and thus its quality and value. IV. Environment Requirements: A. Climate: The concentration of flax acreage in the North Central states is in part due to the large acreage of fertile land suitable for flax and a lack of other competing crops with more favorable economic returns. The North Central area also has moderate summer temperatures and rainfall which is sufficient but not excessive for good flaxseed yields. Flax yields tend to decrease as precipitation diminishes. Annual rainfall ranges from 30 inches in parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota to 15 inches in eastern Montana. More important than total rainfall is the amount of precipitation that falls during the growing period. Adequate moisture and relatively cool temperatures, particularly during the period from flowering to maturity, seem to favor both high oil content and high oil quality. B. Soil: Flax is best adapted to fertile, fine textured, clay soils.

It should not be grown on very coarse textured, sandy soils. Flax on peat or muck soils will be disappointing unless problems related to drainage, fertility, and weed control are solved. C. Seed Preparation and Germination: More uniform stands of flax are frequently obtained when the seed is treated with a suitable fungicide. In areas where wireworms are a problem, an insecticide needs to be used along with a fungicide as a seed treatment. The seed coat of flax is easily damaged during harvest and handling. Sometimes this damage is so slight it is not visible but even such slightly damaged seed is susceptible to seed decay. Thus, all seed should be treated with a fungicide. Sound, uninjured flax seed should always be selected for planting if available. V. Cultural Practices: A. Seedbed Preparation: The best seedbed for flax is similar to the ideal seedbed for small seeded grasses and legumes. It should be wellworked. The soil should be firm to avoid large air pockets. Fall plowing is preferred if erosion is not serious. The seedbed may be worked fairly shallowly, except where deeper plowing is required when flax follows corn.

Cultivation following early fall plowing will aid in weed control. In the spring, shallow discing and harrowing are the usual practices of seedbed preparation. In most cases, a more uniform planting depth (and seedling emergence) will result if the field is rolled before planting. B. Seeding Date: Research in several states indicates that early seeding gives the highest yields in most years. Plant about the same time as for oats. Seedling flax plants have tolerance to light frost. Planting is sometimes delayed to allow cultivation for weed control in fields where weeds may be a very serious problem. Late planting of flax may not cause as great a yield reduction as it does with small grains. C. Method and Rate of Seeding: A seeding rate of 4250 pounds of good seed per acre is recommended. Lower seeding rates often result in more severe weed problems. A onehalf to one inch planting depth is suggested in clay soils. Flax seed is comparatively small and may fail to emerge from greater depths, especially if crusting occurs. Inexperienced growers often plant too deep, especially if the soil is loose. Flax is usually sown with a grain drill. Presswheel-type grain drills are ideal.

A roller type seeder often used to plant forage legumes may also be used. D. Fertility and Lime Requirements: Flax requires about the same soil fertilization program as small grains. Apply lime to maintain soil pH in the 6.0 to 6.5 range. Follow soil test recommendations for phosphorous and potassium fertilizer applications where soil tests for P and K are low (L) or very low (VL). These elements are especially important if a legume is being seeded with flax. Annual nitrogen, phosphate, and potash recommendations for Wisconsin are shown in Table 2 and for Minnesota in Tables 3 and 4. If large amounts of fertilizer are required, it is commonly applied to the previous crop in the rotation. Stands of flax will likely be reduced if combined total rates of N, P2O5 and K2O applied with the seed exceed 20 lbs./acre. Table 2: Annual nitrogen, phosphate, and potash recommendations for flax in Wisconsin. Nitrogen recommendation 1Recommended rates are for total amount to applybroadcast plus drill.

Caution: Flax: Do not apply more than 10 lb./acre nitrogen or 20 lb./acre N+P2O5 +K2O in the drill row. E. Variety Selection: The most important factors to consider in variety selection are maturity, disease resistance, standability, and oil content and quality. Each of these factors will influence yield or quality. Pasmo is the most serious disease affecting flax in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Recommended Varieties for Oil Seed Production: DufferinHigh yield when sown early, not recommended for late sowing. Very late, brown seed, blue flowers, variable plant height. High oil percent. Resistant to rust and wilt. Licensed in 1975 by Agriculture Canada, Ottawa. RahabHigh yield. Medium maturity, good lodging resistance. Brown seed, blue flowers. High oil percent. Resistant to rust, moderately susceptible to wilt and pasmo. Released in 1985 by South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. VerneHigh yield, particularly when sown late. Early maturity, good lodging resistance. Blue flowers, brown seed. Excellent resistance to rust and wilt, moderately resistant to pasmo.

Released in 1987 by Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. Other Varieties: ClarkMedium yield. Early. Brown seed, blue flowers. Medium oil percent. Resistant to rust, moderately resistant to wilt and pasmo. Released in 1983 by South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Culbert and Culbert 79Medium yield. Early maturity, good lodging resistance. Brown seed, blue flowers. High oil percent. Resistant to rust, moderately resistant to wilt, moderately susceptible to pasmo. Culbert released in 1975 by Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. Culbert 79 selected from Culbert and released in 1979 by South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. The two varieties do not differ significantly. FlorMedium yield. Medium maturity. Brown seed, blue flowers. High oil percent. Resistant to rust, susceptible to wilt, moderately susceptible to pasmo. Released in 1981 by North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. LinottMedium yield. Early maturity. Brown seed, blue flowers. High oil percent. Resistant to rust (has a trace of susceptible plants), moderately susceptible to wilt and pasmo.

Licensed in 1967 by Agriculture Canada, Ottawa. LintonMedium yield. Medium maturity, medium lodging resistance. Brown seed, blue flowers. Mcdium oil percent. Resistant to rust and wilt, moderately susceptible to pasmo. Released by North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in 1985. McGregorHigh yield when sown early. Very late, very resistant to lodging. Brown seed, blue flowers. Medium oil percent. Resistant to rust, moderately resistant to wilt, and susceptible to pasmo. Licensed in 1981 by Agriculture Canada, Ottawa. Production of certified seed limited to Canada. NorLinHigh yield. Medium maturity. Brown seed, blue flowers. Medium oil percent. Resistant to rust, moderately susceptible to wilt and pasmo. Licensed in 1982 by Agriculture Canada, Ottawa. Production of ccrtified seed limited to Canada. NorManHigh yield. Late maturity. Brown seed. blue flowers. High oil percent. Resistant to rust, moderately susceptible to wilt and pasmo. Licensed in 1984 by Agriculture Canada, Morden. Production of certified seed limited to Canada.

Note: Variety descriptions from Report 24, "Varietal Trials of Farm Crops" University of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1989. F. Weed Control: 1. Cultural and Mechanical: Weeds are generally more of a problem in flax than in small grain. Growers should sow flax on relatively weed free land and where quackgrass is not a serious problem. Use post-harvest tillage and/or herbicides the previous season to suppress perennial weeds such as Canada thistle and quackgrass and to stimulate germination of annual weed seeds. Good weed control with a minimum of weed seed production in the preceding year's crop will facilitate a cleaner flax field. Delayed sowing of flax to permit additional spring tillage for weed control may be successful in some fields but the planting delay may be detrimental to the flax. 2. Chemical: There are no soil applied herbicides recommended for weed control in flax in Wisconsin. Walk your fields every 5 to 7 days after planting and use the appropriate postemergence herbicide if necessary.

In Minnesota, Eptam and Treflan can be applied and incorporated in the fall while Ramrod can be applied preemergence in the spring. Poast can be applied at .5 to 2.5 pints/acre to control annual grasses like foxtail, fall panicum, barnyardgrass, and wild oats. Treat when weeds are up to 4 inches tall. Volunteer cereals can be controlled with 1 1/2 pints/acre. Always use a crop oil concentrate or Dash with Poast. This product does not prevent further weed seed germination. If a second flush of annual grasses appears, make a second application. Quackgrass control is not mentioned in the flax section of the Poast label, but the 1 1/2 pint/acre rate would normally suppress this weed. Do not apply Poast within 75 days of harvest and do not graze or feed treated flax forage to livestock. Poast can be tank mixed with either Buctril or MCPA. This is appropriate when a mixture of grasses and broadleaves is present. Use only a crop oil concentrate (not Dash) as the additive.

Some leaf burn, slowed crop growth, and delayed crop maturity may result from these tank mixes. Grass control may also be somewhat reduccd. Wild oats can also be controlled with Carbyne and Hoelon. Carbyne at 1 to 1.5 pints per acre applied postemergence when wild oats is in the 2leaf stage will control wild oats. Hoelon should be applied at 2 to 2.67 pints pcr acre when wild oats is in the 1 to 4leaf stage. Dowpon applied at 1 pound per acre when flax is 1 to 6 inches tall will control small (less than 2 in.) foxtail. Dowpon can be mixed with MCPA Amine. To control annual broadleaf weeds postemergence, apply 1/3 to 1/2 pt/A of MCPA Amine (forms containing 4 lb acid equiv/gal), when flax is 2 to 6 inches tall but before the bud stage. Flax can be seriously injured if this treatment is applied between bud stage and when 90% of the bolls have formed.

Seed germination may be reduccd by treatment after full bloom. MCPA may cause injury to flax at any stage of growth but is generally less injurious than 2,4D. Buctril (bromoxynil) can be applied postemergence to control broadleaf weeds, especially wild buckwheat and smartweed. This treatment is weaker on pigweed and wild mustard than MCPA. Apply 1 pt/A in 10 to 20 gal of water before weeds exceed the four-leaf stage and the flax is 2 to 8 inches tall. Do not treat flax during or after the bud stage. High temperatures on day of treatment and for the next 3 days must not exceed 85 730176;F to avoid flax injury. G. Diseases and their Control: Rust is a fungus disease which first appears as yellow orange pustules on the leaves and stems. The spore masses are darker color in later stages. Good fall plowing that buries straw and stubble aids in controlling the disease, but the most efficient control for rust is the use of resistant varieties.

Pasmo is a fungus disease characterized by yellowgreen to brownish spots on the leaves, stems, and bolls. Infected leaves die and drop off. Infected stems appear as alternate green and brown areas giving a blotchy appearance. Gencrally the disease becomes more severe as the crop approaches maturity. The fungus is carried overwinter on flax plant debris. This disease has been observed on flax in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Wilt is a soil-borne fungus disease. It is most serious where flax is not rotated with other crops. Recommended varieties are highly resistant to this disease. Seedling Blight diseases attack the germinating seed. Losses are most severe in extremely cold, wet growing conditions. The fungi may enter the seed through cracks in the seed coat. Seed treatment will help to prevent losses. Aster Yellows and Crinkle are both virus diseases which are transmitted by certain insect vectors. These diseases may be present to a limited extent each season; however, losses are usually light. H. Insects and Other Predators and their Control: Flax may be infested from time of emergence to maturity by various insect pests. To keep damage low, examinc fields regularly for pests and use control measures promptly.

Cutworms damage the seedlings by cutting off the plants at or near the soil surface. Severe damage may be done in 1 or 2 days when the plants are young. Wireworms, although often serious pests of cereal grains in the seedling stage, seldom damage flax. Aphids sometimes become so abundant on flax in midsummer that all the plants in a field may be covered with them. These infestations normally cause little damage. The aster leafhopper and the tarnished plant bug, like aphids, feed by sucking juices from the flax plants. The leafhopper can carry the mycoplasm that causes aster yellows and infect the plants with this disease while feeding. Tarnished plant bugs damage flax by feeding on the growing tips, which become distorted and die back. The damage from these insects is most serious on late-seeded crops. Grasshoppers may be a hazard to flax, especially before harvest. If flying adults invade a field, they can quickly cause large numbers of bolls to drop to the ground by chewing through the succulent portions of the small stems below the bolls. In the spring young hoppers may also damage seedling flax.

The beet webworm, a slim, lively, dark green caterpillar, may eat leaves, flowers, and patches of bark from flax stems and branches. When abundant, usually in July and August, the larvae migrate in large armies. I. Harvesting: Flax is more difficult to harvest than small grains; however, flax does not shatter or lodge as easily. Because of green weeds and uneven ripening, flax is usually windrowed and allowed to dry before combining. It may be combined standing if it is relatively weed free and appears to be uniform in maturity. Flax is ready to harvest when 90 percent of the bolls have turned brown. The seed should be under 12% moisture before combining. Flax is usually ripe when the stems turn yellow, the bolls turn brown, and the seed can be easily threshed. In wet summers the stems may remain green and the plants continue to flower long after the early bolls are ripe. Under such conditions flax should be harvested when all but the very late bolls are ripe. It is important to harvest soon after it is mature because weeds usually become a greater problem.

If left standing for a long period of time, the seed quality for oil purposes may be seriously reduced. Adjust the combine cylinder speed (8001300 RPM) and cylinder concave clearance (1/161/4") to avoid cracking and yet remove all the seed from the bolls. A sharp cutter bar is necessary when combining direct. Adjustment in the cleaning is important to minimize losses. A sieve with an opening of 1/16 to 3/16" is suggested. Careful loss evaluation will aid in refining these adjustments. Flax seed over 11% moisture usually cannot be stored safely for extended periods. Top market prices are usually based on 9% moisture. Flax should be left in the windrow to dry until the seed reaches this moisture level. Seed containing large amounts of green weed seed and inert matter should be cleaned before storing. If the straw is to be marketed, it should be baled and stacked when thoroughly dry. The straw should be fairly weed free if the highest prices are to be obtained. J.

Drying and Storage: Flax seed shipped to market often contains from 10 to 40 percent dockage and cracked flax seed, other grains, weed seeds, and chaff. These admixtures are mostly undesirable when extracting linseed oil, but they are of value for feed. Excessive dockage may be screened from the flax before marketing to save freight charges if the screenings are of aufficient local value to offset cleaning costs and losses from shrinkage during cleaning. However, only a few farms and not all local elevators are equipped for such cleaning. Cleaning on the farm or at the local elevator saves screenings for feeding in the community, but they often are more valuable in the terminal markets where they can be incorporated into commercial mixed feed. To clean flax seed, use a 4 x 16 mesh wire sieve (or 4 x 14 for large-seeded varieties) to separate the grain and larger weed seeds from flax. A metal sieve with round holes onefourteenth of an inch in diameter will remove most of the small weed seeds and fragments of flax seed. The air blast can be regulated to blow out all immature and shrunken flax seed and trash.

For safe storage, flax seed should contain 11% moisture or less. Store only in dry tight bins or containers. Flax seed will flow through very small openings. VI. Yield Potential and Performance Results: A. Wisconsin: Flax yield tests have not been conducted in Wisconsin since 1972. Yields at Madison in 1971 and 1972 ranged from 1820 bu/a, (Table 5). B. Minnesota: The most recent flax yield tests conducted in Minnesota show that several varieties average 1820 bu/a. Yield and other plant characteristics are shown in Table 6. VII. Economics of Production and Markets: Market outlets for seed or straw should be located before planting. Most local buyers may be able to handle flax if they can make arrangements in advance. The flax straw processing plants are in Minnesota. The straw is usually shipped to these plants as needed. The University of Minnesota publishes information yearly on the cost of production and expected net return from growing various crops including flax. These crop budgets must be adjusted according to individual situations to be useful.

A budget plan for 1989 comparing four different crops is summarized in Table 7. A land charge of $55.20 is included in the overhead cost of all crops. Transportation costs to market would usually be higher in Wisconsin than Minnesota because the nearest flax terminals are Minneapolis and DuluthSuperior. Table 5: Yield and Agronomic Data for Several Flax Varieties at Madison, Wisconsin, 197172.1 Variety flax | plant | Britannica.com plant Alternative Titles: common flax, Linum usitatissimum Related Topics flaxseed Flax (Linum usitatissimum), plant of the family Linaceae , cultivated both for its fibre , from which linen yarn and fabric are made, and for its nutritious seeds, called flaxseed or linseed, from which linseed oil is obtained. Though flax has lost some of its value as a commercial fibre crop owing to the availability of synthetic fibres, it has grown in popularity as a health food and remains economically significant in a number of countries around the world, including China , Russia , and Canada . (For additional information on the nutrition and uses of the seeds, see flaxseed ).

Harvesting flax near Hrodna, in western Belarus. A. Perekhod/Tass from Sovfoto Flaxseed, or linseed, harvested from flax (Linum usitatissimum). AdstockRF Flax is an herbaceous annual . When densely planted for fibre, plants average 0.9 to 1.2 metres (3 to 4 feet) in height, with slender stalks 2.5 to 4 mm (about 0.10 to 0.15 inch) in diameter and with branches concentrated at the top. Plants cultivated for seed are shorter and many-branched. The leaves , alternating on the stalk, are small and lance-shaped. The flowers , borne on stems growing from the branch tips, have five petals, usually blue in colour but sometimes white or pink. The fruits are small dry capsules composed of five lobes. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) in bloom. The plant is grown for its useful fibres as well as for … © Mykola Ivashchenko/Shutterstock.com A bast fibre , flax is one of the oldest textile fibres. Evidence of its use has been found in the prehistoric lake dwellings of Switzerland .

Fine linen fabrics, indicating a high degree of skill, have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. Phoenician traders apparently brought linen from the Mediterranean area to Gaul and Britain , and the Romans introduced linen manufacture throughout their empire. In the 17th century the German states and Russia were major sources of raw material, and the linen industry was established in the Netherlands, Ireland, England , and Scotland. In North America the expansion of the cotton industry reduced the importance of linen. Similar Topics From flax to linen From flax to linen From flax to linen Linum Usitatissimum translates from Latin as "most useful linen." In naming this species, botanists recognized the inherent value of the humble flax plant. For ten thousand years or more, man has known this gentle gift of nature was the source of textiles with special properties: soft hand, rich color absorption, lasting durability, and unrivalled comfort. Always ecologically-correct, every part of the flax plant is at man's service. The seeds provide oil for dyes, paint, cosmetics and floor coverings. When ground, they form a flour used in poultices. The fibers have been used as sutures.

The by-products of linen production are processed into a pulp used for banknotes or fiberboard. However, flax is most renowned as the raw material for an extraordinary fabric. Flax is one of the few crops still produced in Western Europe, with nearly 75,000 acres under cultivation annually. Climatic conditions in this region are perfect for growing flax, and increasing worldwide demand for linen makes it an important cash crop. The growing cycle is short and sweet, with only 100 days between sowing in March and harvesting in July. The plant ripens by the end of June into golden yellow color, and then it flowers, dotting the fields with blossoms of violet, blue and white. This display is over quickly, however, for each flax plant blooms for one day only. Harvesting: To preserve the full potential of each plant, flax is never mowed but must be uprooted. Up through the Second World War, this was an exhausting process done by hand. Today, mechanical grubbers do this tiring work. Drying: After harvesting, the flax is stacked in hedges to dry. Once dried, the seeds are removed.

Retting and Turning: Then flax is exposed to moisture to break down the pectins that binds the fibers together. In the past, flax was retted in rivers, particularly in the Lys region, which imparted a lovely golden glow to the fibers. Today, for ecological reasons, retting is no longer performed in rivers. The preferred method still requires the intervention of Mother Nature as the flax is spread out in the fields and exposed to rain, dew and sunshine for several weeks. Stripping and Combing: During these mechanical processes the fibers are separated from the straw (shives), and then graded into the short fibers (tow) which is used for coarser yarns, or the longer fibers (line) which will be used to create the finest linen yarn. Spinning: Drafting and doubling, or carding, draw out the long or short fibers into sinuous "ribbons" which are then plied together on spinning looms in various weights and thicknesses. The fine yarn is "wet spun" to impart a smoother, shiny appearance. The tow are commonly "dry spun" yielding a less regular and napped yarn.

Weaving, Bleaching and Dyeing: Before any weaving occurs, the linen yarns are examined for strength, evenness and pliancy. Close tolerances on these properties are required because of the great speed of today's power looms. The looms of Libeco·Lagae run around the clock and are monitored by a central computer to ensure quality and efficiency. During their 8-hour shift, each weaver can now be responsible for 10 to 15 looms. After weaving, each yard of fabric is examined and quality tested. If the fabric is not being used in this raw state, it moves to the finishing department where it is bleached and/or dyed. Bleaching linen requires consummate skill-enough chemicals to remove any pectin or shive residue, but not so much as to compromise the structure of the fibers. After bleaching or dyeing, various treatments to make it crease- or soil-resistant can be applied. Linen is crisp, clean and comfortable. Soft, yet strong and durable. The more it is used, the softer and stronger it becomes.

It can absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture before it feels damp, and easily releases moisture to the air to remain cool and dry to the touch. Flax remains colorfast and launders beautifully. It has the additional advantage to be non-allergenic. Flax requires considerably fewer pesticides and fertilizers than other crops. The fibers are recyclable and eventually biodegrade. For all these reasons, linen offers fashion designers unlimited creative potential, and wearers lasting enjoyment. Bedding of pure or blended linen is in vogue once more. We never tire of linen at the dining table. The utility of linen in the kitchen is unrivaled. No other fiber can offer this unique blend of luxury and comfort, supreme elegance and down-to-earth practicality

Question: What colours are the flowers of the flax plant?
Answer: Blue