Growing Camelina
Camelina is a versatile, resilient broadleaf oilseed in the Brassica family. Its short growing season fits into nearly any cropping system — spring or winter, double-crop, cover crop, or fallow rotation, anywhere cereal grain can be grown.
Scroll the seasonA short season, by the numbers
Low input, low water, no pollinators — the figures that make camelina fit the rotation you already run.
Five stages, one continuous season
From emergence to harvest, camelina follows a predictable arc — and JUMPSTART® opens the post-emergence weed-control window right as the crop bolts.
Stage timing varies by geography, variety, and planting window.
Emergence
Seedlings break the surface. Camelina is frost-tolerant and germinates at soil temperatures as low as 39°F, so an early cold snap after planting isn't typically a concern.
Rosette
A low-growing rosette builds root structure ahead of bolting. The short growing season and low water needs carry right through this stage.
Bolting
Stems elongate rapidly. This is the JUMPSTART® application window — 15 to 45 days post-planting, up to bolting — when over-the-top weed control does the most for yield.
Flowering
A brief 2–3 week self-pollinating bloom — no pollinators required. Rotating out of camelina or other Brassica crops afterward helps manage disease pressure.
Harvest
Conventional small-grain equipment handles harvest. Above 10% moisture, seed is subject to rejection — run air on the grain for 2–3 weeks post-harvest if storing at higher moisture.
Small seed, short season, hard to faze.
- 1Annual oilseed in the Brassica family
- 2Grows 2–4 feet tall at maturity
- 3Very small seed — about 400,000 seeds per pound
- 4Germinates at 39°F, frost tolerant
- 5Brief bloom period (2–3 weeks), yellow self-pollinating flowers
- 6Strong tolerance to drought and frost
- 7Suitable for irrigated or dryland systems
From ground prep to the bin, step by step.
Field Selection & Prep
- Well-drained soils preferred; avoid poorly drained or saturated ground
- Choose fields with low weed pressure
- Avoid soils treated with Group 2 or Group 14 herbicides the prior year (e.g., Beyond, Pursuit)
- Pre-plant: 1.5–2 pints/acre Sonalan
- Soil test for fertility — needs are similar to wheat
Planting
- Rate: 6–10 lbs/acre, variety and region dependent
- Depth: ¼″–½″ — seed-to-soil contact is critical
- Methods: Drill with grass boxes, air seeder, Brillion, or broadcast
- Tillage: Any — no-till to conventional
- Planting window: Mid-September to mid-October for winter camelina; February to April for spring. Confirm exact dates with your VISION agronomist — they shift by region.
- Nitrogen: 30–50 lbs/acre based on yield goal, applied before planting
Crop Protection
- Pre-plant: Sonalan, Treflan
- In-season: Clethodim, Poast. Approved glufosinate herbicides compatible with JUMPSTART® varieties.
- Burndown / harvest aid: Sharpen, Aim
- Always follow approved labels
What to Watch For
- Weeds: Kochia, lamb’s quarter, pigweed, wild mustard, field bindweed
- Pests: Cutworms at emergence, flea beetles, chinch bugs
- Disease: Downy mildew — rotate out of Brassica crops
- Moisture: Seed glues to surfaces like cement if exposed to moisture at planting or harvest. Seal openings on equipment.
Harvest
- Harvest when most seed pods are light brown and seed shells out by hand
- Plant stalks will appear pale green at harvest
- Seed moisture: 6–8% target — above 10% is subject to rejection
- Direct cut — swathing not recommended
- Set the combine for small seed; drive 1.5–2 mph with reel speed low to prevent shattering
- Harvest aids available: Sharpen, Aim
- Don’t expect a clean grain tank — some hulls are normal
Storage
- Store at 8% or less seed moisture; minimize green matter
- Hopper bins with aeration preferred; seal openings
- Run air on grain 2–3 weeks post-harvest
- Monitor for heating and spoilage
No special equipment is required.
All conventional small-grain equipment and tillage practices are compatible with camelina. Your VISION agronomist will provide guidance tailored to your geography and setup, from planting through harvest.
with grass boxes Compatible
seeders Compatible
combines Compatible
conventional tillage Compatible
Our 2026 lineup includes Javelin for spring planting and 24WC32 for winter planting. Additional varieties are in development.
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