19 October 2026Winter rapeseed in autumn: growth regulators and preparation for winter
Winter rapeseed overwinters best when it forms a compact rosette of 8–10 leaves, a thick root collar and a growing point pressed to the ground before winter. Overgrown plants with an elongated collar are much more likely to winterkill or rot.
Why use growth regulators in autumn
Products with growth-regulating action (based on metconazole, tebuconazole, mepiquat chloride and their combinations) restrain above-ground growth and promote root development and thickening of the root collar. They are usually applied at the 4–6 leaf stage; in a warm autumn and with early sowing it is especially important not to miss the timing.
Pests to watch out for
- Turnip sawfly — larvae eat the leaves.
- Flea beetles — dangerous at emergence.
- Slugs — in a wet autumn on heavy soils.
- Monitor crops and spray when the economic threshold is exceeded.
Weeds and volunteers
Volunteer cereals compete strongly with rapeseed in autumn — they are removed with graminicides. Broadleaf weeds are controlled with herbicides approved for rapeseed, taking into account whether the hybrid is conventional or Clearfield.
Product selection
We will recommend a growth regulator, insecticide and graminicide for the condition of your crop and calculate the quantity for your area.
Important: always check application rates and timings against the product label and the State Register of Pesticides and Agrochemicals of Ukraine. This article is for reference only.
Full winter rapeseed protection program →