The maturity group of Timothy grass determines the rate of developmental phases, primarily the heading stage, and is used to schedule harvesting.
In the reference
82
varieties
crop Timothy grass,
where this is mentioned in the description.
The classification of Timothy grass cultivars into maturity groups is based on phenological observations, which record the number of days from the onset of spring regrowth to the stem elongation, heading, and full seed maturity phases. As there is no standard numerical scale, cultivars are descriptively characterized as early-maturing or late-maturing in comparison to regional standards.
This trait is of critical importance for establishing a "green conveyor," allowing for the extension of harvesting periods by 40–45 days. Selecting a cultivar by maturity group is essential to ensure maximum nutritional value of the forage, given that the window for mowing maturity in this crop is brief, and also to synchronize the development of Timothy grass with legume components when establishing grass mixtures.
General information about the subject — on the page
Maturity group.
Varieties of Timothy grass mentioned in the description
Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.