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With a germination temperature of 6°C which is also equivalent to the basal growing temperature, Crambe is a winter crop in southern Europe and subtropical areas whereas it is cultivated as spring crop in northern Europe and more continental areas. The optimal growing temperature is approximately 15°C. It tolerates annual average temperature between 5.7 and 16.2°C and frost up to -6°C. Because of its ability to get along with only 350mm of annual precipitation, Crambe is considered to be relatively drought tolerant. Nevertheless, drought stress during the development stages of flowering and grain filling reduces productivity. Cultivation is possible up to an annual precipitation of 1200mm. Crambe has modest demands regarding soil properties, it tolerates soil pH from 5.0 to 7.8. Low soil depth and a high stone and gravel content decrease drought tolerance.

Seeds of many improved varieties are available on the market and are sown at a rate of approximately 120 seeds per m2 and at a depth of 5-15mm. Seed maturation is uniform and the 1000 seed weight varies between 6.0 and 7.5g. Management procedures from sowing to harvesting can be conducted largely with the same machinery used for common cereals. Yield levels vary widely between 1100-1600kgha-1 in Russia, 450-2500kgha-1 in the U.S. and 600-2400kgha-1 in Germany.

Crambe can be easily inserted in crop rotation s with a requirement of 1600 growing degree-day s. The rotation contingent of Crambe should not exceed 25%. Because of similar soil requirements and increased soil borne pathogen pressure, cultivation directly after other Brassicacea species such as rape should be avoided as well as cultivation after artificial grassland and fallows due to an enriched soil seed bank of potential weeds and regarding the limited pre-emergence weed management methods.