10/21/2026
🌱 Two New Seeds. One Goal: A Healthier Pasture.
This week, two new additions arrived at Holland Legacy Farms: chicory from Hancock Seed and Boston plantain from Albert Lea Seed House. And no, we're not growing a salad garden! We're looking at ways to improve our pasture for our Blackhead Dorper sheep.
🌿 Why chicory?
Chicory develops a deep taproot that can help cycle nutrients through the soil while contributing organic matter. It also provides nutritious leafy forage for sheep and can tolerate some drought once established. Research has even explored its potential role in managing certain internal parasites in grazing sheep, although it isn't a replacement for proper parasite control.
🌱 Why Boston plantain?
Boston plantain adds another broadleaf forage to the mix. Its branched taproot and nutritious leaves offer a different growth pattern and feeding option from conventional pasture grasses. It can also contribute to forage diversity and may perform well under some dry conditions.
🐑 What's the benefit for our sheep?
Our goal is to provide a more diverse selection of forage while building a pasture that better supports our flock. Different plants offer different nutritional characteristics, and a well-managed, diverse pasture can give our sheep more grazing options.
🌾 Can these seeds extend our fall grazing season?
Potentially, over time. Once established, these plants could contribute to our rotational grazing program and help diversify our forage throughout the growing season. However, we're planting in late October, so establishment and meaningful fall growth aren't guaranteed—especially for Boston plantain, which is generally recommended for spring planting.
For us, this is about more than planting seeds. It's about investing in our soil, improving our pasture, and being intentional about how we raise our animals.
We'll be watching closely to see how these plants perform in our North Texas conditions.
Have you planted chicory or Boston plantain for sheep pasture? We'd love to hear about your experience in the comments!
At Holland Legacy Farms, we believe raising good food starts with taking care of the land.
