Planting Brassicas without a cultipacker

[BJE80]

How have you determined the best germ rate for brassicas when you don't have access to a cultipacker? Do you just drive all over it or do you use a fence drag? It seems to me the drag harrow buries them too deep. Its worked but I think it would would better if I just broadcast into the tilled field and then drive over with the ATV and let the rain do the rest. Thoughts.

 

[MoLandOwner]

We seed them with airplanes into standing corn without packing other than the rain. Just broadcast on top of the ground before a good rain if possible. Do it sooner than later as germination may take 3 weeks to a month.

 

[EOB]

I have used the ATV many times with good results, the ATV is a very good cultipacker, just takes longer. I don't drag the field.

 

[BJE80]

Ok. That is the plan then. Planting tomorrow morning. I will drive all over the field a bunch of times. Chance of rain every day the next 5 days so hopefully that will happen but not too much. I'll be getting a packer for next year. :)

 

[BJE80]

^FWIW...I planted some brassicas last week in anticipation of heavy rain last weekend. Only received about .25" of rain, but I checked the plot yesterday and some brassicas were already germinating.

Did you just broadcast? Or did you drive over?

 

[biglakeba$$]

Next weekend I am going to spread through my soybeans and pray for the rains. I have never had much success because the rains never happen. Willing to try again and again.
i am toying with the idea to try to spread and pack in my mature rye too.

 

[MoLandOwner]

Brassicas into corn, no packing!

 

[biglakeba$$]

Thats not to shabby. :)

 

[Peeps]

That looks awesome!! Do the brassicas in the corn field effect the combine at all? I was thinking about spreading something into the standing corn and soybeans down on my lease but it can't effect the farmer harvesting the crops in October.

 

[MoLandOwner]

That looks awesome!! Do the brassicas in the corn field effect the combine at all? I was thinking about spreading something into the standing corn and soybeans down on my lease but it can't effect the farmer harvesting the crops in October.

Wont effect the combining. But if you seed something in his corn that continues to grow the following spring, that may be a problem if he decides he can't get his crops in. He may not be able to collect prevent plant insurance without terminating what you have growing in the field. That may make him a little mad. I would check with him before doing anything. Good Luck!

 

[Greta&Gus]

If you till the field I would certainly go over with a chain harrow before spreading the seed as it will leave the soil 'fluffy' and I have had issues with proper germination because of this.

 

[*Hawaii5joe*]

8 years of planting brassicas and never used a cultipacker. Rain has always done well.

 

[BJE80]

Things went well on Saturday. I'll post pics tomorrow. (Posting mobile right now)

 

[BJE80]

If you till the field I would certainly go over with a chain harrow before spreading the seed as it will leave the soil 'fluffy' and I have had issues with proper germination because of this.

Yes I always dragged it after discing. It breaks up my clumps of clay into powder. Works well.

 

[phil@thesidehill]

i just seeded my brassicas into killed/mowed thatch last night...no packing or anything....80% chance of rain tomorrow. I should be able to see some germination by end of the week. even if some of the seeds dont make it all the way down to the soil through the thatch they will still germinate. the thatch will hold sufficient moisture and the seeds will germinate much like they would wrapped in a damp paper towel like a rag doll test. that first little white root will seek and find the soil as long as the seed isnt perched too high above the ground. I had one seed last summer that fell into the corner of the plot where i enter it to check cams/plot progress/etc. I happened to see a little white root sticking out from two dead blades of grass and took a closer look. the root germinated seed between those two blades was bout 1 1/4" of the ground. I poked a stick in the ground next to so i could watch. it eventually found the soil and produced a baseball sized turnip.

 

[BJE80]

Here are some pics.



This is what I started with.

After discing.

Final Product after dragging, seeding and driving over the top. (I hooked my disc back up to use the tires as another two wheels to push seed down)

 

[MoLandOwner]

Looks Good!

 

[MoLandOwner]

Here is a kill and throw plot I did last week. Brassica is starting to sprout as the weeds die off!

 

[BJE80]

I'll also show my small plot which is a winter rye tilled under and planted the same.

What I started with. Sprayed Winterrye and clover.

Disced and started to drag

Finished product.

 

[MoLandOwner]

I love that plot in the trees BJE! Nice spot!