Disk now or at planting time?

[James P. Bipps]

I have 5 plots on my property. Two serve as "destination" plots and are currently planted in a clover/ buckwheat base. The three smaller plots were in a Lick Creek rotation. I have decided to abandon the rotation due to the fact that the brassicas always get eaten to dirt and I have to throw rye on them eventually. The 3 plots were quite weedy, so I have sprayed them 2 times this summer in prep for a planting in about one month (August 15). I will plant the 3 plots in an oats/red clover/ groundhog radish, with rye added in 2-3 weeks later, and possibly more rye 2-3 weeks after that. This basically is the Jeff Sturgis "Layed Food Plot" concept. My question is as follows:

- I have one month until I plant. Should I disk now and spray whatever weeds pop up prior to planting or should I wait and disk at planting time?

James

 

[wiscwhip]

Why disc them at all? Tons of guys have great success just broadcasting the seeds you are going to plant right into dead thatch without ever touching the soil with steel. Lots of threads on this method both here and on the "other" site. I guess if you feel you must disc, do it now and kill what comes up in the mean time. Just be advised that this will deplete your soil moisture, especially since we are approaching the hottest time of year. If you wait to disc, you will not be able to spray the new weeds that you kick up during the tillage process.

 

[j-bird]

I agree with Wisc - turning soil often times just introduces more seed for weeds. I would just watch the forecast and plan to broadcast before a good rain and you should be fine.

 

[James P. Bipps]

It's my understanding that oats do better when planted below the soil. I will do a version of throw and mow in my larger destination plots this year. So if I disk the 3 plots and don't disk the 2 other plots, I'll have a good comparison for future reference in regards to oats.

 

[phil@thesidehill]

These oats were surface broadcast with crimson clover onto lightly disked strips in mid may. the pic is from 6/30/15. As of today they are over 3ft tall and setting seed. I didnt roll them, drag them, pack them, or drive them in with ATV tires.

 

[Ben-WPA]

I have trouble with turkeys eating most of my winter rye and oats unless I at least drag the field. Throw and go is throw and gone. Lol.

 

[SD51555]

If your brassica plots are getting eaten to the dirt, I wouldn't even mess with oats if you're going to do rye anyway. Unless they don't eat rye. Rye is far easier to establish than oats.

 

[James P. Bipps]

The oats will freeze out and leave more room for the rye and clover.

 

[Steve Oehlenschlager]

Disks were made to grow weeds.....not clover plots. The best clover plots are created without ever scratching the surface of the soil. Spray...spray...maybe spray again and plant. It works!

 

[Bill]

Throw and grow here. Leave the disk in the weeds where it belongs. I don't even like breaking the ground with my drill. Seems anywhere I expose dirt a weed grows