Pounds to cups conversion for small seeds

[PTArcher]

Anyone ever go thru the process of making a conversion chart for seeds like clover, chicory, and brassicas from pounds to cups for easy in field measuring?

 

[KY wild]

NO, but what I have done to speed up the process..... Grab an old container like an empty ice cream bucket or cool whip bowl and put on meat scale and fill with clover until it is a pound then mark a ring with a permanent marker around the height, inside and out. Then I take the conainer with me to the field to quickly measure. At the end of the day I throw it away and do the same thing next time

 

[Bill]

I use a kitchen scale.

 

[PTArcher]

Had some hybrid brassica seeds from Grandpa Ray's and some Kale. Both measured very close to 2.5 cups per pound. I'm guessing that may change from seed supplier to seed supplier depending on seed moisture and coating/inoculant. My clovers and chicory are in sealed bags, but will check them too when ready to use. I fully understand the kitchen scales, just trying to get a good, close in field method so I dont have to premeasure at home first.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

I use a kitchen scale. Weigh out the seed and then put it in a ziploc bag and label it for the plot. I do the same for the fertilizer. Throw it all in a basket on the atv and head out to plant the plot.

 

[Telemark]

I use a kitchen scale.

I get the area of the plot, figure out what I want in it, and then figure how much I need of each type of seed. I weigh out each component and dump it in a bag and label the bag. I give it a good shake to mix it up before spreading and dump it in an Earhway chest spreader and do a ring around the perimeter of the plot and then a criss-cross grid until I run out.

I used to mix up a batch by acre, but I quit doing that because I end up making changes to the plan before the next planting, and each plot is different.

 

[TreeDaddy]

NO, but what I have done to speed up the process..... Grab an old container like an empty ice cream bucket or cool whip bowl and put on meat scale and fill with clover until it is a pound then mark a ring with a permanent marker around the height, inside and out. Then I take the conainer with me to the field to quickly measure. At the end of the day I throw it away and do the same thing next time

I do the same with Folger coffee containers

bill

 

[PTArcher]

Thanks for the input. So with the coffee can/cool whip container, do you just have different marks for different seeds, such as clovers, chicory, brassicas?

 

[FarmerDan]

This is for entertainment only! Watch me stutter

Bulk Density per Cu Ft:

https://bionumbers.hms.harvard.edu/files/Weight per bushel and bulk densities of grain and seeds.pdf

 

[PTArcher]

Impressive stuff there Dan! Seems like most of the small seeds, i.e. clover, brassicas, alfalfa are all about 2.5 cups per pound. Assume chicory is around the same. Not sure my process requires 4 decimal places. Thanks!

 

[FarmerDan]

The extra decimal parts come free - unlike wives and children!

 

[Telemark]

Impressive stuff there Dan! Seems like most of the small seeds, i.e. clover, brassicas, alfalfa are all about 2.5 cups per pound. Assume chicory is around the same. Not sure my process requires 4 decimal places. Thanks!

Make sure to adjust if the seed is coated. The clover and chicory I buy is usually coated, which means less actual seed per measure.

 

[farmlegend]

Impressive stuff there Dan! Seems like most of the small seeds, i.e. clover, brassicas, alfalfa are all about 2.5 cups per pound. Assume chicory is around the same. Not sure my process requires 4 decimal places. Thanks!

And..small twist....I assume Farmer Dan's excellent table represents raw seed. Coatings, inoculants (common on clovers and sometimes alfalfa) can throw it off a bit.

 

[FarmerDan]

And..small twist....I assume Farmer Dan's excellent table represents raw seed. Coatings, inoculants (common on clovers and sometimes alfalfa) can throw it off a bit.

Frankly, I wouldn't use my calculations at all! There's a lot of variability in the density of a cubic unit of whatever. God was drunk (but happy I would add) when he programmed the weight of seed products. One lot of soybeans, as an example, can weigh the same as another (it goes without saying) but have twice -or half- the number of seeds as another lot. It's an ugly situation but simple and we should assume a lot!

 

[bigboreblr]

Uncoated seed is getting hard to find...

12oz ceramic coffee mug is a bit under a 1/2 pound

Clover has alot of variables like planting too deep and hard seed. Only reason i still measure is to make sure I got some left for the last plot.