Screwed Up

[dogghr]

What would you suggest for this plot. Faces south, on ridge top and soil tests all optimum. I screwed things up with it. It has always rotated well from brassica to WR mix with no problem. Due to couple circumstances, the brassicas were browsed to dirt my Dec last year. Part of problem, I got poor germ since I did only a broadcast and roll of the WR and RC that was standing. It also was very dry. And no mast, and poor browse due to drought, and the deer simply ate faster than it could grow. Something I've never had a problem with it.

So I simply overseeded with RC and WR which I do anyways with my spent brassica either early winter or March. Well by May this was a carpet of what I call Barnyard grass. Thinking I could get ahead of the game, I sprayed with Cleth thinking the RC that was present would explode, and it might have, but we were in a drought at that time till June. So now I have this desert that I had planned to broadcast my brassica or WR mix into with the plan of a typical spray and mow but since I have no thatch, not looking good.

I hate to till but do you people think that is my best option considering what I have to work with?? I just keep going back and forth on options and planting time begins in 1 wk for brassica. What might you think?

Can't get pic to upload. Hang tight.

 

[dogghr]

Ok here you go. You can see some RC came in one left and there are other areas, but mostly just dead grass. Been dead since late May..

 

[Buckly]

Simply start over and hope for better circumstances. Sometimes you need to do tillage to start over.

 

[OkieKubota]

I have ran into that same situation but in my instance it was too rocky to disk so I just threw seed down and hoped for the best. It semi worked!

 

[Razorback]

I don't think I would hesitate to broadcast WR and brassicas before a rain

 

[dogghr]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was leaning to WR brassica mix thrown and cultipack before a rain. As Kubota said, semi work is good enough for me. Sits adjacent to clover and alfalfa so food is there. Thanks. Any other suggestions can be thrown on here since it always helps to have varied opinions.

 

[lakngolf]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was leaning to WR brassica mix thrown and cultipack before a rain. As Kubota said, semi work is good enough for me. Sits adjacent to clover and alfalfa so food is there. Thanks. Any other suggestions can be thrown on here since it always helps to have varied opinions.

Maybe you should use that old box spring again!!

 

[Triple C]

dogghr...I enjoy reading all the "ask opinion" threads but truth is I simply don't consider myself qualified to comment on most of them. All I have is my personal experience. I tried my 1st throw and mow planting last fall. The results were okay. Not as good as when I do light tillage, plant and then cultipack. I bought a Plotmaster back in 2011. Prolly wouldn't buy another cause it's not a one pass planter deal. But, it works really well. Has 2 seed boxes that can be calibrated to handle a strip of brassica next to a strip of grain. Each has it's own seed calibration. It drops seeds in the shallow furrows created by the discs in front of the seed boxes and then a cultipacker on the back firms the soil. When germination occurs, it looks like it was drilled as the germination comes up in the disc furrows. I"m going to till our largest plots this fall and the smaller ones, do another round of throw and mow. Perhaps you should consider trying a combination of both. Tillage on 1/2 the plot and throw and mow on the other. Now that's coming from a guy that knows so much less than so many others on here.

One of the problems with forums is guys like me that have anecdotal experience weigh in with opinion that may or may not be best. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Elkaddict]

Personally, I would start over with a light discing. I'd do what is most likely to get you back on schedule.

 

[dogghr]

Triple, I can't argue at all what you are saying, and I would be comfortable with that. One concern I always have on this plot is it faces south/dry, on ridge/windy, and fairly decent slope/erosion. And indeed I have done as you have said with no guilt and when its done, perhaps again. Thanks for the opinion

Now Lakn, at first I really cracked up at that comment as a joke, then I tho…perhaps not such a bad idea. I still have that spring set on my farm. And indirectly i have done similar with tiller to do just the top inch loosened much as way Triple suggested. Thanks.

 

[dogghr]

Thanks Elk, votes are kinda going toward at least some tillage. Thats why I asked. You guys are awesome.

 

[Smallplot]

I do not see much in the way of keeping seeds from contacting the soil. Brassica and WR both just need contact. I would think it would be fine just broadcast and spray for stragglers. If you have dry conditions you will only speed up the moisture loss. Seed right before a good rain event and if you think the dead grass is thick enough to keep seed from hitting the soil, drop that old set of bedsprings and make a quick pass. I would not cultipack but would choose something to move the dead duff allowing seed to fall.


Dan
www.pikecountyfoodplots.com

 

[Kabic]

WR = winter rye
RC= ? some kind of brassica?

 

[FarmerD]

RC = red clover

 

[massey]

If it were my place, I'd spread either rc or Crimson along with some radish, and run it over with a VERY light discing or even a rake. I'd just want to scratch the surface to break it up a bit. But only do this if you want the wet weather to stop

 

[dogdoc]

I don't think I would hesitate to broadcast WR and brassicas before a rain

I agree! I think you will get great results with just over seeding into what you have now. However, an occasional tilling isn't gonna hurt anything at all if you want to start all over.

 

[dogghr]

Thanks guys for helping me work thru my thots. All the ideas are great. Think I'll make final decision at planting time dependent on weather forecast and condition of soil at the time. Knew you guys would pul thru. Always good to have a community.