Sunflower Thread

[John Paul]

I know it's late in the game for sunflowers but we need a new "how to" thread for sunflowers. I learned a lot on Smallplots (if I remember correctly) QDMA threads about sunflowers and clearfield sunflowers. Mine are doing well this year thanks to his YouTube videos.

 

[MNbirddog]

Mine are doing good too. I did the easy way. Ordered Eagle clearfield size 2 seed. Lime, p&k per soil test. Paid neighbor to plant with corn planter at 23,000 per acre. Local farm store top dressed coated urea at 65#. Sprayed with a version of raptor at 6 leafs (ok results) myself because nobody else wanted to do a washout of the sprayer during prime time when they were backed up because of the wind.

 

[dogdoc]

Don't say it's too late for sunflowers because I plant them in my fall planting. I've replaced winter peas with sunflowers. My deer love young tender sunflowers. A great early draw. But planting for seed it is a little late.

 

[cutman]

John Paul,

Did you broadcast, plant, or drill the sunflowers?

 

[John Paul]

John Paul,

Did you broadcast, plant, or drill the sunflowers?

I used a two row planter (JD 71) and hung my head over the side of the tractor to get "30ish" rows.

Actually the rows turned out great but after 10 acres of sunflowers and 15 acres of corn with that darn planter I'm looking for a 4 row no till planter with markers for next year.

 

[cutman]

Interesting. I've got a 7100 2 row no till planter and the 706NT drill and I'm already planning for next year. I think I'm going to get sunflower meters for the planter and use it for corn and sunflowers and the drill for everything else.

 

[MNbirddog]

Size 3/4 flowers need different meters. Eagle was the only place I could find the seeds that were big enough to be the same, so keep that in mind. I was traveling a lot through the Dakotas last year and every mycogen dealer I found only had 3's or 4's.

 

[John Paul]

Size 3/4 flowers need different meters. Eagle was the only place I could find the seeds that were big enough to be the same, so keep that in mind. I was traveling a lot through the Dakotas last year and every mycogen dealer I found only had 3's or 4's.

I planted #4 Clearfields this year and they are a tiny seed compared to the #2 that I've done before.

 

[MNbirddog]

I planted #4 Clearfields this year and they are a tiny seed compared to the #2 that I've done before.

Different plates needed than corn correct? I know very little about machinery...

 

[John Paul]

Different plates needed than corn correct? I know very little about machinery...

My planter has plates so yes I had to get new plates from Lincoln Ag for the #4. Some corn plates will work with certain sunflowers though.

 

[John Paul]

Sprayed with a version of raptor at 6 leafs (ok results) myself because nobody else wanted to do a washout of the sprayer during prime time when they were backed up because of the wind.

Did you spray with Clearcast?

I used Clearcast at 5 oz per acre, Cleth for a spike on grass and AMS and had good results. I sprayed a tad late but the plants are still doing well.

 

[MNbirddog]

Yeah but my ATV sprayer made it hard to apply at the 5oz. I can definitely tell where I went to fast, to slow and just right