Want to put a field in Coastal....

[warhammer]

About 5 acres in size. It was plowed last fall and has been harrowed a few times since.
I have not had the soil amended and it was planted with grain sorghum last year. We are in an extreme drought area. Any workable timeframe to get this field sprigged with Coastal this year?


Warhammer

 

[kossetx]

If you have the field redy, sprig at first greenup, which may still be 3 weeks away. in centex.

 

[jimg]

I thought you guys were in some extended drought. If so itll be hard to get Bermuda off the mark unless it gets water no matter what time of year you plant. I suppose youre beyond last frost? Warm soil temps will also be necessary.

 

[warhammer]

Temps are mid 70's to low 80's most days now.
We are in a very dry spell.
This is my first try at any kind of Ag. Can I still fertilize at this point? If for whatever reason I can't get the coastal in does the field just sit bare for the year or......?

I thought you guys were in some extended drought. If so itll be hard to get Bermuda off the mark unless it gets water no matter what time of year you plant. I suppose youre beyond last frost? Warm soil temps will also be necessary.

 

[Western]

1st thing I wood do...
I would schedule a time for your county extension agent to come out. He is free and will be able to tell you more than you want to know, most importantly about your area. You will definatley want a soil test. He can show you how, or you can go to the Texas A&M agriculter web site and get the instructions and order form. It's easy and cheap.

You still have a little time, you will need more moisture than we've been getting. Coastal really starts growing good when the daytime temps are 80 degrees.

Latest average freeze in central Texas is 1st half of April, Last half of April for North Texas

Get your ag guy out and lower your risk of loosing your investment.

 

[kossetx]

I'm not saying it's a good time to plant now, but my neighbor planted about 30 acres of coastal in the spring of '06 and it took just fine. It was much drier then than now. If I dig down 2" I have moisture in my pasture. I took a soil sample last week and was shocked at how damp the soil was and that was 3 weeks after the last rain.

As for freeze, depends on where in central tx you are. I consider myself to be in central tx and the average last freeze for zone 8a where I am is march 30.

By the way, I noticed my coastal was starting to green up some shoots yesterday. Early this year.

 

[warhammer]

I am thinking along those lines as well.
Went out this weekend to work on the fence and get the soil sample. The fields are dry on top and are very moist from 2" on down.
The farmer who leases my large field this year and the fields behind me has planted and sprouts are coming up.

Warhammer

I'm not saying it's a good time to plant now, but my neighbor planted about 30 acres of coastal in the spring of '06 and it took just fine. It was much drier then than now. If I dig down 2" I have moisture in my pasture. I took a soil sample last week and was shocked at how damp the soil was and that was 3 weeks after the last rain.

As for freeze, depends on where in central tx you are. I consider myself to be in central tx and the average last freeze for zone 8a where I am is march 30.

By the way, I noticed my coastal was starting to green up some shoots yesterday. Early this year.

 

[Kfbeal]

We've got corn up 2"-3" around here already.

Where are you getting the coastal? Is it freshly cut?

I'm thinking of doing the same thing with our Alicia, but haven't gotten the other pasture worked up yet. I may work it up this year and let the natural grass grow and then plant it next year. Our Alicia is slowly starting to green up a bit down here.

My neighbor has sprigging machine but we've done 15 acres by hand from square bales and disced it in. That was a pretty good job.

 

[warhammer]

I am looking for somebody to do the sprigging now. Around here it looks like the fee per acre includes the sprigs.
Sure hope its freshly cut since everything I have read says the sprigs won't take if they are not.

Warhammer

We've got corn up 2"-3" around here already.

Where are you getting the coastal? Is it freshly cut?

I'm thinking of doing the same thing with our Alicia, but haven't gotten the other pasture worked up yet. I may work it up this year and let the natural grass grow and then plant it next year. Our Alicia is slowly starting to green up a bit down here.

My neighbor has sprigging machine but we've done 15 acres by hand from square bales and disced it in. That was a pretty good job.