A boneheaded question: corn

[Laminarman]

OK, this is stupid. I purchased a Flexi planter (model 71, Deere) used on Ebay. Great shape. Planting this weekend. But....I have my tires dished out to accommodate my hilly terrain, and after measuring and re-measuring, there is no way I can plant corn without driving over some of my rows at some point. If I plant at 20" or 40" or in between I at some point will be on a row. My front tires are 10" wide, my rears 18", and they sit inside (rear) to outside (front), so effectively cover 28" on each side. Tell me if I'm overly concerned.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I set mine so the two planter units are 30" apart (actually I just measured it, they were already set there). I ran a row, turned around and ran another row, until my acre was planted. I never ran over any of the rows that were already planted.

I don't think you want to plant at 40", I did a bit of checking and for pollination purposes, it is my understanding that you want to be at 36" or closer for your row spacing. 30" seems to be very common.

 

[Laminarman]

Hi Bob. I have a one row unit. Still working on the math to make it work out! Also, trying to figure out how to keep straight with these rows!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> Also, trying to figure out how to keep straight with these rows! </font>

That is pretty easy. . . enjoy the beer AFTER you do your planting.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hi Bob. I have a one row unit. Still working on the math to make it work out! Also, trying to figure out how to keep straight with these rows! )</font>

PRACTICE....PRACTICE....PRACTICE.....

Don't look at your front wheels. (or at least don't STARE at the front wheels.) Just look at them every now and then, checking to see if you're still "on track" with the previous row. Look far out in front of the tractor. When you stay focused on the front wheels, you will have the tendency to make constant "corrections". Looking out at a distance, focusing on the end of the field will make those adjustments less frequent, and more gradual.

A single row planter will be difficult to use with a tractor that's not "single row width". Multiples of 2 rows (2, 4, 6, ect...) work best. HOWEVER....

It isn't the end of the world, running over a planted row. It is FAR better if you don't.

For many a year, corn was planted in 40" rows. The main reason the switch to "narrow row corn" was made was to increase "plant per acre" population. By planting in 30" rows, as opposed to 40", seed can be dropped farther apart in the row, and still get more seeds per acre. That helped with planter accuracy as well. (It also allowed planting at a faster ground speed.... something that most farmers felt neccisary.... Even with todays more modern, highly improved planters, it isn't recommended that you plant faster than 5MPH. )

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Look far out in front of the tractor. When you stay focused on the front wheels, you will have the tendency to make constant "corrections". Looking out at a distance, focusing on the end of the field will make those adjustments less frequent, and more gradual. )</font>

And I've been teaching my grandson that the same thing applies to driving a car or truck on the road. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif If you concentrate on the road too close in front of you, you're constantly making adjustments and usually overdoing it. And of course I know that you knew that already. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[bdog]

First thing I would do is adjust your tires so that they fall in the same track, Ideally the center of the fronts and rears should match, but if not possible try to get the 10" fronts to fall somewhere in the 18" of rears so that your total footprint is 18" on each side.

With a 1 row planter you want it centered on your tractor. Plant the first row along the edge of the field or along a fence so it is straight. For the next and all following rows drive in one of the tracks from the previous row. If your tires are 48" apart this will give you 48"rows, which is far apart, but should work if you are just making a garden or whatever. You could also line up your tire halfway inbetween the planted row and the tire track for a closer spacing if you wanted to do that. Last week I planted 4 acres using a 2 row planter on 24" spacing. I just drove in my tracks and it was easy.

 

[BoneheadNW]

Corn? Yes I love it! Any other questions for Bonehead?

(Sorry, it was too tempting to pass up /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

 

[Laminarman]

Thanks BDog. I'll have to make due, as my front tires can't be made to fit within the rears. And Im not about to lift those rears off myself and flop them around to make them closer! I'll do my best. I was trying to avoid 48" row spacing, but if that's what I have to do, I'll do it. Thanks again.

 

[newtothis]

Lordy, I've got so much to learn. Bought a 2 row planter over the weekend. Bought a sprayer a few weeks back and was naive enough to think you just put Roundup and water in it and go spray stuff you want dead!

Although I grew up in the country, never farmed, it's becoming clear that the only thing I've got is tools and no clue!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red">
Although I grew up in the country, never farmed, it's becoming clear that the only thing I've got is tools and no clue! </font>


Heck you are a step ahead of me, I grew up in the city/suburbs and moved out here. If you have the tools and no clue, all you need is desire, desire will get you to the point where you have a clue, but usually not until you get past that trial & error period. I'm still trying to figure out how I survived the first few years I lived in the country /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A single row planter will be difficult to use with a tractor that's not "single row width". Multiples of 2 rows (2, 4, 6, ect...) work best. HOWEVER....
)</font>

That is unless you're planting some sort of melon. Then 1, 3, and 5 rows do make sense. But, these are somewhere around 60" rows. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[newtothis]

As soon as I get the new pump on my sprayer I'm going to go out and start the learning curve by making all sorts of mistakes. Can't wait to get working, I just want to act like a farmer even if I'm not one!

Only had the tractor a year, haven't worked it hard in some time and I miss using it.

PS, I think the wife has already figured out that I'm just screwing around some of the time! Another reason I need to get to working the ground, another legit reason to be afield!

 

[kensfarm]

On my TC35D.. I set the planter rows as close as I can adjust them to ride inside the tire spacing.. the space between the 2 corn rows allows for one cultivator tine to run between them.. I use two tines on the outsides of the rows(tire tracks).. 5 tines total. On the second pass just have the tire tracks touch the outside of the first set of tracks.

tire tracks - #####
planted corn row - --------

#####(First pass )
---------
---------
#####
#####(2nd pass)
--------
--------
#####


Usually the passes would ride on the previous set of tire tracks.

#####
--------
--------
#####(Tire track driven on twice)
--------
--------
#####

Hope this helps!

 

[jwnge]

Another thing to think about, more corn grows in a crooked row... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif JohnJ

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

<font color="blue"> Bought a sprayer a few weeks back and was naive enough to think you just put Roundup and water in it and go spray stuff you want dead!
</font>

And what's wrong with this approach? Been doin it for years with great results.

 

[Laminarman]

Thanks Kensfarm. Makes me realize I should have bought a two row planter /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif One row seems difficult. The rear inside tires are 48" apart, while the front insides are 40" apart. Front outside spread is 60", tires 10" wide. Rears have an 84" outside spread, and are 18" wide. This leaves a whopping 4" patch of untreaden earth between the outside front and inside rear. I have a headache from this, and I'm just going to go plant and have fun and not worry about it anymore.

 

[DaveNay]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For many a year, corn was planted in 40" rows. The main reason the switch to "narrow row corn" was made was to increase "plant per acre" population. By planting in 30" rows, as opposed to 40", seed can be dropped farther apart in the row, and still get more seeds per acre. That helped with planter accuracy as well. (It also allowed planting at a faster ground speed.... something that most farmers felt neccisary.... Even with todays more modern, highly improved planters, it isn't recommended that you plant faster than 5MPH. ) )</font>

Wait.....where are the rows as far apart as 30" these days? I know I am just a yung'n around here to some members, but I have never seen corn rows that far apart in this area. I am surrounded by tens of thousands of acres of corn that are all planted at most 15"-18" apart, and each plant is no more than 5"-6" apart within the row.

Is this an exception, or do my eyeballs need to be re-calibrated? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Dave

 

[Laminarman]

Come to think of it DaveNay, I have no idea how far to plant the rows apart. I just want to avoid running over the planted strips. I think much of the problem is that I just haven't gotten on my tractor and played with it. I know around the local seed dealer said "about 3' apart" which seems kind of wide. I have the planter set to spread seed at about 6.5" apart.

 

[DaveNay]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks Kensfarm. Makes me realize I should have bought a two row planter /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif One row seems difficult. The rear inside tires are 48" apart, while the front insides are 40" apart. Front outside spread is 60", tires 10" wide. Rears have an 84" outside spread, and are 18" wide. This leaves a whopping 4" patch of untreaden earth between the outside front and inside rear. I have a headache from this, and I'm just going to go plant and have fun and not worry about it anymore. )</font>

Still thinking.....does anyone know what the weight distribution is between front and rear on Laminarman's tractor? I would imagine that with the planter hangin off the rear, by far the majority of the weight is on the rear tires. This would then reduce the concern of running over rows with the front wheels. This frees up a few more options when trying to figure out your spacing.

Dave