Getting cleared area ready to plant & HP recommendations...

[jenkinsph]

How long does it take to dry out? If you can get in there within 5 days or so and lightly cover it I think you will be okay.

I used a small lawn mower style roller on the last patch I planted and rolled an acre in about 30 minutes. So in a couple of hours with an ATV pulling the roller (36") you can help this seed alot. I purchased a used lawn roller that you fill with water from Home Depots rental section cost was $75. The surface needs to be dry enough not ball up on the roller.


Steve

 

[e.myers]

Steve-
Not sure how long it's going to take to dry out enough.
Compounding that, not supposed to rain today but rain coming again tommorrow.

Will have to wait and see.

In the meantime, I'll look into some options for dragging and rolling.

 

[Ford850]

e.myers,
Where are you located? If you are up north, the clover won't germinate until spring anyway. In northern Ohio for example, it would have to be planted by August, otherwise it would be planted in Jan or after for spring germination. The clover shouldn't be covered much either.
The rye is fairly easy to grow though, so any depth from 1/4" to 1 1/2" would be fine. If you can get on it with a drag within a week or so it should be fine. If more rain is coming within a couple days after you drag it will be perfect. If it looks like no rain will be there for many days after you drag, then a roller would help things to be sure the seed isn't sitting in dry pockets as it germinates.
Best case scenario, it will dry out enough to get on it before it germinates.
Worst case scenario, it continues to rain, the rye and clover partially germinate.
The clover might not germinate this fall and the seed might rot before spring. Or it might germinate but not grow enough to survive the winter and die out in the spring. You could remedy this by broadcasting more clover in late winter. (this all depends on your location). Regardless of the clover timing, 3 inches of rain on a newly tilled area was sure to settle a lot of the rye and clover enough to germinate. If you can get on it within the 7 - 10 days, you will be fine.

 

[e.myers]

Ford-
Thanks a bunch.
I'm in South Carolina, and my window for getting the clover part of the mix in was last weekend (when I planted it).

I THINK, I should be able to get something done to cover it by the time frame you're talking.

Crossing my fingers. Thanks for the Best/Worse Case scenario examples.

Am I hearing you right in that it would be "better" not to roll the land after I drag it if rain is coming because it will settle the seed in by itself (give good seed to soil contact)?

Thanks again.
Eddie

 

[Ford850]

Ford-
Thanks a bunch.
I'm in South Carolina, and my window for getting the clover part of the mix in was last weekend (when I planted it).

I THINK, I should be able to get something done to cover it by the time frame you're talking.

Crossing my fingers. Thanks for the Best/Worse Case scenario examples.

Am I hearing you right in that it would be "better" not to roll the land after I drag it if rain is coming because it will settle the seed in by itself (give good seed to soil contact)?

Thanks again.
Eddie

I'm not saying it would be better not to roll it as much as it probably is not needed if rain is predicted. The rain will settle the bed. Rolling it would add an extra pass over the field and compact the soft swollen seeds with your tires, possibly damaging them. However, it if dries out and stays dry then rolling would be better, in my opinion. It will grow either way, so relax and enjoy the green over the next 3 weeks.

 

[e.myers]

I understand.
THANKS! Going to "chill" now.

Eddie

 

[e.myers]

So much for chillin....
Ain't looking good.

Tomorrow morning 9AM 100% chance of rain. 1-2 inches.
Tomorrow night 70% chance and .25-.5 inches
Thursday 40% and .25-.5 inches
Thursday night 70% and .25- .5 inches
Friday 30% and .25-.5 inches.

Took a look out in the field and the clover has already germinated. Nothing green but definitely germinated.
Rye is swollen and shows signs of germination.

Only good news in this is that it should be overcast while the seeds are trying to get establish so I guess there is potential that the parts that are germinating won't get burnt up. However this same overcast condition will prevent me from getting into the feeled to harrow the seed in by the window looks like.

Friday is 5 days since seed was planted. If it rains as predicted, it will certainly be a couple days before I can get in the field.

Looking like I'm gonna have to let it ride and see what happens

Oh well. Whats done is done. Will just have to see what happens. Guess I'm gonna learn (whether I wanted to or not) how well Cereal Rye and Crimson clover grow when the seeds are not covered.

Lesson learned is...
Do not broadcast seed if you're not going to have enough time to cover the seed on the same day.

 

[Ford850]

With that many rainy days, or cloudy at least, I think most of it will germinate. The cooler temps will help too. If it's already germinating I would stay off of it regardless of what the weather does now. Since you tilled the area it was likely a fluffy seedbed, and that first 3 inch rain probably settled the seeds in fairly well. Keep an eye on the clover and if there are large bare areas before the rye overtakes it, you can broadcast more clover on those spots in January.
I remember helping my cousin plant rye years ago. He hired a crop duster to broadcast the rye over his beans while they were still standing. That germinated well on top of the ground.

 

[e.myers]

Ford-
I don't think germination is going to be an issue. Went out this morning and most of the rye has legs now.

To be determined is if it's gonna "till" itself in or just lay there and croak.

Yeah, I was reading about the planes broadcasting rye, and it gave me a little hope, especially since it's overcast.

We'll soon find out!

 

[Ford850]

e.myers,
How's the rye looking?