Planter row spacing problem

[Parocket]

I have a Bobcat 230 with a rear tire width of about 31". I'm planning on planting 2 acres of sweet corn with it. I have a cultivator that is very adjustable but my JD 2 row corn planter may only be able to go to 29".
Any suggestions for spacing outside of planning only on row? I want to be able to run cultivator those for the first few weeks, before its too tall.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Probably need to know more about your planter as to why you cant move it to 30", which is by no means unusual for corn. Is it a drive problem or a toolbar width problem.

 

[super55]

You trying to go in between the rows for cultivating? Typically for cultivating you straddle the row of corn you are cultivating. I know you don't have much clearance so that will limit the number of times you can cultivate.

 

[Parocket]

One planter is a 246 3pt the design of the tool bar appears to limit it to around 29" the other is a JD pull type 49? it too has a tool bar that seems to the limit, plus both axles for the wheels have a limited width.

 

[Parocket]

Probably need to know more about your planter as to why you cant move it to 30", which is by no means unusual for corn. Is it a drive problem or a toolbar width problem.

Would less than an inch of clearance be enough to cultivate a few times when short enough?

 

[Parocket]

You trying to go in between the rows for cultivating? Typically for cultivating you straddle the row of corn you are cultivating. I know you don't have much clearance so that will limit the number of times you can cultivate.

I was hoping to cultivate by straddling 2 rows with tines in the center and 2 out rigged along the two straddled rows.

 

[RKrodle]

What's your tire width center to center? Normally on a small tractor, my Farmall 100 for example with a 48 inch center to center, you would do single rows on 48 inch spacing. On my bigger Mahindra with 72 inch Center to Center wheel spacing you would do 36 inch rows. On the farmall the row would be centered on the tractor, on the mahindra it would have two rows 18 inches off center of the tractor. On both, after making the first row you would just follow your tire track to make the second row and so forth.

 

[super55]

You are right the 246 offers minimal adjustments so I don't think any changes in width of that is going to help you in any way.

Personally see you best option as dropping the idea of straddling two rows and two row cultivating and go with a one row straddle/cultivated approach. Two go with a two row straddle you would need row markers and have your rows **** near perfect and it would only allow inches of clearance for each tire. I would think you would end up crushing a lot of your plants by running over them. A one row cultivator will allow you some room to adjust to you rows if they are by chance less than perfect and cultivators are usually very easy to adjust.

I don't know if you have used your 246 yet but I would highly recommend putting some covering knives or chains behind the planter shoes to help cover the seed. I have a 290 planter (wheeled version of the 246) and it does a great job metering the seed and fertilizer but always had an issue getting the soil over the seed adequately.

 

[Parocket]

My center to center with is 48" on the tractor, out side width is 60" (I have R4 )
So could plant 2 rows then adjust my cultivations and sprayer to 1 row? Suggest row width?

 

[flusher]

Get a longer toolbar?

Good luck

 

[Parocket]

So would 48" rows be right? The would seed down the center of my tires, then I would straddle a single row to cultivate/fertilize.
Seems liked a lot of room but I have plenty of area available.

 

[super55]

My center to center with is 48" on the tractor, out side width is 60" (I have R4 )
So could plant 2 rows then adjust my cultivations and sprayer to 1 row? Suggest row width?

Right now your planter rows are set up at 30" rows so if you straddle the one row perfectly you will get 60" of working width. If you could widen the planter to a 32" row spacing that would give you 64" inches of working width 33/66 34/68 etc. Not much room but enough if your rows are nice and straight.

The hard part is on your way back making sure you maintain at least a 30" width from your previous row. If you don't have row markers on your planter than its worth your time to have a tape measure in the pocket to measure the distance. After a few rows you'll get pretty good at eyeballing the spacing from where your tires are from your previous tracks and won't need to measure.

As flusher said you can cultivate up 3 rows if you like if your tool bar is long enough. What I am in reference when I say 1 row is that you will be straddling only one row not two. Most CUT cultivators are generally set up less than 60" width and sweep alignment for one row.

As for spraying I would highly recommend if you do not have it already going with a spray boom. I have tried the fimco 3 nozzle boomless and a northern tool boomless nozzle and while they receive great online reviews they are absolutely horrible when trying to spray row crops. The droplets are entirely too big and once your crop starts to get some size to it the corn will shield the weeds from getting any contact so look for a 4 or 7 nozzle 10' boom if you do not have one already.

 

[RKrodle]

My center to center with is 48" on the tractor, out side width is 60" (I have R4 )
So could plant 2 rows then adjust my cultivations and sprayer to 1 row? Suggest row width?

In my opinion you would be better off with a one row planter. Trying to use a two row planter with your tractor isn't going to give you the results you want. Sorry, I know that's not very helpful. I'm not familiar with your planter but is there a way to set it up as a single row planter? I believe you said the planters are mounted on a toolbar, maybe a different toolbar that will allow putting the planter centered on the tractor.

 

[kneedeep]

Center the 2 planters between your tires and set the cultivator to match the planter. Use wide enough sweeps behind the tires to plow the wider row between the 2 narrow rows. adjust seed population/acre accordingly.
Planted acres of corn like this years ago with a JD 950 , 2 row Covington planter. Used a knocker box in the middle of a cultivator to side dress between the rows the last time I could get over it. Made lost of sweet corn for eating and field corn for feeding cows.