Planters Question about Covington 1 row planter

[Jimmy1040]

I've bought a used Covington single row planter and have a few questions
1. Can I use this setup to fertilize/side dress after planting corn? If so, wouldn't the press wheel run right over my corn?
2. What parts is needed to convert to side dress?

Thanks for any help

 

[lpigott]

I suppose you could "rig" it to do that but you would need a cultivator frame/toolbar that would allow you to move the planter to the side and rig something to block the fertilizer shoot on one side. You would be better off to get the Covington side dresser. I have a cultivator with the planter setup that I leave untouched and only use for planting and another cultivator tool bar for cultivating and using the side dresser on when needed.http://www.wattsbrosdistributing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TP3A002.jpgSide dresser | Watts Brothers Distributing, Inc.

 

[Jimmy1040]

I think I understand how that side dresser being off set would work if I use my planter in the center of cultivator. But Im trying to figure out if I move my planter over so it drops seed just inside of right rear tire and when I get to end of row I come right back down same tire tracks with another row in order to make rows closer together, then how would I cultivate and side dress. Hopefully I'm making sense. I'm new to this so I'm a lil confused and hoping someone can help me understand what I need to do.

 

[barkerwc4362]

What is the row spacing your looking for? The wheel spacing on your tractor needs to drive the spacing of your rows. Does your tractor allow you to adjust the spacing both front and rear? My International 244 compact allows me to adjust my rear wheels from about 36" to 48". So row spacing with a single row planter should be from 36", 40", 42", 44", and 48". This will allow cultivating with a single row cultivator. I plant all my 1/3 acre garden on 40" rows. I plant with a Cole 12MX planter behind a John Deere 332 (diesel garden tractor) and do final cultivation with the International 244 using a cut down four row cultivator. Last year I planted and harvested 12 100' rows of sweet corn plus another 4 85' rows of field corn. In theory with either a multi-row planter or using a offset single row planter (a pain to keep aligned and remember which way to turn) you could plant 18", 20", 21", 22" and 24" row spacing. This would require a two or more row cultivator. Trying to do other than a spacing based upon your tractor's available wheel spacing you are on your own. Growing up in corn country (Eastern Iowa) we planted everything in 40" rows. The rear tires were set on 80" when cultivating using two and four row cultivators.

Bill

 

[Jimmy1040]

My tractor/ tire width is at 66" and tires are 14" wide on rear with no adjustment. So if my planter is centered to tractor my row spacing would be 66".
So if I'm understanding this right , is that if I move planter over to the side just 9" inside rear tire then I could make 2 passes in same tire tracks giving me 2 rows leaving 20" in between rows.
And if I buy myself a 2 row cultivator and adjust feet to cultivate each side of row and be able to mount a side dresser in the center with 2 fertilize chutes and that the press wheel will ride between the 2 rows ???
Does this sound about right? Or am I way off?.... please advise
My goal is to plant 2.5 acres of corn.

 

[barkerwc4362]

There are problems with planting corn at that narrow of row spacing. 1. Your rear tires will will end up running over corn at 20" row spacing. 2. Are you planning on irrigating the corn? Corn is a moisture intensive crop. On 40" rows and 10 - 12" seed spacing I have to put out soaker hoses for my corn if it doesn't rain every 10-14 days at least (every 7 days is better). The higher your plant population the more moisture you will need. Also, the more fertilizer you use the more moisture you will need. Remember corn is a member of the grass family. Last year was unusual for the amount of rain we received at the right time. But, I still had to water early. I planted the first batch late March last year and then at 7-10 day intervals. Last corn was planted mid-April. I used a starter fertilizer at planting and ammonium nitrate (pure nitrogen) when corn was knee high. You would be better off buying a two row planter and going with 30-33" rows to be compatible with your tractor's wheel spacing. That would allow you to cultivate your crop and side dress with no problems. The side dresser attachment on the Covington planter does not need to be used with the planter unit. It can be mounted on a cultivator by itself. 20" rows may be fine in Iowa or Illinois, but they have a soil that retains more moisture, has more organic material, plus a climate that has a more predictable moisture delivery as well as a later transition to high temperatures.

Bill

 

[barkerwc4362]

When you compute wheel spacing it is from center of rear tire to center of rear tire. Also can be computed by measuring from the center of your draw bar to the center of one of the rear tires, then multiply by two. So I estimate you wheel spacing is 52", center to center? I would still go with 30" row spacing.

Bill

 

[Jimmy1040]

Wow- when I was looking for planters I was told I couldn't use my Kubota to plant using a 2 row planter because of width!
I will sell my Covington one row planter and buy a 2 row planter if that solves my problem. Thanks so much for your time and help. It is much appreciated

 

[lpigott]

The planter you have is fine, you just need another one and a straight toolbar cultivator instead of a single row cultivator. Honestly though, I have planted a LOT of corn with a one row setup and prefer it, especially a small field like you plan. What kind of corn are you planting?

 

[Jimmy1040]

Field corn