I planted 4 acres of millet using a 2 row planter in 24" rows 12 days ago. We got a hard rain the day after I planted and it crusted the soil over. Many of the farmers in the area are replanting their cotton because the plants can not break through the crust. Now, 12 days later the millet that came up is 3" tall but only 20% of it came up. The millet is mainly for dove hunting and for more horse to graze on so it is not super important but I have some free time now and want to get it right. I am thinking of replanting but am unsure of the best way. Should I disc the entire land and start from scratch again, or just try to replant the areas that did not come up? I have never done anything like this before and am curious what the normal procedure is when replanting.
replanting?
- Thread starter bdog
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kensfarm
Veteran Member
Maybe if you wait another week you might get a better showing. Would your planter work in your current ground conditions?
oliver28472
Veteran Member
If you have or could borrow a rotary hoe and run through it you might be OK. We used to do that on corn.
I have a rotary hoe, but the millet is only planted 1/2" deep so I was afraid to run it for fear of flipping out the seeds.
I think my planter will work without additional tilling, but I don't want to double plant areas and have it grow too thick and choke itself out, or should I be worried about this?
I am kind of clueless on plants and growing them but you are suggesting that the other plants still may grow? The first emergence was 4 days after planting. Those plants are now 3-4" tall. Today is 13 days and the remaing 75% of field shows nothing. If there is a chance it will grow I will wait but I figured it germinated, could not penetrate the crust and died. I guess my dilema is if I am gong to replant I need to do it soon as it is getting kind of late to plant.
I think my planter will work without additional tilling, but I don't want to double plant areas and have it grow too thick and choke itself out, or should I be worried about this?
I am kind of clueless on plants and growing them but you are suggesting that the other plants still may grow? The first emergence was 4 days after planting. Those plants are now 3-4" tall. Today is 13 days and the remaing 75% of field shows nothing. If there is a chance it will grow I will wait but I figured it germinated, could not penetrate the crust and died. I guess my dilema is if I am gong to replant I need to do it soon as it is getting kind of late to plant.
kensfarm
Veteran Member
"If there is a chance it will grow I will wait "
A lot depends on planting depth & soil moisture.. dig up a few spots that haven't come up yet.. try to find the seeds and see if they sprouted.. swollen.. rotting.. can't find them?(I know the seeds are small)
After you check out the seed bed.. check your planter.. is it working okay.. seeds flowing properly.. correct seed plate. Are the seeds purchased new.. should show a germination test date w/ a 2004 year date.
If all checks out.. and no signs of additional sprouting.. I'd replant.
A lot depends on planting depth & soil moisture.. dig up a few spots that haven't come up yet.. try to find the seeds and see if they sprouted.. swollen.. rotting.. can't find them?(I know the seeds are small)
After you check out the seed bed.. check your planter.. is it working okay.. seeds flowing properly.. correct seed plate. Are the seeds purchased new.. should show a germination test date w/ a 2004 year date.
If all checks out.. and no signs of additional sprouting.. I'd replant.
Thanks for the reply. I planted it 1/2-3/4" deep. The planter was working good as far as I can tell. I dug up an area and it looks to me like they germinated, and then could not pentrate the soil crust and died. There are 1/4" long shoots that are dried up looking just under the soil surface. The seed bag label showed a 92% germination rate but from 2002. I bought the seed the day I planted so maybe I got sold bad seed?
kensfarm
Veteran Member
"shoots that are dried up looking just under the soil surface."
Guess it's time to replant.. seeds could be okay. You can test your planter on a hard dry dirt patch.. run it along the ground for 10 feet.. then go look at the seed placement.
On one field of sweet corn I planted I used older seed.. took 14 days to show.. but the weather was cooler.. the showing is pretty sparse.
I bought new seed for a 2nd field I planted this past Sat... by Tues.. sprouts were already showing.
Guess it's time to replant.. seeds could be okay. You can test your planter on a hard dry dirt patch.. run it along the ground for 10 feet.. then go look at the seed placement.
On one field of sweet corn I planted I used older seed.. took 14 days to show.. but the weather was cooler.. the showing is pretty sparse.
I bought new seed for a 2nd field I planted this past Sat... by Tues.. sprouts were already showing.
