Re: planting covers in dry conditions
Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Wed, 23 Sep 1998 22:34:30 -0500
Steve,
I'd plant them because they aren't going to grow if you don't plant them.
Seed to soil contact might be more important. I waited on some turnips this
year because we were bone dry and I missed a 4 inch rain on the seed. I
lost a large portion of the stand because of the exact reason you talked
about--getting a small rain on them and then getting dry. They probably
would have been fine if I hadn't waited.
How long do you dare wait and still have any growing season left?
I've always heard that there is a tendency for rainfall to average out
over a season in the midwest. Is there any truth to this? Do the odds for
a wet spell increase as you get longer into a dry stretch.
Best of luck,
Greg Gunthorp
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Groff <sgroff@epix.net>
To: sanet <sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 1998 10:13 PM
Subject: planting covers in dry conditions
>Sanet,
>I have 60 acres of cover crops that should be planted by now. Problem
>is, we have only recieved 6 tenths of an inch of rain in 6 weeks, so the
>soil is bone dry. I am concerned that if I plant now and we get a half
>inch of rain the seeds will germinate then die if we don't get followup
>rainfall with in a few days. Any suggestions?
>Steve Groff
>--
>"New Generation Cropping Systems": the cutting edge of sustainable
>agriculture
>http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com
>Steve Groff
>Cedar Meadow Farm
>679 Hilldale Rd
>Holtwood PA 17532 USA
>Ph. 717-284-5152
>
>
>
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