Alfalfa Planting Question!!
 

Im going to plant some alfalfa and i was wondering a good way to plant them, if they are no till and a good way to maintain them. Im also going to proubably put some clover with them to. Thanks for any details!

RE: Alfalfa Planting Question!!
 

Farmers around here plant it in spring about now. They'll plant with a nurse crop of oats. Alfalfa grows slowly. By fall the oats is grown and harvested. The youngalfalfa is left. Some do direct seeding in spring. They'll put red clover with it if there are low spots in the field. Alfalfa doesn't do well in wet conditions, red clover fills in the low spots.

RE: Alfalfa Planting Question!!
 

A better place to ask this question wouldbe in the Wildlife Management forums here.

My suggestion would be to disc the area to be planted and then broadcast the seed. The seeds of Alfalfa and Clover are tiny and don't have to be "planted", a simple broadcast just before a rain would be perfect!

This combo of broadcast seederandthe rollercreates an excellentseedbedforsuch applications

RE: Alfalfa Planting Question!!
 

I don't think thats right wingbone. The first year of alfalfa isn't so great but then it grows verys fast. It is also the only thing you see growing in low spots here in Nebraska.

RE: Alfalfa Planting Question!!
 

Around here it takes all summer to get established. I think they plant the oats so they can get a crop off while they're waiting for it to grow. After it's established, they'll take 3 or 4 crops off per year.

RE: Alfalfa Planting Question!!
 

We harvest about 200 acres of just hay a year. Your best bet for planting for just food plots is to disk the site throughly, use a broadcast seeder and then go over it with a roller. Don't plant till you know it is going to rain that day or the next. If it doesn't rain the seed won't get the extra help it needs to start growing. Also your best bet is to plant in the fall not the spring, because in the spring the weeds are to heavy and will take the moisture away from your alfalfa seed not to mention the weeds will take over the field. If you do plant in the fall, the following summer the alfalfa will be growing great and it will be florishing by fall. Don't forget that you will need to mow it, wait till it blooms and then mow down. It will pop back up and it grow in fuller