planting clover
07-31-2005, 09:13 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: planting clover
No - it will not.
With most plantings - there is usually alot more involved that throw and forget it - Its not hard to do - but a little research will save you some time and money.
FH
With most plantings - there is usually alot more involved that throw and forget it - Its not hard to do - but a little research will save you some time and money.
FH
07-31-2005, 11:02 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location:
Posts: 372
RE: planting clover
im looking for something I can throw out on the bare logging roads left on our farm......... its on the mountainside and have no equipment.....
if it will not come up ........whats the difference in the regular clover and the clover in Secret spot and throw n go?
I put out some secret spot on one of the roads and the clover in it sprouted in 4 days
if it will not come up ........whats the difference in the regular clover and the clover in Secret spot and throw n go?
I put out some secret spot on one of the roads and the clover in it sprouted in 4 days
08-01-2005, 08:39 AM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location:
Posts: 372
RE: planting clover
can anyone answer the question?.............. and as far as research what do you think im trying to get accomplished here?......... if you know where to find the answer give me a link to it.............
only answers anyone usually gives arounf here is " dont buy the expensive stuff..go to www.alseed.com " seems like this place is turning into a online alseed advertisement
only answers anyone usually gives arounf here is " dont buy the expensive stuff..go to www.alseed.com " seems like this place is turning into a online alseed advertisement
08-01-2005, 09:52 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Bonnots Mill Missouri USA
Posts: 237
RE: planting clover
Here's go. If you have bare ground that is not packed down, clover is likely to sprout and maybe grow. If road traffic has packed the logger road to a hard smooth surface, not much will sprout there for a while until the ground is soft enough or erodes enough to allow plants to penetrate the surface. So if the ground is somewhat loose and moisture is present, germination should occur.
About your clover, just because it sprouts, doesn't mean it will grow and produce well. Soil chemistry, soil nutrient availability, sunlight, plant competition and more will all play a row in whether you will get a stand that will last more then one season. Here's where you mayneed to take soil samples and actuallytake a good look at the location. To reduce erosion, a grass may be a better solution and only plant your clover on areas on the road that receives sunlight and that you can apply the soil treatments (lime and fertilizer) that will allow it to produce over several seasons.
As far as type of seeds, the expensive seeds are generally a mix of seeds that insure that at least one variety generally does well. This is an over simplification, but that generally is true. Some of the varieties of clovers may be available at seed.com sites or at the local farm coop. Some won't be. Most opinions on seed mixes are just opinions or casual observations and not peer review scientific publications data.
About your clover, just because it sprouts, doesn't mean it will grow and produce well. Soil chemistry, soil nutrient availability, sunlight, plant competition and more will all play a row in whether you will get a stand that will last more then one season. Here's where you mayneed to take soil samples and actuallytake a good look at the location. To reduce erosion, a grass may be a better solution and only plant your clover on areas on the road that receives sunlight and that you can apply the soil treatments (lime and fertilizer) that will allow it to produce over several seasons.
As far as type of seeds, the expensive seeds are generally a mix of seeds that insure that at least one variety generally does well. This is an over simplification, but that generally is true. Some of the varieties of clovers may be available at seed.com sites or at the local farm coop. Some won't be. Most opinions on seed mixes are just opinions or casual observations and not peer review scientific publications data.
08-01-2005, 09:01 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: planting clover
bspencer -
Greg gave some good advice - I'll add my 2 cents -
The seeds in "secret spot" are mostly rye and the clover is an annual - I think Crimson Clover - but also maybe some white clover. There is also a bit of chicory and maybe even brassica - The plot is intended to be an annual fall attractant. Because the seeds are mostly annuals - they grow more agressively than say Ladino Clover. Secret Spot still requires the soil to be exposed and the seeds to be pressed in firmly for decent germination. In general - Secret spot is a simple little mix that is mostly Rye.
In nature - Clover seeding is done by the plants producing billions of seeds that get scattered - maybe only 1 in 1,000 seeds germinate - but because so many billions were released - the propagation is successful for the species - but not on the same level of success as a food plot.
In developing a clover plot - it is vital to saturate the soil surface with clover seeds (6-8lbs/acre for white clovers - 1 lb = 750,000 seeds approx) and ensure that the seeds are firmly embedded in the 1/4" upper layer of the soil. The soil must be 6.0-7.0 Ph for it to propagate (it will germinate at low Phs - like 5.0 - but will quickly die off as weed seeds will out compete the weaker clover).
Clover requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight to even grow - and 8-10 hours is more realistic. Most clover plots need to be mowed back 2-3 times per year to remain viable for the the 4-5 years you can expect.
Given all this- moisture is stillvitale at seeding. Because of this - fall, winter (frost seeding) and sping seeding is generally preffered.
Really - its not to hard to grow a decent clover plot - but you really cannot scatter the seed - even on bare soil - and hope it will become a plot. It could happen, but realistically it will be spotty at best.
If you have any specific questions regarding starting a plot I'll be happy to answer the best I can.
FH
Greg gave some good advice - I'll add my 2 cents -
The seeds in "secret spot" are mostly rye and the clover is an annual - I think Crimson Clover - but also maybe some white clover. There is also a bit of chicory and maybe even brassica - The plot is intended to be an annual fall attractant. Because the seeds are mostly annuals - they grow more agressively than say Ladino Clover. Secret Spot still requires the soil to be exposed and the seeds to be pressed in firmly for decent germination. In general - Secret spot is a simple little mix that is mostly Rye.
In nature - Clover seeding is done by the plants producing billions of seeds that get scattered - maybe only 1 in 1,000 seeds germinate - but because so many billions were released - the propagation is successful for the species - but not on the same level of success as a food plot.
In developing a clover plot - it is vital to saturate the soil surface with clover seeds (6-8lbs/acre for white clovers - 1 lb = 750,000 seeds approx) and ensure that the seeds are firmly embedded in the 1/4" upper layer of the soil. The soil must be 6.0-7.0 Ph for it to propagate (it will germinate at low Phs - like 5.0 - but will quickly die off as weed seeds will out compete the weaker clover).
Clover requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight to even grow - and 8-10 hours is more realistic. Most clover plots need to be mowed back 2-3 times per year to remain viable for the the 4-5 years you can expect.
Given all this- moisture is stillvitale at seeding. Because of this - fall, winter (frost seeding) and sping seeding is generally preffered.
Really - its not to hard to grow a decent clover plot - but you really cannot scatter the seed - even on bare soil - and hope it will become a plot. It could happen, but realistically it will be spotty at best.
If you have any specific questions regarding starting a plot I'll be happy to answer the best I can.
FH
08-01-2005, 10:00 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location:
Posts: 372
RE: planting clover
ORIGINAL: greg-dude
Here's go. If you have bare ground that is not packed down, clover is likely to sprout and maybe grow. If road traffic has packed the logger road to a hard smooth surface, not much will sprout there for a while until the ground is soft enough or erodes enough to allow plants to penetrate the surface. So if the ground is somewhat loose and moisture is present, germination should occur.
About your clover, just because it sprouts, doesn't mean it will grow and produce well. Soil chemistry, soil nutrient availability, sunlight, plant competition and more will all play a row in whether you will get a stand that will last more then one season. Here's where you mayneed to take soil samples and actuallytake a good look at the location. To reduce erosion, a grass may be a better solution and only plant your clover on areas on the road that receives sunlight and that you can apply the soil treatments (lime and fertilizer) that will allow it to produce over several seasons.
As far as type of seeds, the expensive seeds are generally a mix of seeds that insure that at least one variety generally does well. This is an over simplification, but that generally is true. Some of the varieties of clovers may be available at seed.com sites or at the local farm coop. Some won't be. Most opinions on seed mixes are just opinions or casual observations and not peer review scientific publications data.
Here's go. If you have bare ground that is not packed down, clover is likely to sprout and maybe grow. If road traffic has packed the logger road to a hard smooth surface, not much will sprout there for a while until the ground is soft enough or erodes enough to allow plants to penetrate the surface. So if the ground is somewhat loose and moisture is present, germination should occur.
About your clover, just because it sprouts, doesn't mean it will grow and produce well. Soil chemistry, soil nutrient availability, sunlight, plant competition and more will all play a row in whether you will get a stand that will last more then one season. Here's where you mayneed to take soil samples and actuallytake a good look at the location. To reduce erosion, a grass may be a better solution and only plant your clover on areas on the road that receives sunlight and that you can apply the soil treatments (lime and fertilizer) that will allow it to produce over several seasons.
As far as type of seeds, the expensive seeds are generally a mix of seeds that insure that at least one variety generally does well. This is an over simplification, but that generally is true. Some of the varieties of clovers may be available at seed.com sites or at the local farm coop. Some won't be. Most opinions on seed mixes are just opinions or casual observations and not peer review scientific publications data.
the raods havent had traffic on them in about 5 years....... grass etc is grwoing well on some of them...and have atleast sprouted on all of them....most of them get several hours of sunlight a day.......... soil here is and always has been very rich and crops grow rather easily
again thanks for a good answer
