Food Plots How much rain needed to plant?

[lafn96]

Looks like about 1/2" of rain in the forecast about 10 days out. Hasn't rained for a week, but my plots were saturated at that time. Sprayed gly and 24D right after that last rain. If we get that 1/2" in 10 days, that should that be enough for the seed to germinate? I'll be broadcasting, mowing, then using a cultipacker.

If the ground is dry, what is the minimum amount of rain needed for germination?

 

[Ski]

1/2" is plenty IMO. That said I think it matters how it rains almost more so than how much. A 1/2" rain could come in a short thunderstorm that dumps it all at once then it runs off as the sun comes out to dry up the ground again. Or it could set in a good soaker drizzle that lasts all day into the night. Both could be 1/2" but I like the drizzle better if I had a choice, but I don't so I take whatever I can get!

 

[megalomaniac]

I like to plant when I have 3 days in a row of 60% or better chance for rain all 3 days.

It will germinate fine with a half inch...

The real killer is if it germinates, then no rain for a month after that. But that is out of your control

 

[BSK]

I like to plant when I have 3 days in a row of 60% or better chance for rain all 3 days.

It will germinate fine with a half inch...

The real killer is if it germinates, then no rain for a month after that. But that is out of your control

Triple this! That's why I look for a forecast with more than just one rain. maybe two rains two or three days apart.

 

[deerhunter10]

One of the many reasons we went no till and push out plant dates to late September early October and went to a simple very effective mix. Late August early September seem to always get dry and we had to replant a lot of the times.

 

[BigAl]

Only percent percent chance 2 different days here in the forecast. And its been longer than 5 days since we had rain. Hoping this doesn't turn out to be a drought like last year, but I'm watching the forecase and on ready if the rain chance looks good.

 

[BigAl]

Well, west TN got some rain, all the way to Nashville. I was in Nashville, but some guys on my least in Fayette put out some seed on Saturday. Fayette got an inch. They should get some germination, but it looks to be dry for the next couple of weeks, so I'll still be waiting for another chance for raing.

 

[Andy S.]

Well, west TN got some rain.....................

I got .3" at my house Sunday morning and a buddy got 1" at his house near Oakland from same event. Exposed soil in my yard was pretty much dry at dark last night. It soaked that .3" up in no time.

 

[lafn96]

I planted yesterday, forecast was just over 2 inches from Sun - Wed. Just checked the forecast now, and it's saying 3 inches today. I may have to re-plant as that will likely wash the seed away.

 

[BigAl]

I got .3" at my house Sunday morning and a buddy got 1" at his house near Oakland from same event. Exposed soil in my yard was pretty much dry at dark last night. It soaked that .3" up in no time.

"I'm outside of Oakland and I got almost an inch of rain. Pretty sure that was like pissing on a campfire.

 

[BigAl]

I planted yesterday, forecast was just over 2 inches from Sun - Wed. Just checked the forecast now, and it's saying 3 inches today. I may have to re-plant as that will likely wash the seed away.

Where are you at that you're expecting that much rain?

 

[lafn96]

Where are you at that you're expecting that much rain?

Looks like the weather app had a glitch, or the forecasters were wrong - just looked again and it's back to 1.5" over the next couple days. I'm just east of Watts Bar Dam

 

[BigAl]

Looks like the weather app had a glitch, or the forecasters were wrong - just looked again and it's back to 1.5" over the next couple days. I'm just east of Watts Bar Dam

Ok, I'm on the west end of the state. No rain in our 10 day forecast.

 

[megalomaniac]

we got a popup shower at my house in south MS yest eve.... 0.1in. First rain in 6 weeks. So far in August, we have only had 5 days less than 100 degrees. Set a record for yesterday at 106deg. Never seen heat/ drought like this ever.

 

[boonencrockett]

Planted my plots and got 7 inches within the 2 week period .. steady over the course of a few days then downpours plot of Brassicas and one clover/buckwheat plot is booming

 

[BSK]

Ok, I'm on the west end of the state. No rain in our 10 day forecast.

Make that the 15-day forecast. I may not be planting until late September this year.

 

[lafn96]

Only got .3" yesterday and last night; and forecast is for .4" today; hopefully that turns out to be true - although given the recent inaccuracy I don't have a lot of faith in it.

 

[BSK]

We got a great (but unexpected) rain Saturday afternoon through Sunday (1.15"). However, I'm glad I didn't plant. No rain in the 15-day forecast would kill newly germinated seed (in my soils).

 

[BigAl]

We got a great (but unexpected) rain Saturday afternoon through Sunday (1.15"). However, I'm glad I didn't plant. No rain in the 15-day forecast would kill newly germinated seed (in my soils).

So I had some spare time today so I went ahead and till'd the plots today. If I wait several weeks until we get rain, will I need to till again or can I just broadcast on top of what I just tilled?

 

[tellico4x4]

Your good unless it rains on them before you plant, then they'll have a crust on them