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RR beans planting time?

madplotter

PMA Member
I have about a half acre I would like to get planted. I always figured that June 15 was kind of a deadline for getting a good healthy full growth in an average year. Does this sound about right?

This was my old pasture and is pretty tall. I was planning to mow it off just before drilling. Do you guys think I should rake the grass and weeds off or leave them and drill over it?

Thanks all...
 
I would nuke grass at this point and not mow. The thatch & mess of fresh growth on ground will impede beans more than help. Contrary to some popular opinion. That's my experience. The standing dead grass will allow beans to shoot straight up thru little trash. Yes - June 15 is good rule of thumb.
Last- side note- planting into killed sod- ur beans just do not turn out as well. Every year I plant my beans, I'll plant in cut corn and then make some passes in areas right next to it with fresh killed sod. U can literally see the line where sod starts and beans are not near the production of previously farmed ground. But- nothibg u can do. Drill away. U may have some thinner stands/spots of germinated & successful beans in sod so I might raise the population if u r able. If it's in a situation that would disc well- sure is nice to disc instead of fighting sod but I will do like u at times and plant in sod. Ideally kill fall before but keep on it and post some pics. Kill the piss outta that grass too!! :)

Last little tips in general for everyone.... Spray high rates of gly. Crop oil or water agent great. Best situation if u have good sprayer & mix well is ammonium sulfate: better kill, less drift and adds some N ur beans will quickly utilize before producing their own. Also- pelletized lime if PH needs adjustment. Other than obvious reasons, the beans will respond very well to the Calcium & help with plant and yield. Of course also hoping p&k is at proper levels previously. Good luck. Beans are fairly simple but huge differences in yields by doing things right.
 
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Skip-what do you consider sod? Just curious as have some areas previously unplanted that I may try soon after spraying but most of it is old clover that was burned out. Thanks!
 
Better. Worst is a sod forming grass like brome or fescue. Which is what most are dealing with. I sure plant into them: either killed previous fall (better) or spray and plant (doable but not ideal). Both are not wonderful but ground that say produces 50 bushels on the corn rotation to beans may yield (making this up), 35-45 on dead sod and 20-30 on fresh killed sod. For example.
Clover will be easier. Hard to kill clover though so that has its challenges as well. I'd say my preference for beans would be: planting into cut corn, killed rye, old turnips & radishes, disced land/prepared 2nd: general broadleaf weeds. 3rd choice: sod killed fall before 4th: clover, etc. 5th: live sod just killing. All will work though. No doubt. Just more to it the tougher the starting situation.... More spray, higher seed pop needed, moisture issues, etc. All Can and will work and of course weather defines a lot. Worst case is not planting them or or planting super late of course so u guys should b great. Have fun. Get em in!
 
Thanks Skip! So you think discing or tilling up the brome/clover fields will be better than spray and plant this time of year? Or is there ever an advantage to spraying and drilling in vs tilling/discing up and prepping then planting?
 
Everything has its ups and downs with farming. Discing - soil loss, moisture loss, weed seed coming up, $, time, etc. But- if u have nasty sod & ur soil ain't gonna wash away bad (& say it's only 1 yr and no till forever down the road) + u will stay on spraying- I'd disc. Each situation is subjective and things to weigh out for importance and situational for every different example. Heavy sod, want good beans, have the means- kill, disc, plant and stay on spraying. Best option in nasty sod case. No right or wrong to everything though.
 
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