First things first...I am planting the same area as I did this previous spring but with better intentions. The area is 22 yards by 15, in the woods, although it is relatively open. The area has been sprayed (1.5 weeks ago), cleared, roughed up and I put down 80lbs of lime on Monday (8/26). Although I have not taken a soil test, I feel confident that with that amount of lime on that small of an area, I'll be alright. My question is...when do I sow my seed and what do I do after?.. Since it is a no plow, it doesn't require any dirt on top of it, although I'm sure it wouldn't hurt. But would you all recommend that I do so since I am mixing oats and peas in with it? Thank you for any and all help,
Oats and peas are pretty good sized seeds that I think should be planted a 1/2" in the dirt. If you are just going to broadcast them out I would maybe take a rake and cover them a little afterwards. Bout the only other thing to do is pray for rain
Some of the oats would probably grow but the peas will be near zero emergence just broadcast on top. It looks like a really small area, I'd fluff it up some with a rake and then try to work them in as best as I could.
Just from personal experience I broadcasted all my seeds on soil that was rototilled up and just left them and it rained for 2 days maybe .8 of a inch a day and a large majority of my seeds came up. I broadcast all my seeds and have had ZERO problems with them germinating and growing. I used 2 bags of biologic hot spot which consisted of peas and wheat and I used 1 bag of evolved harvest winter PZ and it all grew amazing. Just make sure you have proper moisture after planting like rain for 2 days and you'll be good. If you haven't bought a plot mix yet for that little spot get some hotspot by biologic, it grows fast and the bucks love it and the proofs in the pudding , and no that's not corn down that was where I put some apples out to get them to come in to brows the plot
Since this was my first year making small kill plots with no farm equipment, I tried two methods. First Method - The first seed bed I prepped I took the time to tear up the soil with a garden hoe. Doing this insured better seed to soil contact and a softer area that the roots could establish theyre growth much quicker and easier. Second Method - This plot butted up against the area that I previously mentioned. Only this time, I did not break the ground, I just raked the unwanted leaves and debris away. I applied lime and fert as before and threw a no-till seed down. This plot never did take off. Basically, wasted money. My best advice, insure a good seed bed, break the dirt. There is no substitute (other than a drill) for a good prepped seed bed.
After clearing the area, spraying and pulling all of the weeds, I actually went through with pick axe, garden rake and shovel and leveled it the best I could and then raked it over with a leaf rake..that's when I took the picture so maybe you couldn't tell. Thank you all for your help. Maybe I will just take the time and plant a lot of peas by hand and then broadcast the rest on top. Do yall think the peas and oats will be ok with broken sunlight until the leaves fall away?
