How deep will a Moore drill beans?

[Spud]

Normally, we drill winter beans on heavy land in the second week of October, or thereabouts, about 5" deep with our Kockerling AT300 drill. We run a tine bar on the tractor, and it makes a good job.

This year, it's too wet for that.

We have a young 3m Moore Unidrill, used for cover crops, oats and a bit of wheat.

If I lift the Coulter tips up, how deep is it possible to sow the beans? Anyone tried it?
I'd be happy enough at 3-4", given the date, and accept there'd be a certain amount of losses from seed rotting in a wet spot.
The land is heavy, but it's in good nick with a (poor) crop of mustard on it currently.
I'm thinking the Moore takes less pulling and will leave a better finish, given the conditions.
Experiences/opinions welcome.
Cheers
Spud

 

[GeorgeK]

It will do that depth in the right conditions, the biggest problem we have is if it's too wet the rear press wheels bung up the deeper you go because there is more soil disturbed and that will likely be an issue this year. Perhaps the mustard will help keep the soil intact, but only one way to find out

 

[Spud]

It will do that depth in the right conditions, the biggest problem we have is if it's too wet the rear press wheels bung up the deeper you go because there is more soil disturbed and that will likely be an issue this year. Perhaps the mustard will help keep the soil intact, but only one way to find out

Does speed make much difference George? Do you think the semi notched discs reduce the slot smearing?
Thank you

 

[GeorgeK]

Does speed make much difference George? Do you think the semi notched discs reduce the slot smearing?
Thank you

Not sure on the speed aspect, we only have one gear round here and it's slow! Where we had problems it was sticky clay and barely dry enough to travel, it's a trailed model and we had the rear wheels down a bit so the drill wouldn't sink so it was fairly tough conditions. Our discs had worn the notches off at the time so can't comment on whether they would help with smearing. I can say for sure the more roots and cover to hold the soil together and allow the drill to run cleanly over the top the better. There were some thick patches of meadow grass where it did a great job, bare soil was the worst

 

[towbar]

I don't think lifting the coulter will help wont you need the coulter down to ensure the seed is down?

 

[Spud]

I don't think lifting the coulter will help wont you need the coulter down to ensure the seed is down?

I was thinking if the Coulter was too low, it'd stop the disc going in deep enough, then hoping the slight angle of the disc was enough to allow the bean to drop in the slot?
I guess there's a case to run the disc deep and the Coulter shallower so the bean is sat above the slot bottom, where the water would collect (sounding like a Triton now!!)

 

[towbar]

You could be right maybe try every other one

 

[towbar]

Although I think I'd prefer the seed as deep as possible rather than sitting up and you'd be doing well I'd say to get the moore disc down any more than 4"?

 

[Cowcorn]

Giving how wet the year is id just brodcast and plough them in . Worked well enough back in the day .

 

[Spud]

Giving how wet the year is id just brodcast and plough them in . Worked well enough back in the day .

It did, on light land. On the tough stuff it’s left too rough - it doesn’t plough well in a dry time, so not an option this time.

 

[Cowcorn]

It did, on light land. On the tough stuff it’s left too rough - it doesn’t plough well in a dry time, so not an option this time.

True enough but if its fss id give it a try. Rain and frost will level off the rougher ploughing before the beans emerge . Nothing is really looking tidy this and a middling crop of beans ploughed just might be better than waiting for better conditions in spring . There will be a lot of men looking at very patchy crops this year and wondering if the seed would be better of in the bag . It seemed a good idea at the time sums up a lot of drilling mine included this year !!!

 

[bobk]

Plough them in .

 

[Spud]

Plough them in .

Not ploughable Bob

 

[organic antares]

I was thinking of ploughing ours in, not done it before, how do you spread them? Seed drill on the surface or fert spreader (untreated seed) and then, how deep to plough.

 

[Spud]

I was thinking of ploughing ours in, not done it before, how do you spread them? Seed drill on the surface or fert spreader (untreated seed) and then, how deep to plough.

We used to spin on with fert spreader, then ploughabout 6” deep. They come up in rows the same as the furrow width