Wilberforce
Member
- Location
- North Shropshire
Drilled 23/04 bang on a month ago.
Auto row shut off working well. Provides a worthwhile saving on seed on even a modest acreage.
Maize 2019
- Thread starter Bald Rick
- Start date
Who drilled it Will.
ollie989898
Member
A customer of mine bought one of those fancy Horsch maize drills. Just for the lulz he drilled the headland of a field first, then drilled a big X across the middle and then went up and down in passes as normal. Worked fine. He already has customers saving a fair bit on seed costs on bigger areas. Clever.
If you have seed bed conditions like those above, I would not bother rolling it.
If you have seed bed conditions like those above, I would not bother rolling it.
Cows 'n grass
Member
- Location
- Modbury, South Devon
@stablegirl . Am I right in thinking you drilled under plastic at the end of March?
stablegirl
Member
- Location
- North
Yeah it's doing really nicely, I was worried it was too early but as events have unfolded it's a good job we got it in!
Photos from the weekend, just at the stage where it bursts out and unfolds, kind of doubles in height over a couple of days, I would think it will be knee high by the weekend.
Durry cows
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Even though we get told it’s much better for pre em spray being rolled? What are you’re thoughts on it holding moisture better?
ollie989898
Member
If your seed bed is good the pre em will work fine. Yes there will be an improvement.
I would not worry about maize and dry UK conditions too much. Its a C4 plant and those roots go down a long way if they need to. In this area lots of summer rain tends to be more of an issue. Rolling may encourage capping and impede the infiltration of water.
If you are in a dry area cultivating and sowing in the shortest possible space of time to avoid loss of moisture may be useful.
I would not expect 100 percent efficacy from any maize pre emergence product as I have mentioned before.
Durry cows
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
What about subsoiling? I have left areas of fields this time as a trial, dry conditions before it’s up/got its roots down ie now is more of the worry
ollie989898
Member
You will only know if you get a spade out. I would not routinely subsoil if I could help it. It's expensive, slow and often leaves fields rough as sin. A plough may well pull up enough to remove any wheelings although more and more people are using topdowns or solos to get maize ground prepared now.
stablegirl
Member
- Location
- North
Surely cant beat a plough and power harrow to bury trash, remove compaction and give a fine seed bed for the pre emergence?
Durry cows
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Sorry meant plough then shakerate then power Harrow
dinderleat
Member
- Location
- Wells
Ducati899
Member
- Location
- north dorset
Mines just poked through today, 10 days since being drilled
ollie989898
Member
Some varieties are renowned for exceptional early vigour. 10 days is pretty impressive considering the weather these last two weeks.
Durry cows
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
We’ve planted reason supposedly high vigour so see how it does
ollie989898
Member
Which variety?
Cold tolerance and vigour are a factor of the flint and dent strains used to breed the variety.
Durry cows
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Reason is the variety, LG?
ollie989898
Member
Ive heard of that. Was good from what I remember. Grown by a man whose judgement I trust.
Durry cows
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
Nice of you to say
Ducati899
Member
- Location
- north dorset