Scratching in clover?

[Slowcow]

Does anyone here scratch in clover with one of those time weeder seed things?
My cousin has just bought one and a few paddocks are lacking clover after the dry last year and this.
Any advice on best time variety etc.

Cheers

 

[Farmer Keith]

Will work well but I wouldn’t waste the seed at this time of year, wait until May or when the soil warms up if we have an early spring.

 

[Great In Grass]

Spring would now be the best time, sow a blend.

PM me if you need help with varieties.

 

[HarryB97]

Soils warm and the forecast is good I would get some bought and scratched in asap. We always establish our grass & clover around the end of september and never have an issue, always try and avoid the spring as it's normally not wet enough. If you do it now it will be established by next spring and get up and grow, or do half now and half in the spring as a test

 

[Will Blackburn]

We are a week into October, don’t waste time and money now.

 

[jimmer]

Get on, I dd'd in a grazing mix last week, the clover is the first thing poking through

 

[devonboy]

just a little difference in east devon sandy soils than cheshire, me thinks!

 

[Will Blackburn]

A week is a long time at this time of year.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

It would be a reduced %age endeavour this time of year. Reducing the further north you are.

What you've got to ask yourself is:

 

[Slowcow]

We're in sunny mid Devon, the clayey bit! How long does it take to germinate and get established, ie has anyone scratched some in between grazing in the spring?

Might be a good idea hammer it with the time weeder after grazing then sow it?
Cows graze tighter the first few rounds than the last few !

 

[Slowcow]

Get on, I dd'd in a grazing mix last week, the clover is the first thing poking through

Rude question, how much acre for dd? You done much before?

 

[jimmer]

Rude question, how much acre for dd? You done much before?

£25 with vaderstad
80 acres last year
35 this year
Very pleased with last year, will keep informed on this year

 

[Great In Grass]

Clover requires a soil temperature of 10dC for 10 weeks for the best establishment if it can get quite balmy 3rd week of December in Mid-Devon crack on!

 

[Agrispeed]

Works well.

I actually spotted some Crimson clover growing quite happily where it had fallen off the drill between fields and had nothing done to help get soil contact.

It is surprising how well just spinning something on pre grazing works. I've done everything from oats to rape and clover with good success, as long as it doesn't get out competed. It's quite refreshing to actually use really nasty poaching to your advantage!

 

[Slowcow]

£25 with vaderstad
80 acres last year
35 this year
Very pleased with last year, will keep informed on this year

Sounds enough until you work out how much plough, work down, sow and roll cost! Do you reckon its as effective as a full on reseed?
Do you get the cows back on it as soon as its up to 3000 or whatever your pre graze cover is?

Works well.

I actually spotted some Crimson clover growing quite happily where it had fallen off the drill between fields and had nothing done to help get soil contact.

It is surprising how well just spinning something on pre grazing works. I've done everything from oats to rape and clover with good success, as long as it doesn't get out competed. It's quite refreshing to actually use really nasty poaching to your advantage!

I like the sound of that, just get out with the spinner before they get in the paddock?

All food for thought, thanks

 

[Slowcow]

Clover requires a soil temperature of 10dC for 10 weeks for the best establishment if it can get quite balmy 3rd week of December in Mid-Devon crack on!

Hmmm, we're not near the sea so have normally got our flip flops on by Christmas!

 

[Great In Grass]

Hmmm, we're not near the sea so have normally got our flip flops on by Christmas!

Your cream teas are all to cock too!

 

[Slowcow]

Nope, they the right way round, cream first, only a Cornish man would do it the other way round surely?!

 

[som farmer]

been suggested to add it to cattle feed, sprinkle it on loads of muck, even spread in lagoon. As with all things farming, the proper way gets the best results. But I can see advantages of putting seed in its own nutrient, mike Lemmy used to say put it in feed.

 

[Lewis]

how much is clover seed? @Great In Grass . I fancy trying the feeding idea,