When is the latest you have (successfully) drilled grass seed.

The Agrarian

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northern Ireland
The fear is a little bit of moisture to create germination followed by a thirsty death.

If you're worried about not enough moisture going into autumn, then we must have very different climates. 🤔 Sow, it'll rain end of next week.

(It's lashing here today as it happens. Been waiting for a dry spell to get fourth cut. Small window appearing Monday-wednesday, but I also need to turn it over and get barley in and rolled+pre-em before it rains, so it'll be very tight. Think I'll have to mow grass tomorrow, let it get wet on Sunday morning, kick out, and lift on Monday. It's always weather pressure here).
 
If you're worried about not enough moisture going into autumn, then we must have very different climates. 🤔 Sow, it'll rain end of next week.

(It's lashing here today as it happens. Been waiting for a dry spell to get fourth cut. Small window appearing Monday-wednesday, but I also need to turn it over and get barley in and rolled+pre-em before it rains, so it'll be very tight. Think I'll have to mow grass tomorrow, let it get wet on Sunday morning, kick out, and lift on Monday. It's always weather pressure here).
Yeap. A good yr in general for NI means it’s very dry in areas of the mainland.
 
Location
cumbria
I like reseeds to be done by early September. So that would mean early October for soft southerners.

That said tho, a neighbour did a reseed in November one year. I thought he was nuts, came out fine if a little slow. So what do I know😅
 

Jerry

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Devon
Last bits of grass going in in the next 7 to 10 days hopefully, two fields of GS4 going in tomorrow. About 50 acres in total. Big investment in seed but should pay dividends.

I like to graze lightly with sheep over winter to help tiller and tread things in well. Then hope that things growing well come March to turn freshly lambed ewes onto a fresh clean bite.
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
✓
Location
Ceredigion
I will drill mixes with clover here for another 2 weeks then only Early Ryegrsss and Westerwolds for a few weeks in October , up the seed rate as it gets later as germination will fall , white clover needs more warmth as well

But you are further south so you could add a week
Fields are greening over here within 10 days ,but plenty of moisture atm
 

chaffcutter

Moderator
Arable Farmer
Location
S. Staffs
I always reckoned about mid October was late enough, but I’ve never worried about it being too dry, we sowed some mid May back in 1975 into damp ground, but it just sat there in the scorcher of that summer and it didn’t come up until it rained in September.

We then had an avalanche of mushrooms over all the grassland, never seen so many before or since.
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
As above, get it in the ground.

Down here you can drill too late for a good clover strike, but it comes in eventually - just needs a couple of months of 'reasonable' soil temps to establish, but you get it eventually even if some of the seed doesn't pop til springtime

I don't want to get into one of those "that aint a drought, THIS is a drought" pissing contests but your land is still green - it will be fine! It will grow
 

teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
10ha reseed. Replacing a worn out and mossy festuolium.
 

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ffukedfarmer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
West Kent
amazing growing conditions here at the moment. Italian ryegrass drilled last Monday is up and motoring.
Shame the barley volunteers are doing the same 🙄

hell of a difference from last year where the seed sat in dust for a month before germinating
 
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Derrick Hughes

Member
✓
Location
Ceredigion
amazing growing conditions here at the moment. Italian ryegrass drilled last Monday is up and motoring.
Shame the barley volunteers are doing the same 🙄

hell of a difference from last year where the seed sat in dust for a month before germinating
Mine drowned this time last year was so wet, its going a bit cold now though ,last 40 acres going in tommorow
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
✓
Location
Ceredigion
What percentage of the farm are you reseeding this year?
Seeded approx 100 acres , fininished for this year ,aready planning for next year ,soil testing , fencing so im ready to go , the Adas trials need fresh ground every year so that has to be seeded as well
We have been doing a lot if work on seeding as well along side two local contracters , a lot if customers ask for advice on seeding so if ive tried an idea that works i can pass it on
 
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Sid

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Molton
Seeded approx 100 acres , fininished for this year ,aready planning for next year ,soil testing , fencing so im ready to go , the Adas trials need fresh ground every year so that has to be seeded as well
We have been doing a lot if work on seeding as well along side two local contracters , a lot if customers ask for advice on seeding so if ive tried an idea that works i can pass it on
Well that didn't answer the question did it.

What percentage are you reseeding this year
100 acres could be 5% or 50% . Interested to know how much the management affects the reseeding requirements

Area reseeded÷(Total acreage ÷100)= percentage reseeded

4% here. And shock horror it has been ploughed.

2% was over seeded with clover in the spring
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
✓
Location
Ceredigion
We farm 600 acres but as i told you before i let things slip so a catching up game , quite a few who visit say they have never seen the farmlooking so well , thats always nice to hear from fellow farmers
Ive tried overseeding , it dint realy work here
 
Two questions to ponder when compleplating how late you will leave a reseed.

Is it still mild and not drenched (or drought)? What are conditions like and what is the local climate and weather going to bring?

What varieties/species do you intend to sow?

Be aware that drilling 16 or 18 kg or italian in October after maize is probably ok. Putting in some expensive long term ley with wussy diploids in it and expecting them to thrive in cold soil and frosts is asking for a problem. Something will no doubt grow but it might not be 100% of what was in the bag.

If you drill or broadcast and do not cover the seed and roll or otherwise get the seed pressed in, be aware than the frost and wind can heave plants straight out of the ground and the take will be poor.
 

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