Higher Seeding Rates for Frost Seeding?
January 5, 2010 by Bill
Filed under Customer FAQ's, How and When to Plant or Collect Seed, How to Guides, Seasonal Reminders
A customer recently asked:
“I want to get your opinion on planting techniques: The intent is to drill this seed in the spring. But there is always the possibility that we won’t be ready to plant by then, which might lead us to doing a frost seeding next fall/winter. Personally, frost seeding appeals to me because it just seems more natural. If you were to do a broadcast frost seeding instead of drilling, would you boost up your seeding rate a little? If so, how much? Thanks for your opinion!”
I answered:
Ten or so years ago we were suggesting that people increase their seeding rates when doing a broadcast instead of drilling seed. Over the years we have backed off that recommendation as we have observed the results of many plantings. We are now confident that when sown on frozen grown the seed naturally gets into just the right depth as the frost action works the seed into the soil. Additionally since the seed is being spread over an area instead of restricted to a furrow I believe the plants are better able to establish without competing with each other.
For further information on frost seeding you can click on this link to another posting on our blog site:
Let us know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Bill
I planted seed last spring and was wondering if I can place seed now over existing snow? The area is sunny, clay like and dry. I live in central Indiana.
Thanks for any assistance you can give me.
Hi Ray. Thanks for your comment. The seed you planted last Spring probably didn’t germinate because it was a species that needed to go through the natural cold, moist stratification process – this winter/spring it will get that stratification and should germinate (unless it is a species that requires double dormancy – Germination Code F in our catalog and website). If you want to plant more seed in that area, or in a new area, yes, most definitely, you can plant it on top of snow now through February- early March and it should get the 60 days of cold, moist treatment needed to germinate this spring.
But, if you are thinking last spring’s planting area is a failure because you didn’t get any growth, I wouldn’t be so sure! You could have an explosion of seedlings this year; re-seeding the same area might be over kill. I would suggest waiting and see how your last year’s planting looks this year. Any ‘snow seeding’ you do this year should be in a new area.
Ah, thanks! This cleared up some contradictions I’ve heard.