Mixed Results Poses Problems

[bowhuntr311]

Hey all to start with Ive got two problems.

After RUPing my food plot, working it all up dragging it all flat, fertilizing, and planting I have ran into a major snag.

I planted 1 acre Dwarf Essex Rape, on about an acre. I drug 1/2 of it with bed spring and the other portion I left alone. Well I should have done all of it. The best portion of it is the stuff I drug under. Matterfact it might be a little thick. Ive been told that you want some space for it to grow tall and bushy. Most people on this site have said to plant brassicas late but I want the most tonage per acre of a late food possible becuase of limited space. How far apart do you think my plants should be?{not like I can do anything about it now} Some are an 1inch apart some are 10inches apart.

Then through out the scattered pines nex to the rape I planted a clover/rape/turnips mix. The mix we got for free from the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. This mix was atleast 2 years old, and maybe 3. Well I planted this 10lb bag, which said it was supposed to cover an acre. I put it on about 2/3 of a acre. After close to a month or so, I can only find about 10 plants of clover. The turnips and Rape are comeing up farely well where I spread the seed the heaviest or where the tracks from the ATV were.

My problem. I have about 1/3 an acre of some really thinly spread turnips that is nothing but quack grass. And NO clover.

What should I do?

I dont want to plant clover in there again becuase I want the full 2/3 done all at the same time, but I dont want to kill the turnips that are coming, becuase in the middle of it they are really coming in good.

I had one thought, I have a small digger for behind the atv that I could work up the small patches of no clover and RUP by hand and plant back to rye grass later in the summer?

Any suggestions?

Dean

 

[JNRBRONC]

I'd think about using Poast or a similar herbicide to knock the grass down. Then you could seed (clover/alfalfa/turnips) over top of the thin stand in late July/August. Just a thought.

 

[Central Iowa]

If it was me I would keep what I was happy with and burn down what I wasn't. Come back in late July early August and spread new seed in prepped bed as thin as possible and roll or drag in. Late July is only 6 weeks away and if planted right the tonnage will amaze you.

 

[bowhuntr311]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd think about using Poast or a similar herbicide to knock the grass down.

[/ QUOTE ]

And poast wouldnt hurt my broad leafs or clover? I have some grass growing on the south end of my plot in with my rape. I would imagine my rape will probably choke it out but if Im going to do this I might as well do it right.

As far as seeding in late july/early august, how much am i going to waste if we dont get some rain in the first 2 weeks after planting?

Dean

 

[JNRBRONC]

Poast was the first herbicide to come to mind since I have used it before. I thought I recalled a thread where an alternative (Select) herbicide was offered as being better.

Here is the thread: herbicides

As to how much seed you will waste? Tough call with no guarantees. Usually during July/August the ground is cracked and dry. Clover doesn't need to be planted very deep so rolling into a small crack or getting powder dry dirt blown over it is sufficient. The seed can lay there waiting for rain for quite some time. Seed too early in July/August, you risk having a single rain germinate the seed and then a prolonged dry spell will kill it. Later in August, rain is usually more frequent and temps milder.