Newbie about planting question(s) barley & oats

hello,

Not a farmer, but need some advice on planting a hillside on my property in So. CA.

It's at 4100' elev. We get intermittent rain in November and December and anywhere from 4" to 2' of snow in January, with a false spring in Feb, for about 3 weeks. A lot of trees bloom and sprouts come up. Then it all freezes again for another 4 weeks. After that we may see a little rain in September....maybe. We probably get a total of 11-16" of rain in a year, not counting the snow.

I want to seed this hillside to prevent erosion. And have a volunteer crop continue w/o maintenance.

When do I sow the seed?
It will be hand broadcast because there is Erosion fabric over the top of the soil and I can't take equipment over the jute fabric. I constructed this slope this last year in the Spring, (missed 90% of the rain) and planted and watered (oats & Barley) until it went to seed.

This is perhaps an acre of dirt.
Thanks, Steve

Seeing as how I'm on the other end of the country, with totally different conditions, this is just a guess. You're getting moisture now- sounds like the time to seed. I assume you're talking about oats/barley as a cover/nurse crop to start a perennial? It almost sounds to me like a winter wheat would provide you with a more suitable nurse crop. It should withstand those conditions long enough to get something established. What's the end goal? I would assume a tough low/slow growing grass that doesn't put out a lot of top to die off and create a fire hazard would be desirable.
With all the drought/fire flood/mudslide issues there it seems like there should be some state department that would have just what you need.

I live at the other end of the state, and I also think winter wheat would be a better choice, as the freeze would kill the wheat or oats. Now would probably be the time to plant it while the days are still warm and you have soil moisture. I have no idea where in California you could buy seed though. I have no idea what it would cost but hydroseeding like CalTrans does on the ditches on new roads might work well.

Thanks guys for your response.

Bob and Scott,
While there should be, there isn't any moisture in the ground at this time. It won't rain till late Nov or Dec. Then some snow in Jan followed by warm dry false spring weather followed by more freeze, possibility of more snow. If I planted now. I assume that the crop would sprout during the false spring only to die out in the next freeze. Am I correct? I did read that winter wheat will withstand the snow cover, is that correct?

A ground cover that would self sustain would be best.
Yeah, talking about oats/barley as a cover/nurse crop to start a perennial. A suitable nurse crop. It should withstand those conditions long enough to get something established.

The end goal? Yes,to have a tough low/slow growing grass that doesn't put out a lot of top to die off and create a fire hazard would be desirable.

Scott,
As far as Hydroseeding, that was an option last year, however, I don't see that happening. Accessibility and costs are both factors.

I didn't think about winter wheat, but I will research it and it's seed.

Thank you
Steve.

Keeping in mind that all of my farming experience has been in North Dakota I would offer these comments. Hopefully the cover crop starts growing within 14 days of planting. Some of it will sprout a year latter. Although it may not, assume freeze will kill wheat or oats. Winter wheat loves freeze-thaw cycles. I think though, the point is you want a crop growing to hold the soil while the grass grows. I think you will find the grass seed you want to plant will be far more expensive than the cover crop. Do not plant winter rye as a cover crop. Any way, I am going down I5 to see my counsin in San Diago in January, drop a note if you want me to stop by.

I agree with winter wheat, or even more rugged & forgiving of freeze/thaw cycles as well as surviving an early frost right after sprouting is rye.

I'd do rye. 2nd is winter wheat.

But, I'm in Minnesota, so my thoughts might not translate you your conditions well at all.

--->Paul

plant some ice plant-- its drought resistant-- and spread easily.

Paul, I love growing rye, it is a completely care free crop, gets 5 feet tall and has heads the size of small bannanas. It wipes out weeds like sunlight wipes out vampires. It kills creaping jenney when all herbicides fail. I fear if Steve plants rye as a cover crop with some sort of grass the oleopathic (sp?)effect of the rye will keep the grass from growing. Just my experience and I could be wrong, I have been before.

Thanks again for your input...all of you.

Winter wheat sounds like a candidate. But it needs to sprout before the freeze, correct?
As far as I'm concerned anything that will hold the soil would be fine. We don't plan on planting grass....ever, because I don't cut grass. Maybe some trees on the slope in the future.
Do you have to re-plant rye every year and Is it a special type of Rye that I should look for? Is there one that doesn't grow...5'high?
I did go to several landscape supply's, but they weren't really any help. The best they would suggest was oats, and as you mentioned, Hyrdoseed, (w/oats).

IcePlant is a great choice, except I believe that the freezing temps would take it out.

Brushfires are a BIG concern in this area. We had one about 5 years ago that killed 4 Fire Fighters. That was called the Cabazon fire. That's why Ice plant is good, (if it didn't freeze).

As far as stopping by in January, it wouldn't work, as the property is 60 miles to the east from where I live. Besides, my current home is in escrow and I will be moving towards the coast. Funny thing, I'll be in Sacramento several times in December.

Thanks again for your suggestions.
steve

Here in N Tx oats can survive freezes and a freak snow actually insulates the crop. I've never had an oat crop freeze out.