Mixing seeds

Glenn D

Member
One of the neighbors was over to look at my seed drill. He wants to mix some grains with some peas and things and was wondering how he would go about planting it. The drills don't look like they would work so we came to the idea of mixing the seeds in the right amount per acre in bas and using the broadcast spreader he has after testing the rate and speed. Is there a better way?
 
It can be done with a drill but is hard to get the settings right. Check online for how to calibrate a grain drill. We look at the factory chart and try to guess at a setting then remove the tubes from at least three seed drops. We then use rubberbands and attach a large ziplock bag to collect the seed. There should be a chart online that tells you how far to drive for the width openers you have. We then weigh the seed with a digital postal scale and multiply by the number the formula gives you to determine seeding rate per acre. Usually takes three or four try's to get right. But with high priced seed is worth the effort. Make sure to right the setting on the inside of the drill box so you have them for future use.Tom
 
A broadcast spreader may separate the more dense seeds like peas, from those less
dense, like oats, and result in an uneven pattern. Drill mixing will work better. Ben
 
Organic Neighbor had me plant a mix of barley/peas for him one year. When I told him I don't think that's going to plant very accurate with my grain drill he said "well you gotta make two trips". OOOOhhhhh
 
If drilling, you could probly mix seed that is similar in size and weight. But I don't think I would try it if the
seed is drasticly different in size and weight. It will separate itself in the drill bin. The heavier smaller will
go to the bottom. The lighter bigger will come to the top. If drasticly different seed, you be better off to go
over the ground multiple times. Once for every type seed you do. Your population will be a heck of a lot more
accurate as well, and the field be a lot more even.
 
There are some good replies here. If he can find a grain drill with a
small seed box, he should be able to plant a mixture of similar size
small seeds while planting larger seeds using the main bin. I have an
IH 10 which will plant small and large seeds on one pass, just would
require installing both drive chains. The rates are independently
adjustable for the small and large seeds.
 
The spinner does poorly with miss matched seeds - peas are going to fly like a bb pellet, and any grass seed with a wing will drop 10 feet from
the spinner......

The drill is very hard to figure out, but will be much more dependable.

What is the mix thry want to plant?

any small round seeds can be mixed and run through the 'grass seeder' which more often is actually an alfalfa and clover seeder. Round seeds
without wings. Alfalfa, clover, turnip, radish, etc.

An actual grass seeder is able to pick brought small wings seeds, that is more rare to have, but cool if you do!

Grains, peas, beans, all go through the main box. Grass seed we mix with oats and plant. The trick is to not drive very far after loading up the
drill, as small heavy seeds will sink, light seeds will float up as you drive down the road and vibrate along to get to the field.... And somewhat in
the field too, but since you are seeding stuff gets sucked back down.

Now, setting up the right seed rate for such a mix is more art than science, you just have to factor in that a small grass seed will be in the
spaces between oats and set your oats rate, then mix in enough grass seed to suit what rate you want. Mix in peas, and they will take the place
of some oats cutting the oats rate a little. And so on.

If you use the spinner, I'd try planting a half rate of what you want to get, and then replant over again down the seams or overlaps of the first
time through, so you get some light seeds on all spots.

Paul
 
(quoted from post at 19:56:06 04/24/17) There are some good replies here. If he can find a grain drill with a
small seed box, he should be able to plant a mixture of similar size
small seeds while planting larger seeds using the main bin. I have an
IH 10 which will plant small and large seeds on one pass, just would
require installing both drive chains. The rates are independently
adjustable for the small and large seeds.

Thats like my MF. there is seed grain and fertilizer boxes
 
On deer plots I mix the seed with fertilizer in a broadcast spreader and set it to go over the plot twice gets a pretty even stand of everything and I'm planting 4 different seeds sometimes.
 
I would use two seed boxes for the different size seeds, or make two passes, one for each size of seed. If the seeds need to be planted at different depths, I would plant the deeper seed first.
 
Very common in years past to mix oatsaand peas. The mill even sells it pre mixed. Makes a good forage crop and it's taken off before the oats would otherwise come out the alfalfa that was planted with it. We'd usually do either straight oats, or oats and peas. The small grain side would usually have a mix of alfalfa and timothy. Sometimes done other grasses. I know the manual of the van brunt drill also had a section talking about an agitator that could be used, but we didn't have one or need it.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 

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