Alfalfa after Alfalfa

VicS · Mar 20, 2017

Planted Alfalfa last fall. Didn't winter very well. Came up late is about 1/2 inch tall. But some places no stand. About 1/3 of field. Can I inter seed it? Or tear it up and reseed. Wondered if it was big enough to put out the toxin to kill germ of seed. Or whatever it does. Thanks. Vic

caterpillar guy · Mar 20, 2017

I would wait till later in the summer . Some of it might not have come up yet. If you had a wet speel right after it was planted it might have killed it also. I think it will still fill in mostly this spring.

Nick m · Mar 20, 2017

I agree with caterpillar guy. Give it more time. I had one I thought was junk, and it turned out ok. If it does not fill in, you could replant the thin spots. I had a couple spots drown out when the plants were just popping up in one field. Later in the summer, I went in with a disc and replanted those spots and they turned out alright also.

Paul from MI · Mar 20, 2017

Alfalfa will not interseed due to auto-toxicity. All of the old alfalfa will have to be killed for several months or more to re-seed your field. I'd wait and see if the stand improves during the summer. If not, the I'd go with another crop for a year, then try alfalfa again.

fixerupper · Mar 20, 2017

If you planted this last fall I doubt the auto toxicity will be a problem. Can't advise you based on personal experience though, just what I've read.

tomstractorsandtoys · Mar 20, 2017

I have overseeded in the spring with no problems. Tom

David G · Mar 20, 2017

You might be within the window to reseed, the auto toxicity might not be present in the young plants.

paul · Mar 20, 2017

It's probably young enough for overseeing to work.

Probably.

Paul

olgentdc · Mar 20, 2017

glad this subject came up ,,. I too will interseed ,,. had a very dry fall from late sept -thru October ,,. alfalfa came up,,. but it aint there now ,..

Case Nutty 1660 · Mar 21, 2017

I have always been told about how you can Never reseed a alfalfa field But there is a way, you have to work the ground fist to put the established plants into "survival mode" then they do not put out the toxin, like stated if you just over seed it now it will attack the new plants with vigor, there is one other way but it tales time and I think it was touched on below, they do not kill their own seed so when it gets seed pods on it and you harrow them in this will replant some also,, I have done a Lot of my own hands on research on this here the last 40 years, you can also plant alfalfa long before the last frost, But you have to plant it Deep so it does not sprout until the ground temp is able to protect the small plants, I put it 2"-3" deep and have planted hundreds of acres this way and never lost a field yet even though I had been told all my life never plant here until at least the 15th of May,, I plant mine now in March or April depnding on the year
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VicS · Mar 21, 2017

Thanks for the replies. Vic

Alfalfa after Alfalfa

VicS

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caterpillar guy

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Nick m

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Paul from MI

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fixerupper

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tomstractorsandtoys

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David G

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paul

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olgentdc

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Case Nutty 1660

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VicS

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