Jeff Moyer has provided us with some good info as it is time
to get that clover down as we have cold nights and it warms during the day to “heave”
the seed into the ground, self-planted if you will.
Taken from New Farm Online Posted March 15, 2007
http://www.newfarm.org/columns/jeff_moyer/ask/2007/0307/0315_2.shtml
Dear Jeff,
We are
renovating a pasture and would like to frost seed. Last year we successfully
frost seeded clover. Are there any other legumes, or any grasses, that can be
frost seeded?
Thank you
Bill
Anderson
Pennsylvania
Dear Bill,
Thanks
for the question on frost seeding. The idea of frost seeding is to get your
seed out onto the soil as early as possible following snow melt. Once the seed
is on the ground, the freezing and thawing action that takes place near the
soil surface this time of the year, (when the sun thaws the surface during the
day and at night it refreezes), actually pulls the seed into the cracks and
crevices that appear.
Given
that theory, any seed that can tolerate cold temperatures could be frost
seeded. We frost seed alfalfa, orchard grass, brassicas, oats, field peas, etc.
We tend to frost seed these crops into existing crops like fall-planted wheat
or what you suggest, pasture renovation. There may be many other crops that
will work in a particular area or region. Figure out what you need in your mix,
knowing that any cold-tolerant crop will work, that is, any crop you would
normally want to plant first thing in spring.
Good
luck,
Jeff
Vicki Morrone
Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist
Michigan State University
C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems
303 Natural Resources Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542
517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (fax)
http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/
http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/
[log in to unmask]" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1026">