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Post by Foggy on May 27, 2017 8:06:37 GMT -6
Was just reading the July Brassica post and got to thinking about planting these tiny seeds again. I struggle to get a good, even coverage of my brassica and not over-apply seeds. I'm getting better.....but it's still a struggle to apply brassica seeds.
This is much the same situation as applying chemicals.....where we cut the chemical with water to get the coverage. The trick it would seem would be to add some inert carrier to the seeds in order to have more volume to spread.
Anyone ever heard of a method or a material to act as a carrier in order to do this? Almost would seem like sugar would be about the size of those seeds.
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Post by wklman on May 27, 2017 10:10:53 GMT -6
What about mixing it with fertilizer then spreading it? That's what I'm thinking about doing with my atv spreader if I come up.
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Post by Reagan on May 27, 2017 10:55:03 GMT -6
I think I read somewhere that someone recommended mixing small seeds with sand.
I've never done it myself. My plots are small so I just use a small hand held spreader and set it so I have to make a couple of passes 90 degrees to each other.
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Post by smsmith on May 27, 2017 11:13:47 GMT -6
^^^that's what I do too. I've always found an el cheapo hand spreader is the best for spreading tiny seeds.
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Post by sd51555 on May 27, 2017 15:41:23 GMT -6
If I had the storage space, I'd jump right to a leaf blower with the little hopper. But that ain't happening this year. Next year is dicey too.
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Post by Tooln on May 27, 2017 16:17:13 GMT -6
I really liked the leaf blower idea. Battery operated unit would work slick. Now I just use a small hand seeder.
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Post by Foggy on May 27, 2017 17:16:32 GMT -6
^^^that's what I do too. I've always found an el cheapo hand spreader is the best for spreading tiny seeds. ^ This is what I do too. But it's really hard to control those spreaders.....and they are not all built very well. Some have too fast of flow.....and it can be allot of walking when spreading large areas....expecially in the deer flies and heat. I don't think mixing seed with fertilizer would work very well.....as the two mediums will separate in the hopper. The seeds and medium would need to be the same size / texture / weight.....or your going to get allot of separation.....IMO. Maybe kitty litter or rice could work......still thinking on this. I think it needs to be finer than these. |
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Post by Foggy on May 27, 2017 17:20:17 GMT -6
I do like the idea of that air seeder above. Somebody should make a better seeder than the stuff that is on the market. I keep saying: "If I was 20 years younger"...... This is one of those products.....that if you really perfected a good broadcast spreader......you would make ALLOT of money. Not that hard to do......just some trial and error....until you get it right. Then....the world would be your Oyster!  |
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Post by wildfire123 on May 27, 2017 20:03:20 GMT -6
Miloganite works really well.
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Post by Foggy on May 27, 2017 20:08:26 GMT -6
Miloganite works really well. University research confirms anecdotal evidence that applying Milorganite on lawns and near plants deters deer due to its odor.[16] However, the fertilizer is not marketed as a deer repellent as it is not registered as a "pesticide", as the cost of certification is greater than its potential return.[7][18][20][21]
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Post by Sandbur on May 30, 2017 6:40:09 GMT -6
I have used pel lime mixed with some seed in a hand operated spreader. I have found different varieties of pel lime comes in different sizes.
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Post by Freeborn on May 30, 2017 7:12:45 GMT -6
Miloganite works really well. I have used Miloganite with mixed success. The miloganite is larger in diameter than small seed. I would try the sand but mix it very well before you add it to your spreader. |
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Post by batman on May 30, 2017 19:49:29 GMT -6
I dumped a bag of beans into the tub hopper and then a bag of pel lime on top of that. Halfway through it was all pel lime coming out. Separated really fast.
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Post by jbird on May 31, 2017 15:52:13 GMT -6
I have seen and used a small seed broadcaster/spreader before. I borrowed it from a buddy of mine. I used it to spread clover seed over several acres. It was like a typical conical or cyclone type spreader, but had a flex type PTO shaft and a much smaller hopper. So they do exist - I just use a small hand held one for the smaller areas I do now.
You are going to think I am crazy - but IF you want to mix in a carrier like fertilizer, make a plate for your hopper with holes in it. We had to do this in the foundry to keep the sand mixed properly. What happens is the smaller particles go thru first as the vibrations allow then to move past the larger particles. By making them re-mix, if you will, will help that issue. The more you do this the more mixed it stays. Use like a piece of plywood or something and just drill a bunch of equal size and equal spaced holes in it.
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