Growing Grains Without Heavy Equipment

silverseeds · #41 08/20/12, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

If your going to do corn. It HAS to be in rows, tho those rows can be only 16in or so apart. Milo can go either way, but if you want the grain it has to go into rows also. Same with beans. Wheat, oats, spelt, ect, needs to be broadcast OR drilled into proper rows broadcast isnt drilled, but as the name implies broadcast all over. Drilled means its in rows, but those rows are around 4 to 6in apart.

Corn doesnt have to be in rows at all. It can be farther then 16 inches apart as well. In fact many of the tribes we inherited it from, grew it in hills, 5-6 to a hill. Ive done this, it works well. You DO want LOTS of hills, and I had lots of space between hills just as they did growing squash and watermelons etc. Im breeding with corn, planted on rows 3 feet apart, and 3 foot apart within the row as well. Selecting for heavy tillering... All my corns do just fine. I actually might start going wider as well.

You can grow milo for grain without it being in rows, its self pollinating. Probably easier to accurately get a feel for correct seeding amounts for an area, but it can be planted in any pattern. Rows really are mainly for machine harvest, and secondly to ensure your giving the right amount of spacing. I have no seeder of any type, so I experiment with various seeding rates, methods and grains as well. Ive grown most types at some level or another.

the main issue with all these is they need the right amount of spacing which actually can be MUCH more variable then most realize. with corn you need it close enough at a high enough concentration you have good pollination, otherwise doesnt matter at all.

You plant wheat and other cereal grains on 3-4 inch centers? I thought 7.5 and 15 or so dryland was normal... Not saying your wrong on that, its just what Ive read. Im about to plant my first MAJOR winter wheat crop, so Im curious. (well major by homestead standards)

**clovis** · #42 08/28/12, 11:26 PM

I, too, suggest the use of an old Allis Chalmers All Crop, or another similar make, if you ever decide to grow more than a few acres.

All Crops can be found cheap, but fully working models will cost a bit more. Machinery like this will take some time and mechanical aptitude to maintain and run, but if you are up to it, I don't think there is a better machine for small time farming...possibly up to 100 acres.

bruce2288 · #43 08/29/12, 11:27 AM

Normal plant population is based on growing conditions. Usually normal rainfall. Non irrigated corn in central nebraska is planted at 18,000-22,000 in Indiana 30,000-38,000, based on normal rainfall. This is one reason the corn crop in Indiana was devasted even worse than here, even though they had more rain. Ideal spacing for all plants is equal distance from the next in all directions. Corn planted on 15 inch spacing between plants and between rows will be about a 20,000 pop. and more efficient than corn in 36inch row and 9 inches apart. Less competion for light, moisture and fertility in the soil.