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Too early to seed alfalfa in MN?

T

tjdub

Member

My neighbor started seeding yesterday. Now my Dad is getting antsy telling me I should get mine seeded while it's still abnormally dry. On a normal year, we wouldn't be able to drill this early because the ground would still be mud. May 1 is the the normal target date. I'm worried a killing frost could still wipe out the alfalfa seedlings if I seed this early. Am I right to worry about that?
 
I do it as early as conditions allow. Have done it as early as March 10. Never had a failure. It won't germinate until the ground is warm enough, anyway.

A month of wet weather and you will wish it was done.

I always seed with an oats crop, and want the oats in early for best yield, if that makes any difference. Alfalfa by itself germinates too slow and leaves the ground prone to erosion here. If I need some hay the summer of seeding, I take the oats off early as forage.

Too wet here for anything.
 
I always try and get mine in as soon as possible, right after the frost goes out. I live on a gravel hill with good drainage so I like to give it a start before it gets to dry. Will be planting some this weekend in Nw Wisconsin. Also in that orange drought area.
 
Get it in as early as possible.Don't worry about frost.We've planted lots of times when it snowed for days after seeding.Seeded quit a few times on Easter Sunday.I'm in the same area as you.
 
I'd get it in before it gets too wet. The soil temp has to get up to germ numbers, 53 or so before it will begin to sprout. And it's going to be a few weeks before that happens.

Gordo
 
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