How to seed tiny seeds?????

[Boeing]

Fellas, most of you are experienced at this. I was caught off guard.

I planted some Kentucky Fescue and rye last March along the road and the seeds were 1/4" or so. (I put out about 100 lbs. with the tractor spreader).

I just ordered seeds.....chicory, alfalfa, rape, red clover for the 3 acre top field on my Va. property.

I opened the packages to label them and..... These seeds are TINY.
HOW do I spread them? Tweezers? Will an "organ grinder" sling them? (I have one of those) But if I sling them they will be gone in 10 feet????? I hate the thought of doing "finger pinches" for 3 acres? suggestions?

I also bought a mix of several RYES, alfalfa and clover (sweet spot) from BARNYARD PRODUCTS for the road sides.

You guys do HUGE fields with the brassicas and various stuff.......HOW do you sow the seed? :confused2:

 

[MMagis]

I use one of those green hand held Scott’s spreaders. However, even on the “1” setting, you’ll be out of seed in no time. What I do, is I trim the gate a little with a knife. I leave it set to closed, but if I pull the trigger the gate moves just enough to let the small seeds out. It’s a little hard on my hand, but it’s the only way I’ve found, other than running through the fields with a seeder.

 

[brin]

Mix your seeds with sand....and then put the seed sand mixture in your spreader and have at it...That is the way we seed Bermuda grass seed and that is the smallest seed I have ever seen...

 

[foreman Etexas]

Mix seed with "Corn Meal"

 

[massey990]

You can mix the seed with sand and fine sawdust.

 

[Duffster]

Fellas, most of you are experienced at this. I was caught off guard.

I planted some Kentucky Fescue and rye last March along the road and the seeds were 1/4" or so. (I put out about 100 lbs. with the tractor spreader).

I just ordered seeds.....chicory, alfalfa, rape, red clover for the 3 acre top field on my Va. property.

I opened the packages to label them and..... These seeds are TINY.
HOW do I spread them? Tweezers? Will an "organ grinder" sling them? (I have one of those) But if I sling them they will be gone in 10 feet????? I hate the thought of doing "finger pinches" for 3 acres? suggestions?

I also bought a mix of several RYES, alfalfa and clover (sweet spot) from BARNYARD PRODUCTS for the road sides.

You guys do HUGE fields with the brassicas and various stuff.......HOW do you sow the seed? :confused2:

A Brilion seeder is one of the best ways to sow grass and alfalfa. The savings in seed will pay the rent in most cases.

Otherwise a grain drill with "grass" boxes will work.

 

[forgeblast]

I used a big feed scoop and would throw it, now it was spring when I did it with a bit of snow on the ground so I knew were they went. It is hard because they are so small.
Could you put them in a cement mixer and add clay, mud etc and build up the seed so its larger. I have also seen some wild flowers packed in mud and thrown on the ground, spring rain breaks apart the clay and they sprout.

 

[Boeing]

We're getting BASIC now....sorry. HOW do you mix a cup full of tiny seeds (supposedly 1/2 acre worth) with sand or sawdust? If I got a trashcan of sawdust then stired up through and through with my hands.....(seems sand would be too heavy and go to the bottom). Someone mentioned WETTING the sawdust making the seed "attach" to the sawdust.
The corn meal seems like an idea....is it expensive and does it grow too? duh.

Anyway, seems we need a way to make this small amount of seed GROW to an amount that might last for a 1/2 acre of casting??????
I bought and have PLANNED on separating CLOVER, CALE, ALFALFA and Chicory into 1/3 acre plots but ALL the seeds are tiny and this needs to cover 3 acres. I THOUGHT I could do it with the tractor broadcast spreader like the pelletized lime was spread.....White Tail Institute never mentions the HOW in planting.:confused :confused2:

 

[brin]

We're getting BASIC now....sorry. HOW do you mix a cup full of tiny seeds (supposedly 1/2 acre worth) with sand or sawdust? If I got a trashcan of sawdust then stired up through and through with my hands.....(seems sand would be too heavy and go to the bottom). Someone mentioned WETTING the sawdust making the seed "attach" to the sawdust.
The corn meal seems like an idea....is it expensive and does it grow too? duh.

Anyway, seems we need a way to make this small amount of seed GROW to an amount that might last for a 1/2 acre of casting??????
I bought and have PLANNED on separating CLOVER, CALE, ALFALFA and Chicory into 1/3 acre plots but ALL the seeds are tiny and this needs to cover 3 acres. I THOUGHT I could do it with the tractor broadcast spreader like the pelletized lime was spread.....White Tail Institute never mentions the HOW in planting.:confused :confused2:

Here ....check this out..then you decide.." Seeding

Because native seeds vary in size and weight it is best to mix them with an inert material for broadcasting. Slightly moistened sand, sawdust, or peat-moss (at a one to one ratio) will stick to the seeds resulting in a more even spread, make seeded areas more visible, and help extend small amounts of seed. "

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