Planters Question about Covington 1 row planter

[Jimmy1040]

I've bought a used Covington single row planter and have a few questions
1. Can I use this setup to fertilize/side dress after planting corn? If so, wouldn't the press wheel run right over my corn?
2. What parts is needed to convert to side dress?

Thanks for any help

 

[lpigott]

I suppose you could "rig" it to do that but you would need a cultivator frame/toolbar that would allow you to move the planter to the side and rig something to block the fertilizer shoot on one side. You would be better off to get the Covington side dresser. I have a cultivator with the planter setup that I leave untouched and only use for planting and another cultivator tool bar for cultivating and using the side dresser on when needed.http://www.wattsbrosdistributing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TP3A002.jpgSide dresser | Watts Brothers Distributing, Inc.

 

[Jimmy1040]

I think I understand how that side dresser being off set would work if I use my planter in the center of cultivator. But Im trying to figure out if I move my planter over so it drops seed just inside of right rear tire and when I get to end of row I come right back down same tire tracks with another row in order to make rows closer together, then how would I cultivate and side dress. Hopefully I'm making sense. I'm new to this so I'm a lil confused and hoping someone can help me understand what I need to do.

 

[barkerwc4362]

What is the row spacing your looking for? The wheel spacing on your tractor needs to drive the spacing of your rows. Does your tractor allow you to adjust the spacing both front and rear? My International 244 compact allows me to adjust my rear wheels from about 36" to 48". So row spacing with a single row planter should be from 36", 40", 42", 44", and 48". This will allow cultivating with a single row cultivator. I plant all my 1/3 acre garden on 40" rows. I plant with a Cole 12MX planter behind a John Deere 332 (diesel garden tractor) and do final cultivation with the International 244 using a cut down four row cultivator. Last year I planted and harvested 12 100' rows of sweet corn plus another 4 85' rows of field corn. In theory with either a multi-row planter or using a offset single row planter (a pain to keep aligned and remember which way to turn) you could plant 18", 20", 21", 22" and 24" row spacing. This would require a two or more row cultivator. Trying to do other than a spacing based upon your tractor's available wheel spacing you are on your own. Growing up in corn country (Eastern Iowa) we planted everything in 40" rows. The rear tires were set on 80" when cultivating using two and four row cultivators.

Bill

 

[Jimmy1040]

My tractor/ tire width is at 66" and tires are 14" wide on rear with no adjustment. So if my planter is centered to tractor my row spacing would be 66".
So if I'm understanding this right , is that if I move planter over to the side just 9" inside rear tire then I could make 2 passes in same tire tracks giving me 2 rows leaving 20" in between rows.
And if I buy myself a 2 row cultivator and adjust feet to cultivate each side of row and be able to mount a side dresser in the center with 2 fertilize chutes and that the press wheel will ride between the 2 rows ???
Does this sound about right? Or am I way off?.... please advise
My goal is to plant 2.5 acres of corn.

 

[barkerwc4362]

There are problems with planting corn at that narrow of row spacing. 1. Your rear tires will will end up running over corn at 20" row spacing. 2. Are you planning on irrigating the corn? Corn is a moisture intensive crop. On 40" rows and 10 - 12" seed spacing I have to put out soaker hoses for my corn if it doesn't rain every 10-14 days at least (every 7 days is better). The higher your plant population the more moisture you will need. Also, the more fertilizer you use the more moisture you will need. Remember corn is a member of the grass family. Last year was unusual for the amount of rain we received at the right time. But, I still had to water early. I planted the first batch late March last year and then at 7-10 day intervals. Last corn was planted mid-April. I used a starter fertilizer at planting and ammonium nitrate (pure nitrogen) when corn was knee high. You would be better off buying a two row planter and going with 30-33" rows to be compatible with your tractor's wheel spacing. That would allow you to cultivate your crop and side dress with no problems. The side dresser attachment on the Covington planter does not need to be used with the planter unit. It can be mounted on a cultivator by itself. 20" rows may be fine in Iowa or Illinois, but they have a soil that retains more moisture, has more organic material, plus a climate that has a more predictable moisture delivery as well as a later transition to high temperatures.

Bill

 

[barkerwc4362]

When you compute wheel spacing it is from center of rear tire to center of rear tire. Also can be computed by measuring from the center of your draw bar to the center of one of the rear tires, then multiply by two. So I estimate you wheel spacing is 52", center to center? I would still go with 30" row spacing.

Bill

 

[Jimmy1040]

Wow- when I was looking for planters I was told I couldn't use my Kubota to plant using a 2 row planter because of width!
I will sell my Covington one row planter and buy a 2 row planter if that solves my problem. Thanks so much for your time and help. It is much appreciated

 

[lpigott]

The planter you have is fine, you just need another one and a straight toolbar cultivator instead of a single row cultivator. Honestly though, I have planted a LOT of corn with a one row setup and prefer it, especially a small field like you plan. What kind of corn are you planting?

 

[Jimmy1040]

Field corn

 

[lpigott]

Field corn

Plant Roundup ready corn and spray it after it and the grass and weeds come up and forget around cultivating. Last I did I didn’t even add N2 and still had great yield but we had perfect rains on good ground.

 

[barkerwc4362]

I have a two row John Deere 51 unit planter on a 4x7" toolbar that I use to plant food plots with. It is set up for 30" rows. I use that behind my International 244. which I assume is smaller and narrower than your Kubota. On the food plots however, I do not intend to cultivate or side dress the grain sorghum or sunflowers I am planting. A friend of mine has a two row Covington that he uses behind his John Deere 850. I am curious what width issue would prevent you from using a two row attachment, especially a planter behind your tractor. I see a lot of pictures of two row planters behind small to medium sized compact tractors of all brands. Have to remember there are a lot of "experts" out there. I have been told you cannot plant squash in the fall in South Alabama! Funny, it grows fine.

Bill

 

[Jimmy1040]

Ok I've gone out and bought a Covington side dresser and a 2 row rigid cultivator frame. I planned on mounting the side dresser offset to one side in order not to run over my rows which are centered on my 1 row planter. Now I have a couple questions if someone can help me out.
1. My side dresser shaker pan has divider that shakes into 2 separate chutes ( for a 2 row set up) so I need to modify it to only drop to one side possibly blocking other chute somehow. What is best way ??

2. Also that chute does not reach over close enough to drop into opening caused by shovel/sweep. Is this necessary or can it just be dribbled along top off ground and not covered?
I did see a conversion kit listed on Wattsbrothers website and sent them email requesting info on it but nothing back from them yet.

 

[downslope]

Ok I've gone out and bought a Covington side dresser and a 2 row rigid cultivator frame. I planned on mounting the side dresser offset to one side in order not to run over my rows which are centered on my 1 row planter. Now I have a couple questions if someone can help me out.
1. My side dresser shaker pan has divider that shakes into 2 separate chutes ( for a 2 row set up) so I need to modify it to only drop to one side possibly blocking other chute somehow. What is best way ??

2. Also that chute does not reach over close enough to drop into opening caused by shovel/sweep. Is this necessary or can it just be dribbled along top off ground and not covered?
I did see a conversion kit listed on Wattsbrothers website and sent them email requesting info on it but nothing back from them yet.

Yes, it is much better to cover the fertilizer, since the nitrogen will otherwise volatilize.

You say you bought a 2 row cultivator frame so it seems life would have been a lot simpler for you if you were able to use a 2-row planter. If you are intent on planting one row at a time I guess you should look into the "conversion" kit.

Isn't there some way you can mount the planter offset on a tool bar so if you go up and back in the same track you will approximate 30" rows. The issue is maintaining accurate spacing for later cultivation. I have successfully grown sweet corn in 26" rows, I just leave wider wheel rows. I assume you are wanting to plant 1 row at a time to save on equipment cost. It's unfortunate because your tractor seems to be a good setup for 2-row work.

 

[downslope]

My tractor/ tire width is at 66" and tires are 14" wide on rear with no adjustment. So if my planter is centered to tractor my row spacing would be 66".
So if I'm understanding this right , is that if I move planter over to the side just 9" inside rear tire then I could make 2 passes in same tire tracks giving me 2 rows leaving 20" in between rows.
And if I buy myself a 2 row cultivator and adjust feet to cultivate each side of row and be able to mount a side dresser in the center with 2 fertilize chutes and that the press wheel will ride between the 2 rows ???
Does this sound about right? Or am I way off?.... please advise
My goal is to plant 2.5 acres of corn.View attachment 536937

No, you are wrong here. If the 66" is measured outside to outside and the tires are 14" and the planter is centered on the tractor, then you would end up with a 52" row spacing. Usually when discussing row crops and wheel spacings the center-to-center measurement is used, not outside edges. Maybe you could get away with running the planter about 7" from the tire edge instead of 9". That woud give you 24" between rows. Then for the next 2 rows hold the tractor over a little to achieve a wider wheel row.