When used as a winter-annual cover crop and planted during this window in early fall, hairy vetch puts on preliminary growth, goes dormant in seedling form over winter, and blooms the following spring. The 'Madison Vetch' variety was developed in Nebraska, and is apparently cold tolerant. /1000 sq. Flowers in 4-inch-long racemes on long peduncles arising from leaf axils, with 10–30 flowers of the pea type all turned to one side of stalk, in varying colors: rich lavender, purple, violet, or white. Biomass comparisons of the three planting dates on June 1, 2007, revealed that fall-planted fared the best, yielding 7016 lbs/acre of dry matter, followed by the December dormant seeded vetch, at 5983 lbs/acre, and spring seeded with 4255 lbs/acre. Inoculant: Unless pre-inoculated, hairy vetch seed must be inoculated with selected Rhizobia strains (strain C) of bacteria just prior to planting for optimal root nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Due to the vining, climbing habit of the plant, it is often sown in combination with rye so the rye may provide some support. Planting WinterKing hairy vetch can be seeded at a rate of 10-40 lbs/acre depending on the mix or purpose. HV is often planted with cereal rye, oats or other winter grains for improved winter survivability, greater winter annual weed control, and increased erosion control. However, neither dormant seeding nor spring seeding is likely to yield enough biomass for an effective weed-suppressing mulch in a no-till system. Hairy vetch is a widely adapted, winter hardy cool-season annual legume that supplies an abundant amount of palatable forage for deer and turkeys and other wildlife in late spring into early summer. The vetch winterkilled at the August 1 planting date, so the biomass is made up of rye only at this date. Planting: Hairy vetch also fixes nitrogen which can be utilized by subsequent crops. The answer was yes and no. Because of its sprawling, viney growth habit, hairy vetch can suppress late winter/early spring annual weeds. Dormant seeding is indeed a risk, and like any other planting event it takes careful planning and attention to weather patterns. Avoid grazing seed pods due to toxicity. Our trial was quite unusual, because we took this practice and applied it to a winter annual, in effect shifting and condensing the vetch’s life cycle to fit our rotation. Seeding Depth: ¼ - ½ inch (stand failures will result from seed planted too shallow or too deep). Genevieve Slocum and Dave Wilson. 5. In the deep South, hairy vetch can be planted from early September to mid-November, depending on location. Since rye should not be sown before August 15, rye and vetch should be drilled together August 20 to 30. ft.) for pure hairy vetch stands. /acre 10-10-10 (10 lbs. The ideal temperatures for early root growth range from 20° to 25° C (68° to 77° F). It turns out that dormant seeding is a feasible Plan B. This species is known to have a great rooting system, with a tap root that will extend 1 to 3 feet into the soil profile. If farmers miss the critical window for planting hairy vetch (typically 40 to 50 days before the first killing frost, or mid-August to mid-September here in Berks County, Pennsylvania), the data shows that dormant seeding may be their next best bet. /1000 sq. It can provide sufficient N for many vegetable crops, partially replace N fertilizer for corn or cotton, and increase cash crop N efficiency for higher yield. (Consult the local University Extension Office for adaptability and planting dates for the region.) Plant hairy vetch in late summer or autumn at least 30 days before the first average frost date in your area. Avoid droughty sites such as eroded hillsides or shallow, rocky soils. With a little creativity, hairy vetch can be worked into almost any rotation, and it’s well worth the effort for the soil enrichment, fertility and weed suppression it provides. ft.) planted alone or 15 lbs. ft.) or an equivalent fertilizer and 1 ton/acre ag lime (50 lbs. To plant hairy vetch, plow the soil as you would for any regular crop. 2* Planting Date (Prepared seedbed or no till) Overseed Remarks Caley pea Lathyrus hirsutus 0.25 -0.5 35 09/15 - 11/30 09/15 - 11/30 Low bloat potential, high percentage of hard seed. When selecting a wildlife food plot site, choose an area that is long and narrow with curves or bends in it. 6. per acre or more nitrogen providing ample quantities needed for its own growth while sharing some with companion forages (when used in mixes). After emergence, the seedlings begin to grow before the frost, form a crown (indicated by several secondary shoots from the base of the main stem), and then use stored root carbohydrate reserves to survive dormancy over the winter. If seed are disked in, the use of a culti-packer or roller after seeding ensures good seed/soil contact and improves stand emergence. It’s (Almost) Never Too Late to Plant Hairy Vetch, Rodale Institute’s Farmer Training (RIFT), Comparison of Substrate Utilization Assay and Fatty Acid Analysis of Soil Microbial Communities, Nodulation of Leguminous Crops Greater in Organic Systems, Overcoming Weed Management Challenges in Cover Crop–Based Organic Rotational No-Till Soybean Production in the Eastern United States. Barley was close behind. The stems, which generally branch from near the base, are on an average from two to three feet high, angular and more or less hairy. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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