manual/handheld seed drill

[DJ-Studd]

I'd like to plant green manure crops on my property, but do not have access to machinery at this stage. I cannot broadcast seed as the birds will eat it all before it has a chance to germinate.

What I'm after is some kind of manual seed drill/implanter.
I'm thinking something like a row of micro-pottiputki's which you stomp in to press 1cm into the ground, then seed is dropped through, then you move on to the next.

Surely something must exist.

Cheers.

[purecajn]

Can't you just seed an area and throw a thick layer of straw over the top? The thick layer keeps the birds away giving the seeds time to germinate as it rots.

[DJ-Studd]

Aha, not on the scale that I need to seed

[Woz]

I'd be thinking about seed balls in your situation DJ.

[martyn]

try this

http://www.allsun.com.au/Jang/Jang.html

Cheers

Martyn

[DJ-Studd]

Thanks Woz,
that idea completely slipped my mind.
I'll investigate making them this weekend!

Cheers

[barefootrim]

The old timers got passed the bird problem by hand broardcasting seed from their saddle bags,,, and having a flock of sheep mustered up immediately behind them,,,,the sheep hooves trampling action would dig the seed in. A lot of country was seeded that way.

[S2man]

Seed balls were my first thought, too.

Oooo. That Jang seeder is nice. Looks like much better quality than the ones I've seen. OTOH, I think you would need tilled ground for it to work. I doubt the furrower would cut through sod. And if it would, I would rather have a horse pull than push it by hand.

I know of a bean seeder, which you stab into the ground and it plants one seed. I doubt it would work for smaller seed, but perhaps it could be modified. I can't find the link right now, but will dig for it if you wish, DJ.

I'm about to broadcast clover seed in my (soon-to-be former) grass hay field. I'm planning to mow right after I seed, to provide the protective mulch suggested by purecajn. Since I'm broadcasting, instead of drilling, and because of possible bird issues, I'm using twice the recommended amount of seed.

[sweetpea]

I use the local vetches (purple vetch) and clovers (burr clover) that volunteer here. The critters and birds leave them alone, they are drought tolerant. I broadcast saved seed, and water in the fall, rather than leaving them until they decide to sprout, which is usually mid winter (mild winters here). They take off on their own at that point, and I let them go until they die back and I collect the seeds before there's any dehiscence (seed drop). I don't mow them until I've gotten the seed for next year.

But if you really want something that you can pull behind a tractor, check this out:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/b...t-no-till.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/b...ress-pics.html

These tractor forums are full of guys making the most amazing stuff

But, then storing stuff this size is not a lot of fun.