Market Farming

["Mike Bosko" <mjbosko AT jmtsystems.com>]

The frost seeding I have done was in the spring -after- the snows have gone.
Usually after the snow has melted the season is still giving cold enough
temps at night and warm enough during the day to get the ground opening and
closing, ever so miniscule, to get the small seeds into the ground and
covered.  It worked for me here in Eastern WA anyway.  We can have pretty
snowy winters too - although, I would say closer to 2' as a max.

I had always wondered how we would inoculate the seed when frost-seeding
though...  Being that the inoculants can't tolerate ultraviolet light
(sunshine).  I just haven't figured this one out yet, other than
broadcasting it into taller grasses to shade the inoculated seed, and then
mowing after the freeze-thaw had sucked the seed into the ground... so that
warmth will help germinate.  Seems like a way to go anyway??

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of Paul A. Bock
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 10:59 AM
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] frost-seeding

Hello Everyone,
  Can someone help me understand frost-seeding?  I am guessing that you
simply cast seed on frost-heaved ground and that the seed finds its way into
the ground as the frost melts.  But where I live we get say 3-4 feet of snow
on the ground most of the winter.  Should I cast the seed onto the snow?
Will a warm day with a melting top side give enough water to germinate the
seed when it is still above the soil?  Specifically, I would like to
frost-seed red clover seed into fall planted rye.  Should I plant the clover
before or after the snow instead?

-Paul Bock
Stone Gully

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