seeder recommendations

[Andy Carson]

I am almost ready with my equipment for next year, but have been putting off buying/modifying a seeder because I just can’t make up my mind. I need to plant corn, peas, sunflowers, and (hopefully) pumpkin seed. I can forgo the pumpkin planting if need be and do this by hand as many seeders I have read about have trouble with this large seed.

I thought about modifying a tractor drawn corn planter, but the cheap ones seem to be missing required seed plates and/or be in rough condition. More expensive ones are more complete, but I just don’t think a seeder really justifies a big expense. After all, to seed I just make one trip per row and I will be making many more trips tilling and cultivating…

I have looked at planet jr seeders and like their general weight and more robust construction. I am not as big of a fan of thier seed metering system, though, but I don’t hear many complaints about it, so I guess it must work OK… I would love to hear any opinions about it.

I also looked at an earthway seeder and there are alot of things I like about it. The price is definitely right, and I like the seed metering system and how easy it is to switch to a different seed. I do not like the weight of the thing, it just feels like it’s going to break, but again, I don’t hear alot of complaint about this so maybe it’s fine. Honestly, I wasn’t even considering an earthway until I saw one being used at NEAPFD. It made me rethink my dismissal of the tool as “cheesy”… Another attractive thing about the earthway is that for the price I can buy a couple and rig them up to work together (although really, the time saved by this would likely be nominal).

Any opinions or experiences are greatly appreciated. I am only planting about an acre at a time, so I don’t need a really “high speed” seeder. Maybe there are other options I haven’t thought about??

[dominiquer60]

I have had some experience with few a different types of seeders, I will share what I know.

I used to live on a farm where we did all of the pumpkins and sunflowers with an old horse drawn corn seeder pulled by a tractor. It usually worked well, but some times would clog up, we did about 4 acres with this one. Though I never used it myself, we would hire a neighbor kid to drop the seed by hand and the old man would drive tractor. I don’t remember the make or model by I may be able to find out if you are interested.

My fiance has an Earthway and the only thing that he likes to use it for is peas and beans, for anything else he doesn’t hesitate to use my Planet Jr. I do know a young farmer north of me that uses a fleet of Earthways and has customized all the plates by drilling them out to get the seeding rate that he wants. They tend to do a lot by hand and over 50% of his cost of doing business is labor, I have been encouraging him to get a Jr. Personally I feel that I could break an Earthway in half if I am not paying attention.

The Plant Jr. it is not a perfect tool by any means and that is why they have precision and vacuum seeder, but given the cost of perfection, I am a Planet Jr. lifer. I have 7 units of 2 different types. I have six 300A units which work on a Allis Chalmers G tool bar that is rigged to a 3 pt. hitch, we use 5 of them at a time on our tractors, the 6th is a spare (our beds are not as wide as the farm that we bought the implement from). These are the classic 3 plates and 36 holes sizes to choose from Planet Jrs.. There is an adjustable opening shoe, a furrow closing sweep and a press wheel. The unit is ground driven off of the front wheel. It works well when the ground and the seed size is consistent and you have selected the correct plate. Never go by the recommendations for hole size, this is a ball park that needs a lot of fine tuning with each seed lot. The Planer Jr 300A really shines with pelletized and sized seeds.

If I had to choose one simple seeder for small non tractor acreage it would be my 1910 Planer Jr. #4. When I bought this on eBay, I thought that this was the plate type, at first I was so disappointed that is wasn’t. Silly me, it is a wonderful tool! This is the older style Jr., it still has front wheel drive, an adjustable opening shoe, furrow closer and press wheel, but no plates. There is a lever at the side that slides and allows you to adjust the size of the hole that lets the seed through. There are suggested settings for different vegetables by the lever, again fiddle with where it works best for you. The #4 has the added feature of a spacing device. There is a sprocket with 2,3 or 4 teeth that is on the back end and is directly driven by the seed agitator axle. Each tooth lifts the plate open and lets the seed(s) drop, with the frequency depending on how many teeth there are on the sprocket. The sprockets are removable and a complete Jr. has a bolt and wingnut on the handle where the sprockets are stored. If you don’t want to have the seeds spaced out and just want a continuous stream of say radishes, just lift the plate arm up and over to keep it open (given the not so smooth terrain, I generally wedge a twig to keep it in place). It is simple and versatile, it has lasted a 100 years and I am sure with care it will last at least another 100. The biggest downfall is finding the sweet spot with the changing of each type of seed, but since you can look down at your work while walking behind, it is very easy to tweak it as you go.

I also have a Stanhay that I am trying to figure out, it is on a 3pt tool bar, and should be light enough to work on a 3 pt. forecart. It is the most basic of belt driven precision seeders and my plan is to get some well spaced carrots and beets seeded with it. I hope to know more about it this spring.

That’s my experiences with seeders, if you want pictures or more info let me know. I hope you find the right seeder for you, or if you are a seeder nut like me you will find the right combination that works for you.

Good luck

Erika

[Andy Carson]

Thanks Erika,
It was actually the lack of a spacer device (or at least one I could understand immediately) that was the primary thing I didn’t like about the planet jr mechanism. I wasn’t aware that there was another type… The old 1910 type sounds just right.

[dominiquer60]

I really like the spacer for crops that I want to hoe on weedy ground. With the spacing sprocket I can drop 3-4 beans in a clump every foot, when they emerge I can use a cultivator to get between the rows and a stirrup hoe in the row between the hills of beans. I found mine on eBay, but I know someone who found a gorgeous one helping an elderly neighbor clean out a old shed, she gave it to him as payment, totally worth every drop of sweat. Start looking and one will show up when you least expect it. Happy hunting.
Erika

[Mac]

Well sir, let me ask you this: who much ground are you wanting to work? Now if you’re looking at a kinda small, fairly level and rockless spot, I recommend one of the small, push styles, like a planet jr. If we’re talking 1/4 to 1/2 acre, I might try to find one of the older, one row corn planters like they used to use around here. The were pulled by one horse and walk behind. Anything bigger than this you should have a two row riding job. Its easiest, I promise.
I use my two row McD every spring, and I have a little one row no-name for the garden. Just my opinion here.
Mac

[dominiquer60]

I forgot to mention that when it comes to pumpkins and winter squash, we are rather old fashion. We mark it out with a tractor and take turns dropping a few seeds in a hill and using a hoe to cover. It works for us!

Erika

[Andy Carson]

Thanks again Erika. I wasn’t really that worried about the pumpkins anyway, as they are spaced so far apart. I thought a little bit about the spacer mechanism on the #4. If I understand the mechanism of the spacer correctly, it is probably easy to get some (like 2-4) seeds to drop at an even spacing it will probably be hard to get one (and only one) seed to drop every time. This is my main concern with the corn and sunflowers. Maybe I would be more likely to get the seeds spread out in a nice line if the slot/hole is just right and I keep my forward speed constant without using the spacer function. I have to say, the whole idea of metering seeds by simply adjusting hole size is not really that appealing to me. This was my main gripe with my broadcast seeder, that seemed to really dump seed when I was going slow and was too light when I was going fast. Perhaps this is a bigger problem with broadcast seeders than with Planet jr types??? Perhaps I just need to learn to walk the same speed all this time??? I googled up a Jang seeder in my research, and although I haven’t seen one personally, but they look much more heavy duty than an earthway and have a mechanism that at least appears to singulate the seed reguardless of forward speed. Does anyone have any experience with or opinions about these? I am not opposed to a Planet jr, but just want to investigate options…

PS. Erika, you mentioned your fiance liked to use the earthway for peas and beans. Maybe the earthway metering system is better for larger seeds???

[dominiquer60]

Yes The Earthway does do well for larger seeds. Dale picked up his Earthway cheap somewhere. It came with a bunch of different seed plates. The smaller sized seed plates didn’t work well at all, but for larger seeds it does meter the seed out fairly consistently. If he gets to planting beans before I do, he will still use his Earthway, if I beat him to it I use my Planet Jr #4. The results are fairly similar except that I can hoe between each hill and his rows require more handweeding.

In regards to regards to too thick or thin with a broadcast versus something like a Jr., the two are different. With the hand held or 3pt broadcaster the consistency of the seeding really does depend on your consistency of speed. With the Earthway or Planet Jr. the direct drive from the front wheel makes the speed at which the seeds are dropped relative to how fast you are walking. Since they are being dropped every certain distance that the front wheel turns and not slung about like the broadcast spreader the amount of seed and where it is placed stays rather consistent. I would not run with it but I see no difference whether I walk at 1 mph or 4 mph.

I have heard of the Jang now that you mention it. Here is a quote from another discussion on it.
“The Jang uses little rollers as opposed to a plate which I think helps it’s accuracy. It will drop exactly one round seed (radish, beet, pelleted lettuce or carrot, ect) at exactly the spacing you set (using gears) of between 4″ apart to 3/32”. It can get a bit tiresome changing gears and the rollers until you get used to planting similar things at the same time. To change seeds and the roller you remove the seed hopper from the unit (it slides out.) This makes pouring seeds out really easy, as you don’t have to lift the seeder to dump seeds… “
This reminds me about how awkward it is to remove seed from the Planet Jr #4 hopper, but nothing is perfect after all. The discussion above that I quoted also mentions that the Earthway is still the way to go for larger seeds and that the Jang is best for smaller round/pelleted seed so it is a little picky about what works well in it. The Jang certainly sounds like something that may someday make my seeder collection.

Dale’s father taught me an old saying about why folks used to plant 4 kernels of corn in a hill “one for the cut worm, one for the crow, one to rot and one to grow.” I use mostly untreated seeds, so when my Planet Jr. spits out a few seeds with each pass of a sprocket, it doesn’t really bother me at all because I know that they wont all make it, or I can always thin a few out.

I am sure that what ever you end up with will take some of the labor away from doing it all by hand. Enjoy your purchase whatever it may be.

Erika

[Tim Harrigan]

Andy, it seems like you were shooting for a reduced tillage or low-disturbance tillage/planting system on your ground. Most of these seeding units are light, some have hoe openers that will really require an intensively tilled seedbed. I have two old Planet Jr’s (one row, walk behind) that I use in my garden for corn, I run them without the spacers, just continuous feed like Erika described. I do a lot of thinning, I can do it fast with a scuffle hoe. But seed can be expensive and I do not think I would do the same on multiple acres. They are not residue friendly so if you are planning to use it following corn you will have to work the field pretty good.

[Andy Carson]

Yes, I was shooting for less disturbance so will probably have some residue to deal with… I suppose that puts me back in the camp of using a planter that can deal with it. I suspect this means disc openers and some weight? Probably easiest to start with a tractor type in that case and adapt it to be pulled by my horse. Man, I think every tool I’m going to be using next year is going to adapted, invented, or fussed with in some respect. Maybe that’s normal, but it makes me a little nervous. I suppose everything will go really good or really bad. 🙂

I guess another way of saying this is. How well does a Planet jr deal with some residue?

[Tim Harrigan]

I can only speak for the PJ’s that I have. They are both hoe opener style planters and they catch and drag residue that is within planting depth. I think if you want to avoid planting problems you will have to increase tillage to size and bury residue or find a planter that uses coulters or row cleaners to clear the residue. Following corn will be the biggest problem. I forgot what other crops you have in your rotation. Beans would be a lighter and fragile residue and break down faster. Seems like pumpkins would be a little harder to deal with, I’ve only grown a few plants at a time. I am not trying to discourage you from any of the planters mentioned, just encouraging you to keep the entire cropping system in mind in the building process.

[Andy Carson]

The main and (cover) crops in the rotation are Corn (oats/turnip) to Sunflowers (clover) to Buckwheat (rye) to Pumpkin (oats) to Peas (clover) then back to corn. Buckwheat is a recent addition because my wife wants to keep bees, and I am very happy to have a crop that I can broadcast, is good for the soil, and produces a crop (honey) that I am more confident will sell. I am not sure how fast sunflower stalks degrade, but I am hoping it won’t be worse than corn. I am adamant that the corn stalks themselves will be removed from the field for feed/bedding, but will still probably have substantial residue to deal with. Sunflower follows corn, as I have read sunflowers are lighter feeders. I expect the trashiest field will be after the corn and sunflower, but that will be in buckwheat and I can broadcast that.

[Andy Carson]

This is an old one row horse drawn lister corn planter… I think it still uses a hoe, but I would guess the weight would help deal with trash a little better. I suppose I could be convinced to ride instead of walk… Has anyone used one of these?

[dominiquer60]

I have not seen or used one of those corn planters, but would love to hear more about it.

Trashy ground and the Planter Jr. can cause problems. The first time I used a Jr on a regular basis, it was on a fine sandy loam, this is what the Jr. was made for. When I started using my Jr. here at Dale’s only 20 miles away from that sand, using a Jr. is a lot more challenging, but very doable.

I rarely have ideal seeding conditions here, it is too wet, too clumpy, to trashy, and too weedy. Yet the only seeded crop that we have plowed under in 2 years is this past summers parsnips, and they suffered from neglect and drought, best darn seeding of parsnips I have ever done, too bad. Seeding with a 3 pt Jr. is a two person job here, one to drive straight and the other to keep trash from building up with the Jrs. (5 of them at one time), and to keep small amounts of seed flowing toward the drop hole. I look forward to making this a one person job this summer with my new belly mount tractor and a wire hoe. Sometimes the ground is so clumpy it is a wonder things germinate for us at all, but with a little water and a few heeled in spots, we manage. Like most things the Jr. is not perfect, but it beats the alternative.
I’m not trying to sell you on the Jr of course, but I just wanted to note that the Jr. can be used on less than ideal ground, but the efficiency of it drops as well.

Looking forward to hearing about this other corn seeder. Be Well
Erika

[Tim Harrigan]

Dealing with residue is a problem. If you till the ground just a bit so it is soft and then try to cut something like corn residue you could just pin it in the soft ground but not cut it. So you still have the problem of plugging up. If you do not till the ground and it is firm enough to support the corn stalk so you can cut it, your planter will not run at the right depth. Somewhere in the middle probably gives you a combination of problems. I would say, though, to get that planter to work in corn residue you will need at least a coulter, better yet, a coulter with row cleaners to sweep the residue to the side. These old planters were made to work in plowed ground.

This is the type of thing I am referring to. This does not have a cutting colter, just the sweeps. There are others on the market.

http://www.yetterco.com/prod_p_multinotchdisc.php

http://www.needhamag.com/innovative_product_sales/martin_row_cleaners.php

[Author]

Posts