Help!Any pointers- JD model B drill for beans?

[Dave from MN]

Well, I am gonna use the drill for planting the beans. Like I had said earlier I was planning on 12" rows, but may go to 18". Does any one have any experience with tips, pointers, or any other wisdom so I get a decent seeding. Having a little trouble figuring out what to set the planter at for a feed rate. I was told to plant a bushel to the acre but that can vary with seed size right?

 

[thurlow]

I 'think' a model B is what we used in the '50s and '60s; single disc opener/7 inch spacing/galvanized box? I doubt that bean size varies very much variety to variety, 'though I don't know what's popular in MN. We used to grow some Yorks that were as big as the end of your little finger. On 38 inch rows, I always figured about one bean per inch to get 60 or 70 lb. per acre; you might use that as a starting point and figure how many per inch, based on your row spacing. Seems I blocked off every other drop and planted on 14 inch, rather than 7 inch spacing; don't know that it really made any difference. No press wheels, just drag/cover chains as I recall; never failed to get a stand, assuming soil conditions/moisture was adequate.

 

[big jt]

Morning Dave

That VanBrundt B will do fine job with beans. I have done this my self. Can't remember what the setting was but I remember it was most of the way to the left. However I was planting on 7' spacings. If I remember right I just figured out to a bushel of one of the grains on the sector and set it there.

Good luck

jt

 

[Anonymous-0]

Most drills show planting as lbs/acre. Probably should plant around 160,000-170,000, perhaps a little lower if you believe the seed is being well covered. We just planted 160,000 with a press wheel drill, but will bump that up to 175,000-180,000 with the subsequent notill drill planting. So you need to know the seed count per lb and the test germination. If seed count is 2800/lb and germination is 90%, it would require 63.5/lbs acre to theoretically give a population of 160,000/acre.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Intended to mention that after struggling for a few years planting in the tractor tracks, we now use a 3pt track eraser when drilling in conventionally tilled soil. Duals might work OK, but my experience shows a track eraser works great.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I used to drill mine with a 6" drill. Never could seem to get the yield as with 30". I believe it is because it is so hard to get proper depth with drill. The gangs are jumping all over the place so some are 2" deep while the next one is laying on top the ground. Yes drag it when finished but still some are on top the ground. As for population, don't plant to heavy. You won't really know where to set drill untill you are done but you will then know to set it more or less for next year. If they come up and look nice and green and plush then you planted to heavy. If they look like a hail storm just went through then that is just about right. Bean population is very forgiving. You can plant 50% rate and still get 90% yield so again I stress ereor on the lite side.

 

[Rh3]

I remember those york beans also. When they got ready to harvest you did not need to wait as they popped out pretty bad but I saw some impressive yeilds on non nematode soil if there is such a thing. Are the york seeds still available ???