Question on top dressing oats with fert.

[Richard JH.]

Morning Gents,
My usual fertilizer company couldn't deliver and broadcast fertilizer on my land in a decent time, as they had a floater down.
Fert. was ordered on the 12th and they can do the work this week!

I was late ordering as my wife had pneumonia and an infection and was in hospital a week. sort of set me back a bit on land work.
I figured I could not wait this long to seed, up here in Alberta, so sowed the oats a while back without the fertilizer.

Oats are just nicely through the ground.
Question,
How long should I hold off before top dressing with the fertilizer? Good ground conditions presumed.

I know we used to roll crops when they were maybe 3 or four leaf stage, but what about a floater running over them?

I did try another company, but that was worse time-wise, and I did try and hire a spreader to do it myself, and that was worse as well!

Any ideas most welcome.

All best,
Richard.
 

[flying belgian]

I can't answer your driving over crop question but that is why long ago I bought my own fert. spreader.
 

[Richard JH.]

Thank you all the same, F-B!
 

[paul]

Ive had them drive over the oats when it was ankle high, dry ground and didnt bother much at all.

Ive run my lighter tractor and a spinner over almost knee high oats, the tracks were there of course but the oats was happy.

Paul
 

[Richard JH.]

Thanks Paul.

I know we rolled oat land when three-four leaf stage, but wasn't sure if it'd hurt their feelings running over them at a single leaf stage!

all the best,
Richard.