How long is hairy vetch seed viable?
5 years
Vetch produces a hay yield of 1.5 to 3.5 ton/acre dry weight. Vetch seed remains viable for 5 years or longer.
How long does it take hairy vetch to germinate?
10 – 14 days
Germination: 10 – 14 days. Ideal temperature for germination is about 68 degrees F. If the soil temperature is too cold, the seed will not germinate. Plant vetch 30 to 45 days before killing frost for winter annual management.
What is the seeding rate for hairy vetch?
20 to 25 pounds per acre
Hairy vetch is normally planted in late summer to early fall. Seed can be broadcast or drilled and should be inoculated prior to planting. The recommended planting rate is 20 to 25 pounds per acre with a seeding depth of 1inch.
Can you frost seed hairy vetch?
A severe freeze with temperatures less than 5° F may kill hairy vetch if there is no snow cover, reducing or eliminating the stand and most of its N value. If winterkill is possible in your area, planting vetch with a hardy grain such as rye ensures spring soil protection.
Does hairy vetch come back every year?
Hairy vetch, as a winter annual, will sprout in the fall, overwinter, regrow in spring, go to seed and die. The scientists sowed the vetch in mid-September.
How many seeds are in a lb of hairy vetch?
Purchase Hairy Vetch
| Height Range: | 12 – 24 inches |
|---|---|
| Seeding Rate: | Drilled: 20 – 25 Lbs. / Ac | Broadcast: 1 Lb. / 800 sq ft |
| Seeds Per Pound: | 20000 |
Is vetch good for soil?
Benefits. Hairy vetch fixes large amounts of nitrogen (N) that help meet N needs of the following crop, protects soil from erosion, helps improve soil tilth, and provides weed control during its vigorous growth in the spring and when left as a dead mulch at the soil surface.
Does vetch overwinter?
Hairy vetch, as a winter annual, will sprout in the fall, overwinter, regrow in spring, go to seed and die. In spring, when the vetch plants were tall, bushy and in bloom, they were mowed down to an inch above the ground, and the residue piled above the stubble to form a thick, smothering mulch.
Will cattle eat vetch?
There are a few exceptions to the rule that cover crops can be safely eaten by livestock. Hairy vetch is a common cover crop that is not recommended as livestock forage. In cattle and horses, grazing hairy vetch sometimes causes a painful dermatitis across the entire body or neurological signs.
Will hairy vetch reseed itself?
You can even get the mulch for free, or at the minimal cost of seed, if you grow your own. Hairy vetch, as a winter annual, will sprout in the fall, overwinter, regrow in spring, go to seed and die.
Is hairy vetch a good cover crop?
Hairy vetch is a cover crop that is an attractive option for many growers in Massachusetts. It is hardy enough to survive the harsh winters of New England and can add significant amounts of nitrogen to the soil if allowed to grow long enough.
What is the difference between hairy vetch and common vetch?
They both have ferny foliage reminiscent of sweet peas with purple flowers that give way to small seed pods that look just like pea pods; however, they are non-edible. The main difference between the two species is size: hairy vetch grows as a sprawling mass about knee high, while common vetch can get waist high.
What is a hairy vetch seed?
Hairy Vetch Seed Description Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa) is a short term legume commonly used for cover crops in home gardens, weed suppression, erosion control, ground cover, and green manure.
Can hairy vetch survive winter in Minnesota?
Minnesota research has shown better winter survival of hairy vetch grown from locally produced seed than from seed produced farther south. Consequently, where the seed was produced is as important as the variety. Hairy vetch can fix large amounts of nitrogen that are released rapidly after it has been terminated.
How much fertilizer will a killed hairy vetch cover release?
The equivalent of 160 lbs/A N fertilizer can be released to the following crop by a killed hairy vetch cover, although 100 lbs/A N is more realistic. Typically, hairy vetch contains 3.5 to 4 percent nitrogen (dry matter basis). Conservative estimates are that 50 percent of this will be available to the following crop.
How deep do you plant hairy vetch?
Plant at a depth of 1/4 in. Ensure that seed soil pH is between 6 and 7. Hairy Vetch is… Plant between Fall and Spring at a rate of 40 to 50 lbs. per acre (1.25 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.). Plant at a depth of 1/4 in. Ensure that seed soil pH is between 6 and 7.