Table 1. Planting dates, seeding rates and row spacing for field and forage crops that are sexually propagated.
Crop |
Planting Dates |
Seeding Rates per acre |
Row Spacings |
||
Broadcast (lb) |
In Rows (lb) |
Between (Ins.) |
In Rows (Ins.) |
||
Aeschynomene |
Mar. 30 - Jun. 30 |
6 - 8 (dehulled) |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Alfalfa 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
12 - 20 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Alyceclover 2 |
Apr. 15 - Jun. 30 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Bahiagrass, Argentine |
Feb. 15 - Aug. 15 1 |
15- 20 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Bahiagrass, Pensacola |
Feb. 15 - Aug. 15 1 |
15 - 20 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Beggarweed, Florida |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 20 |
8 - 10 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Bermudagrass |
Feb. 15 - Jul. 31 |
8 - 10 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Buffelgrass |
Feb. 15 - Jul. 31 1 |
2 - 4 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Bur-clover, Calif. 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
20 - 25 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Bur-clover, spotted 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Carpetgrass |
Feb. 15 - Jul. 31 1 |
8 - 10 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Chufa |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 30 |
--- |
24 - 36 |
36 - 42 |
6 - 8 |
Clover, arrowleaf |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
8 - 10 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, berseem |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
16 - 20 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, crimson 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
20 - 26 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, hop, large 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
3 - 4 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, hop, small 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
6 - 8 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, Persian 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
6 - 8 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, red 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, rose |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
8 - 16 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, subterranean |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
18 - 22 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Clover, white 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
3 - 4 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Corn |
Feb. 15 - Apr. 15 |
--- |
4 - 10 |
30 - 40 |
7 - 15 |
Cotton |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 1 |
--- |
12 - 15 |
36 - 42 |
4 - 5 |
Cowpea |
Apr. 1 - Jul. 31 |
--- |
60 - 90 |
24 - 30 |
1 - 2 |
Dallisgrass |
Feb. 15 - Jul. 31 1 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Desmodium, Fl. carpon |
Mar. 30 - Jun. 30 |
3 - 5 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Fescue, tall |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
16 - 20 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Guineagrass |
Mar. 1 - Jun. 30 |
4 - 6 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Indigo, hairy 2 |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 30 |
6 - 8 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Kenaf |
Apr. 1 - May 15 |
--- |
6 - 8 |
36 - 38 |
2 |
Lespedeza, common 2 |
Feb. 15 - Mar. 31 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Lespedeza, Kobe 2 |
Feb. 15 - Mar. 31 |
16 - 20 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Lupine, blue |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
60 - 80 |
30 - 40 |
21 - 42 |
1 - 2 |
Lupine, yellow |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
40 - 60 |
20 - 30 |
21 - 42 |
1 - 2 |
Medic, black 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Oats for forage |
Sep. 15 - Oct. 31 |
96 - 128 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Oats for grain |
Nov. 15 - Dec. 15 |
64 - 80 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Pea, Austrian winter |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
45 - 60 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Peanuts, runner |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 1 |
--- |
80 - 120 |
30 - 36 |
2 - 3 |
Peanuts, Spanish |
Apr. 1 - May 15 |
--- |
60 - 100 |
24 - 30 |
2 - 3 |
Peanuts, Virginia |
May 1 - Jun. 1 |
--- |
90 - 135 |
30 - 36 |
2 - 3 |
Millet, Browntop |
Feb. 15 - Aug. 15 |
5 - 10 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Millet, Japanese |
Feb. 15 - Aug. 15 |
5 - 10 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Millet, Pearl |
Mar. 15 - Jun. 30 |
24 - 30 |
8 - 10 |
36 - 42 |
--- |
Phasey bean |
Mar. 30 - Jun. 30 |
10 - 12 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Pigeonpea |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 15 |
20 - 25 |
5 - 6 |
36 - 38 |
4 - 5 |
Rescuegrass |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
24 - 30 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Rhodesgrass |
Feb. 15 - Jun. 15 |
8 - 10 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Rice |
Feb. 1 - May 31 |
80 - 100 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Roughpea 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
30 - 40 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Rye for forage |
Oct. 15 - Nov. 15 |
84 - 112 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Rye for grain |
Dec. 1 - Dec. 31 |
56 - 84 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Ryegrass, Italian |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
20 - 30 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Sericea |
Feb. 15 - Mar. 31 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Sesbania |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 30 |
25 - 30 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Sorghum, grain |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 30 |
10 - 15 |
6 - 8 |
20 - 36 |
2 - 3 |
Sorghum, silage |
Apr. 1 - Jun. 30 |
10 - 15 |
6 - 8 |
20 - 36 |
3 - 4 |
Sorghum x sudangrass |
Mar. 15 - Jun. 30 |
24 - 30 |
8 - 10 |
21 - 42 |
--- |
Sourclover 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Soybean |
May 15 - Jun. 15 |
60 - 90 |
40 - 65 |
30 - 36 |
1 - 2 |
Stylosanthes 2 |
Feb. 15 - Mar. 31 |
10 - 12 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Sunflower |
Feb. 15 - Aug. 10 |
--- |
6 - 8 |
36 - 38 |
6 - 8 |
Sweetclover 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
12 - 15 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Tobacco (plant beds) 3 |
Dec. 20 - Jan. 15 |
.75 - 1.5 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Tobacco (transplanted) |
Mar. 10 - Apr. 10 |
--- |
--- |
42 - 48 |
16 - 24 |
Trefoil, big 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
2 - 4 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Trefoil, birdsfoot 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
6 - 8 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Triticale-forage |
Oct. 15 - Nov. 15 |
84 - 112 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Turnips |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
5 - 6 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Velvetbean |
Mar. 15 - Jun. 30 |
30 - 45 |
2 - 8 |
36 - 42 |
24 - 72 |
Vetch, common 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
40 - 50 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Vetch, hairy 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
20 - 30 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Vetch, monantha 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
30 - 40 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Vetch, Woollypod 2 |
Oct. 1 - Nov. 15 |
30 - 40 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Wheat for forage |
Oct. 15 - Nov. 15 |
90 - 120 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Wheat for grain |
Nov. 15 - Dec. 15 |
60 - 90 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
1 These grasses may be planted over a wide range of dates, but February and June are preferred dates under most conditions.2 These legumes may be seeded alone or on established sods of perennial grasses at rates given. |
Crop |
Planting Dates and Methods |
BermudagrassesDigitgrassesLimpograss (Hemarthria)Stargrass |
Plant between Jan. 15 and Mar. 15, or between Jun. 1 and Aug. 15. Use underground stems (rhizomes) and sod crowns. To obtain planting material use a commercial sprig digger; or use a plow or disk, and pitch forks. Plant 30 - 40 bu/A. To plant, use a commercial sprig planter; or broadcast sprigs onto the soil surface, cover with a disk and firm soil with a cultipacker or heavy land roller. Plant between Jun. 1 and Aug. 15. All these grasses can be planted from upright stems (green tops). Use mature grass (6+ weeks). To cut tops, use a mower similar to mower used for harvesting hay. Tops may be handled loose, or made into bales using conventional hay balers. Plant 1000 - 1500 lb/A green tops. Special machines for broadcasting tops are available. Uniformly scatter planting material over soil surface; cover immediately, using a finishing disk set at a slight angle. Firm the soil with a cultipacker or heavy land roller. Fertilize appropriately and control weeds. |
Cassava |
Plant between Feb. 15 and Mar. 31. Cut seed canes into pieces 4 - 8" in length; drop one piece every 3 - 4 ft. in the rows 3 - 4 ft. apart; and cover with about 4" of soil. |
Kudzu |
Plant between Feb. 1 and Mar. 15. Set crowns in upright position, 5 - 6 ft. apart, in rows 8 - 12 ft. apart. Crowns should be fleshy and well-developed, have a bud or growing point, and should be protected against wind, sunshine, and freezing from the time they are dug until they are set in the field. |
Napiergrass |
Plant between Feb. 15 and Jul. 311. Use stem cuttings or rootstocks. If stem cuttings are used, cut stalks into lengths with 3 to 4 nodes each, place in the ground in a slanting position, and cover, leaving 1 node exposed. If divided rootclumps are used, place in a furrow and cover with soil. Space plants 2 ft. apart, in rows 6 ft. apart. |
Perennial Peanut |
Plant between Jan. 15 and Mar. 15 or between June 15 and August 15. Use a commercial sprig digger to harvest rhizomes (underground stems). Plant 80+ bu/A. Plant rhizomes in a well-prepared seedbed, using a row-type commercial sprig planter. Pack soil after planting. Irrigate to insure successful establishment. |
Ramie |
Plant between Mar. 1 and Jun. 30. Plant rhizome cuttings, in rows spaced 4 ft. apart, with plants spaced about 1 ft. in the row. |
Sugarcane |
Plant between Sep. and Jan. A new crop of sugarcane can be planted following the final stubble crop harvest of the preceding crop, but fall plantings are the norm. Furrows on 5-foot centers should be opened to a depth of 6 - 8" and fertilizer and seed canes placed in the bottom of the furrow. Overlap seed canes by at least 50%. Between 3 and 4 tn/A of seed cane are usually required. Cut seed pieces in short lengths (about 24") to break apical dominance and get good alignment in the furrow. Cover with 4 - 5" of compact soil. |
Tobacco |
Transplant Mar. 10 to Apr. 10 in rows 42 - 48" apart. Space plants 16 - 24" apart in the row. |
1 In southern Florida, plantings may be made any time soil moisture conditions are favorable. |
1. This document is SS-AGR-150, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First printed December 1992. Revised November 2008. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. E. B. Whitty, professor, Agronomy Department; D.L. Wright, professor, North Florida Research and Education Center-Quincy; and C. G. Chambliss, associate professor, Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal
Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational
information and other services only to individuals and institutions
that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed,
color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital
status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations.
For more information on obtaining other extension publications,
contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service,
University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative
Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer, Interim Dean.