Establishing a successful forage crop depends partly on weather conditions shortly before and after planting. Years of field research and experience under North Carolina’s varied growing conditions have made it possible for researchers to recommend planting dates that will most likely lead to success or minimize risk (“best dates”). Delaying planting until the last possible dates indicated may reduce the chance of a good stand by 30 to 50% (“possible dates”) (Table 1). We have also included general recommendations in Table 2 for planting some cool-season grass-legume mixtures. Nevertheless, cool-season grass-legume mixtures can also be achieved by frost-seeding clover seed by early-to-mid-February in cool-season grasses that are already established.
The timing of planting is important because the survival rate of developing seedlings is related to the period during which stress occurs from drought, freezing, or competition for light and nutrients. If no such stress occurs, or if it occurs after seedlings are well established, survival and production losses can be minimized. It is worth noting that date ranges may vary each year, especially in light of erratic and extreme weather patterns. This guide is designed to provide generalized best management practices.
Fall Plantings. In general, cool-season forages, and especially perennial forages, can be best established by planting in the fall. Seedbeds should be prepared during favorable autumn weather when weeds are not as competitive. Furthermore, seedling root systems can become well established before the arrival of hot, dry weather the following season. However, late fall plantings can result in winter injury from freezing and heaving.
Here are some points to remember about fall planting:
- Cool-season grass seedlings are more tolerant of freezing temperatures and heaving than legumes.
- In prepared seedbeds, alfalfa and ladino clover should have five to seven true leaves present before frequent freezing weather occurs.
- In prepared seedbeds, grasses should have three to four leaves before freezing weather occurs.
Spring Plantings. Spring plantings carry additional risks (i.e., drought, heat, and weed encroachment) beyond fall plantings. Spring plantings in the piedmont and mountains may be justified (1) if land or sod is prepared in the fall or winter, and plantings can be made early enough (between mid-February and late-March) for the crop to become established before summer stress; and (2) if summer weeds can be controlled while the seedlings develop.
Table 1. Planting guidelines for several forage crops in North Carolina.
Crop
Type
A: annual P: perennial CS: cool-season WS: warm-season
Seeding Rate
(lb./acre; PLS: pure live seed basis)
B: broadcast D: drill (4-9” row) R: row (30+ inches)
Planting Depth (inches)
Mountains (above 2,500 ft. elevation)1 See footnote for below 2,500 ft.
Piedmont and Tidewater2
Coastal Plain2
Best Dates
Possible Dates
Best Dates
Possible Dates
Best Dates
Possible Dates
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
P, CS
B:20-25; D:15-20
¼
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 20
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 15-Oct 31
Sep 1-30
Sep 1-Oct 31
Mar 1-Apr 7
Mar 1-Apr 15
Mar 1-31
Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)
P, WS
B:15-25; D:10-20
¼-½
Not adapted
May 1-15
Apr 20-Jun 30
Feb 15-Mar 15
Mar 15-Jun 30
Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
A, CS
B:140; D:100
1-2
Aug 1-20
Aug 1-Oct 10
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Feb 20-Mar 20
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)
P, WS
Sprigged types: 30-40 bushels per acre (1 bushel = 1.25 cu ft)
1-3
Not well adapted
Mar 1-31
Feb 15-Apr 15 or through July if irrigated
Mar 1-31
Feb 15-Apr 15 or through July if irrigated
Seeded types: Common: B:6-8; D:5-7 Improved: D:10-15
¼-½
Not well adapted
Apr 15-May 15
Apr 1-Jun 15
Common: Apr 1-May 15 Improved: Apr 15-June 1
Mar 15-Jun 7
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
P, WS
B:10-12; D:8-10
½-¾
May 25-Jun 15
May 1-Jun 30
May 10-Jun 1
May 1-Jun 30
Apr 20-May 15
Apr 10-Jun 30
Bluegrass, Kentucky (Poa pratensis)
P, CS
B:10-15; D:8-12
¼
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 25
Not well adapted
Not well adapted
Caucasian Bluestem (Bothriochloa caucasica)
P, WS
B:4 PLS; D:2
¼-½
May 25-Jun 15
May 7-Jun 30
May 7-20
May 1-Jun 30
May 1-15
Apr 15-Jun 30
Crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris)
A, WS
B:8-10; D: 5-7
¼-½
May 15-31
May 1-Jun 30
May 1-31
Apr 25-Jun 30
May 1-15
Apr 20-Jun 30
Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum)
A, CS
B:20-25; D:15-20
¼-½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 20
Aug 25-Sep 15
Aug 25-Oct 25
Sep 1-30
Sep 1-Oct 30
Dallisgrass (Paspallum dilatatum)
P, WS
B:20-30; D:15-20
¼-½
Not well adapted
Mar 1-31
Mar 1-Apr 15
Mar 1-30
Feb 15-Apr 15
Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides)
P, WS
D:10-15
¾-1.5
May 15-Jun 15
May 1-Jun 30
May 10-Jun 1
May 1-Jun 30
Apr 20-May 15
Apr 10-Jun 30
Nov-Feb
Nov-Jan
Nov-Jan
Flaccidgrass (Pennisetun flaccidum)
P, WS
D:2-4
¼-½
Jun 1-15
May 15-Jul 1
May 15- Jul 7
Apr 15-Jul 1
May 7-Jun 1
Apr 15-Jun 15
2-3
Mar 1-Apr 7
Feb 15-Apr 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Feb 1-Mar 30
Feb 15-Mar 15
Feb 1-Mar 30
Sprig: 3/ft in 18” rows
Tillers: 2-4/ft
Root cover
May 15-Jun 15
May 1-Jul 15
Apr 25-Jun 1
Apr 15-Jul 15
Apr 25-May 20
Apr 15-Jul 10
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)
P, WS
B:10-12 PLS; D:8-10
½-¾
May 15-Jun 15
May 1-Jun 30
May 10-Jun 1
May 1-Jun 30
Apr 20-May 15
Apr 10-Jun 30
Lespedeza, Kobe (Kummerowia striata)
A, WS
B:30-40; D:20-25
¼-½
Mar 15-31
Mar 1-Apr 15
Feb 10-28
Feb 1-Mar 30
Feb 1-20
Feb 1-Mar 20
Lespedeza, Korean (Kummerowia stipulacea)
A, WS
B:20-30; D: 15-20
¼-½
Mar 15-31
Mar 1-Apr 15
Feb 10-28
Feb 1-Mar 30
Feb 1-20
Feb 1-Mar 20
Millets: Foxtail (Setaria italica), Japanese (Echinochloa sculenta), Browntop (Urochloa ramosa)]
A, WS
D:10-15; R:5-7
½
Mar 15-31
May 1-Jun 30
May 1-31
May 1-Jun 30
May 1-15
Apr 20-Jun 30
Millet, Pearl (Pennisetum glaucum)
A, WS
B:20-25; D:15-20; R:6-10
½
Mar 15-31
May 1-Jun 30
May 1-31
Apr 25-Jun 30
May 1-15
Apr 20-Jun 30
Oats (Avena sativa)
A, CS
B:130; D:100
1-2
Aug 1-20
Aug 1-Sep 30
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Feb 20-Mar 20
Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata)
P, CS
B:12-15; D:8-12
¼-½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 20
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Not well adapted
Mar 20-Apr 20
Mar 1-May 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Rape and Turnips (Brassica spp.)
A, CS
B: 6 to 8; D: 3-4
¼
Mar 1-Apr 30
Feb 15-May 10
Feb 15-Mar 15
Feb 1-Apr 15
Feb 15-Mar 1
Feb 1-Apr 1
Jul 15-Sep 1
Jul 1-Sep 15
Sep 15-Oct 15
Aug 1-Oct 1
Sep 1-Oct 1
Aug 15-Oct 30
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
P, CS
B:10-15; D:8-10
¼-½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 20
Sep 15-Oct 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Sep 1-30
Sep 1 -Oct 15
Mar 20-Apr 20
Mar 1-May 15
Feb 15-Mar 20
Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)
P, CS
B:5-10; D:4-8
¼-½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 20
Aug 25-Sep 15
Aug 25-Oct 25
Not well adapted
Mar 20-Apr 20
Mar 1-May 15
Mar 1-31
Rescuegrass (Bromus catharticus)
A, CS
B:20-25; D:25-30
½-¾
Aug 20-Sep 7
Aug 15-Oct 1
Sep 1-15
Aug 25-Oct 15
Sep 1-30
Aug 25-Oct 15
Mar 15-30
Mar 1-Apr 30
Mar 1-30
Feb 15-Apr 30
Rye cereal (Secale cereale)
A, CS
B:120; D:100
1-2
Aug 1-20
Aug 1-Oct 10
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Feb 20-Mar 20
Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)
A, CS
B:30-40; D:20-30
¼-½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 31
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sept 1-Nov 15
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Oct 31
Feb 20-Mar 20
Feb 20-Mar 20
Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)
P, WS
B:20-40; D:15-30
¼
Mar 15-Apr 15
Mar 1-Apr 30
Mar 1-20
Feb 15-Apr 30
Mar 1-20
Feb 15-Apr 30
Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis)
P, CS
B:10-20; D:8-15
¼-½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 20
Not well adapted
Not adapted
Mar 20-Apr 20
Mar 1-May 15
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)
A, WS
R:4-6
1-1½
May 15-31
May 1-Jun 30
May 1-31
Apr 25-Jun 30
May 1-15
Apr 20-Jun 30
Sorghum-Sudan/sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor)
A, WS
B:35-40; D:20-30; R:15-20
½-1
May 15-31
May 1-Jun 30
May 1-31
Apr 25-Jun 30
May 1-15
Apr 20-Jun 30
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
P, WS
B:8-12 PLS; D:6-10
½-¾
May 15-Jun 15
May 1-Jun 30
May 15-Jun 15
Apr 15-June 15
Apr 15-May 15
Apr 15-Jun 15
Tall Fescue (Lolium arundinacea)
P, CS
B:15-20; D:10-15
¼-½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 20
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15 Feb 20-Mar 20
Not well adapted
Mar 20-Apr 20
Mar 1-May 15
Teff (Eragrostis tef)
A, WS
B:10-12; D:8-10
1/8-¼
May 15-31
May-June 30
May 1-31
Apr 25-Jun 30
May 1-15
Apr 20-Jun 30
Timothy (Phleum pratense)
P, CS
B:10-12; D:8-10
¼-½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 20
Not well adapted
Not adapted
Mar 20-Apr 20
Mar 1-May 15
Triticale (Triticum x Secale)
A, CS
B: 120; D: 100
1-2
Aug 1-20
Aug 1-Oct 10
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Feb 20-Mar 20
White clover (Trifolium repens)
P, CS
B: 3-5; D: 3-5
¼-½
Sep
Aug
Sep 15-Oct 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Sep 15-Oct 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Frost-seeded
Feb 1-15
Feb 15-28
Feb 1-15
Feb 15-28
Feb 1-15
Feb 15-28
Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
A, CS
B: 120; D: 100
1-2
Aug 1-20
Aug 1-Oct 10
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Sep 15-Oct 15
Sep 1-Nov 15
Feb 20-Mar 20
Feb 20-Mar 20
Vetch, Common, Hairy (Vicia spp.)
Biennial, CS
B: 25-40; D: 20-30
½-1½
Jul 25-Aug 10
Jul 15-Aug 30
Aug 25-Sep 30
Aug 25-Oct 25
Sep 1-Sep 30
Sep 1-Oct 25
1 Fall dates may be extended by 20 days where elevation is below 2,500 feet, and seed 15 days earlier in spring. 2 For the black, heavy-textured soils in the tidewater region, use dates for the piedmont.
Table 2. Planting guidelines for grass-legume mixtures in North Carolina.
Crop
Seeding Rate (lb./acre; PLS: pure live seed basis)
B: broadcast D: drill (4-9” row) R: row (30+ inches)
Planting Depth (inches)
Mountains (above 2,500 ft. elevation)1 See footnote for below 2,500 ft.
Piedmont and Tidewater2
Coastal Plain2
Dates (refer to Table 1)
Dates (refer to Table 1)
Dates (refer to Table 1)
Crimson Clover; Mixed with Ryegrass or Small Grain
B: 20 D: 15 reduce small grain by 30%
¼-½
Same as crimson clover
Same as crimson clover
Same as crimson clover
Orchardgrass + Alfalfa
B: 5 + 20 D: 3 + 15
¼
Same as alfalfa
Same as alfalfa
Not well adapted
Orchardgrass + Ladino Clover
B: 12 + 4 D: 9 + 3
¼
Same as orchardgrass
Same as orchardgrass
Not well adapted
Orchardgrass + Red Clover
B: 12 + 4 D: 8 + 3
¼
Same as orchardgrass
Same as orchardgrass
Not well adapted
Small Grain Mixed with Annual Ryegrass
Reduce small grain by 25% and ryegrass by 50%
½-1
See dates for small grains and ryegrass
See dates for small grains and ryegrass
See dates for small grains and ryegrass
Small Grain Mix (2 grains)
Reduce each selection by 50%
½-1
See dates for small grains
See dates for small grains
See dates for small grains
Tall Fescue + White Clover
B: 10 + 4 D: 8 + 3
¼
Same as tall fescue
Same as tall fescue
Same as tall fescue
Tall Fescue + Red Clover
B: 10 + 8 D: 8 + 6
¼
Same as tall fescue
Same as tall fescue
Same as tall fescue
1 Fall dates may be extended by 20 days where elevation is below 2,500 feet, and seed 15 days earlier in spring. 2 For the black, heavy-textured soils in the tidewater region, use dates for the Piedmont.
