Creative side dresser solutions

[Matt Kirsch]

My sweet corn is definitely going to need fertilizer, but I have no way to apply it with the little push planter I have.

I have a side dresser for my Super A, but getting the loader off it to install the cultivators is a LOT of work. Plus I don't think the side dresser has ever been used so it's pretty valuable as-is. I figure if times get tough that's my meal ticket for a while.

Buying another Super A or a Cub side dresser just isn't in the cards right now.

Has anyone found a creative way to sprinkle fertilizer on while cultivating?

[Bigdog]

You got a long flexible tube and a funnel?????? (Well, you asked for creative!)

[KETCHAM]

Brutal!!! Get a salt spreader andtrow it everywhere!!!! NOT!!!! Rent a cub for a day!!!Kevin

[Boss Hog]

get a five gal bucket and put it down by hand, a handfull will do about 4 plants. Then cultivate it in. We did this when we used mules in Tobacco.
boss

PS I would use the side dresser you have just clean it up well after use.

[DirtDoc]

take your 46-0-0(urea) in a 5 gallon bucket and a 20 oz bottle with top cut off. this should hold approximately 1 lb of fert. I think the right amount would be 2 bottles for 100 ft of row. Sprinkle in the middle of the row, cultivate it in, or any other way to get it covered, and your done. You could check with your extension agent to clarify amount. I do know that 1 bottle/100ft is enough for cauliflower ect. Greg

[DanR]

How about using a soluble fertilizer?

[Super A]

get a five gal bucket and put it down by hand, a handfull will do about 4 plants. Then cultivate it in. We did this when we used mules in Tobacco.
boss

PS I would use the side dresser you have just clean it up well after use.

This is probably the simplest and most effective way. We dont' even use a side dresser in the garden.

Al

[Harold R]

I put my sack of fertilizer on the floor pan and idle down the rows with my hand sprinkling pellets off the back of the tractor. Working good so far.

[Bill E Bob]

You could get a funnel and put it in one of the two holes in the floorpan and use that to fertilize. Might as well put those holes to SOME use

[tractordad]

My sweet corn is definitely going to need fertilizer, but I have no way to apply it with the little push planter I have.

I have a side dresser for my Super A, but getting the loader off it to install the cultivators is a LOT of work. Plus I don't think the side dresser has ever been used so it's pretty valuable as-is. I figure if times get tough that's my meal ticket for a while.

Buying another Super A or a Cub side dresser just isn't in the cards right now.

Has anyone found a creative way to sprinkle fertilizer on while cultivating?

What do you have for tractors and what is currently mounted on them?

[cottonpicker]

The summer I was 7 , my job was to " soda " [ 16 % ammonia nitrate of soda , bull dog brand of natural Chilean ] my 16 year old brother's crops. We had a scrap table spoon, lard bucket which held about one gallon. He showed to put one table spoon to each plant. Of course in that area corn was planted 2 x 4. That is two feet in the drill and rows four feet apart. He had 8 acres of cotton and about 10 acres of corn. I " soda " all 18 acres, barefoot and walking most of the time on my toes,as there was a big sore on my right heel.
My brother plowed round to the row behind me, and kept me stepping to stay ahead of the mule

child abuse .... na .... it kept me from mischief

Someone had to do it... daddy was away working on the atom bomb plant in Tn. and mother was home bound with my baby brother.

Wish I could do it again

Spencer

[HoosierCub]

I appreciate all of the info here. Was just about to post in the garden section to find out how much nitrogen to put on my sweet corn. Now I think I will just go with the tablespoon per plant.

Can this thread be duplicated in the Garden Section for people that may miss it here?

Thanks again, Tim

[huntingpal]

I run the cultivators through and then use my push planter filled with fertilizer and push it down the rows. I think it is the been plate I use. Run down each side of the row several inches away from the plants. If the rows are long you will need to fill up at each end. takes awhile but cheeper than a side dresser. I usually side dress twice once after it is around 3 weeks in the ground then when it is tall enough to just get through with the tractor. They actually make a fertilizer atachment for the push planter. I had one but broke it a couple years ago. Been working for me. Hope this helps