Best Practices for Seeding Sainfoin in Fields

Seed Setting

Sainfoin and barley flow is very similar. 
    Sainfoin weight is 30# per bushel
    Barley weight is 48# per bushel

Inoculant

Alternate seed and inoculant in drill box saving enough inoculant to go on the top. Stir in with a shovel or fork. The powder will filter down and go out with the seed.

Seed depth                      *very important*

Surface to ¾ inch max.  Similar to grass or alfalfa. 

Weed control

We prefer seeding sainfoin as single crop. If/when weed control is desired, we spray weeds anytime with 6oz Round Up. (6 to 8 oz of Roundup with 10 gallons of water.) 1 gallon of chemical will treat 20 acres. 
 

Printable Instructions for "Best Practices"

Seeding Sainfoin in Small Areas

1 pound of seed will cover approximately 1000 square feet. (example: a 50 ft by 20 ft lot)

1. Mix the inoculant into the seed. 
2. The goal is to get about 12-14 seeds per square foot. You want the best soil/moisture contact possible for good germination and seedling survival. Seed depth is very important! Surface to 3/4in deep will get you the best results. Don’t overseed as there will not be enough moisture for the seedlings to survive.

• Scatter by hand. 
• Use a hand-held lawn fertilizer spreader (the whirlybird style). 

3. Go over the area with a rake to work seeds in (no deeper than 3/4in)
4. Keep area moist if possible. 

What is Inoculant?

Although your soil probably has enough probiotics, we include organic inoculant (organic peat moss full of beneficial bacteria), Rhizobium, which is a nitrogen fixing bacteria. These bacteria “infect” the sainfoin growing in the soil and cause the plant to form the nitrogen fixing nodules which makes the sainfoin plant a nitrogen powerhouse. No further fertilizer is ever needed if you have a pure sainfoin plot.
 

Printable Instructions for "Smaller Area"