Maturing Grass Reproductive Capability

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Texasmark

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Any hards facts out there on where in the life cycle of common grasses known to the Ag. world are the seeds mature enough to germinate on their own. Case in point is a mature grass plot that you are thinking about cutting at your first opportunity but want to make a perennial out of an annual plant variety. So, when is it a candidate for germinating the next available season vs sitting in/on the ground and rotting.
 
It has to pollinate first....when you go out and see little tags all over the seedheads...thats pollen. If that answrs your question.
If you know you have alot of mature seedheads on the ground....scratching the ground to get some seed to soil contact should make some germinate provided there is moisture. Timing is a factor also. Cool season grasses in fall etc.
 
Banjo said:
It has to pollinate first....when you go out and see little tags all over the seedheads...thats pollen. If that answrs your question.
If you know you have alot of mature seedheads on the ground....scratching the ground to get some seed to soil contact should make some germinate provided there is moisture. Timing is a factor also. Cool season grasses in fall etc.
Click to expand...
It pollinated a week or so ago. The stems are starting to die off and turn brown for the early developing plants. Seeds are still green on the Rye but have turned brown on the Fescue. I am looking for some enlightenment that this crop won't be a total loss....looking to at least get a massive increase in germination/plant count this fall....worrying that when the window opens to cut and bale, it may be too soon for seed stock......and obviously sorry hay.

Thanks
 
I don't have a study to reference TM, but if you can pull your hand up the stalk lightly after it turns and it comes off in your hand, its good. That is natures way, gets beat off by the rain or wind. When you start cutting take a sack with you and scrape it off the mower and save it for bare spots feeding areas etc. That is how we got jg started here, we took our evening walk and everybody had a coffee can, stripping seed heads from the side of the road, poured it all in a sack and broadcasted it by hand. We just got another 2 inches of rain, with scattered chances for at least another week, our seed hasn't turned yet but I expect it to in a few days.
 

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