I have planted on Labor day in years past for one simple reason - it was the weekend that I knew I would have time to do it. Some years it worked really well, and some years it didn't. It all depends on the rain, and our place in Perry county is the driest place in the state in the fall. We often get a couple of decent rains in September, and if you have your seed in the ground it can get established and then survive the October drought. I've learned to just expect that it's not gonna rain in October.
But the thing that has been different the past few years is that it is staying really hot all the way through September and even in to October. It's past the middle of September and still gonna be over 100 several days this week. I think you have gotta alter your planting when it keeps doing this year after year. With it over 100 in September and bone dry in October, I don't see anything to do except plant in November.
That seems to be the MO on the weather for the past several years. I disced up a field sunday afternoon and I was putting up so much dust I could feel dirt between my teeth. I guess I'll get the fields disced and as soon as there's rain in the forecast get out there and put my seed out.
However, most of our place is underwater come the middle of December. I have planted fields in the past that turned into mud pits because the property flooded. Can anyone weigh in on what to plant in places that are very prone to flooding? I've heard some kind of Japanese rice like they plant in the Delta for ducks? Ya'll reckon deer will eat that?