We usually plant the 1st weekend of October but have decided not to put any seed out this weekend due to lack of moisture in the ground and lack of rain in the forecast. My question is would it be a waste to go ahead and put out 13-13-13 on my plots if we won’t be putting any seed out for a couple more weeks? We plant about 25 acres so it would be nice to get it out while I’ve got help this weekend, but I hate to put it out if I’m just wasting my money and fertilizer.

Don’t do that. Be a huge waste.

If youre sure its just a couple weeks it wont be a big deal. The best watermelon patch I ever grew we broadcast all the fertilizer for three patches tge same day. We planted 1/3 that day, 1/3 in two weeks, 1/3 in four weeks. You couldnt tell any difference in the three patches. Watermelons seemed to be getting the benefit of the fertilizer for the full four months they grew. Do keep in mind we were putting 700lb to the acre which I would assume is much more than youre putting out. We did get alot of rain that summer which is something else that will affect how long your fertilizer hangs around.

I would wait. .02

The nitrogen would be wasted. The P and K should be fine. I prefer to fertilize after germination, but I just have a few plots and live close by.

We always come back with some 34-0-0 after germination, but it’s a lot easier to put out 100 lbs/ac of that by yourself than it is 300 lbs/ac of 13-13-13. Thanks for the advice guys

If you fields are disked up good go ahead and plant everything or just your seeds and fertilize once we get a rain. It’s so dry the seed will lay there in the powder like it would in a bag. Just cover a little deeper so birds and stuff won’t eat them

Forgive my ignorance, but why would the nitrogen be wasted?

Nitrogen will evaporate into the atmosphere.

https://www.noble.org/news/publications/ag-news-and-views/2006/august/is-my-fertilizer-still-there/

Here you go.

I don't claim to be an expert, but if the fertilizer is incorporated into the soil, I don't think you would have a problem with losing the nitrogen to volitization, even with more volatile nitrogen like urea or ammonium nitrate. Definately not with a balanced fertilizer like trip 13 or trip 17 that was incorporated into the soil

If I were going to put out fertilizer, I'd put out seed too. If you're in LA wait .

Had the same question for 257 a week ago.
The loss of nitrogen made the decision for
us.
Thanks, Matt
.

We are waiting as well.

Looks like a large part of the the state going to get a good rain this morning, especially north and west of Bham. Looks like it is gonna fizzle out after it passes Bham. Pouring here in Walker co now.

Thanks for the advice guys. We’ve got our fields ready, just need some rain to show up now