Planting Guide for Row Crops in Georgia

This planting guide will help producers establish grasses and legumes commonly grown in Georgia. Information given for particular species should not be taken as a recommendation to grow that species. Not all of the plant species grown in Georgia are recommended by the University of Georgia.

Row Crop Basics

Start with high quality seed. Certified seed is available for most recommended crops. Test your soil to determine nutrient needs. Contact your local county Extension office for information on soil sampling. Fertilize and lime according to soil test results. Plant seed at the proper depth in a good seed bed when soil temperatures and moisture are best for that species. Use the correct seed per acre as indicated.

Manage for high yields by maintaining soil fertility and controlling weeds, insects, and diseases. Harvest at the appropriate time with properly adjusted equipment. Protect seed quality through proper handling and storage.

Read the production guides for each crop for specific production details:

• Canola Production in Georgia
• Georgia Corn Production Guide
• Georgia Cotton Production Guide
• Peanut Production Field Guide
• Southern Small Grains Resource Management Handbook
• Georgia Soybean Production Guide
• Georgia Wheat Production Guide

Quick Guide: Warm Season Crops

Corn, field

• lb seed/bushel (bu): 56
• Approx. seeds/oz: 80–140
• Seeding rate: *See table below
• Planting date¹: LV: Apr. 1–May 10; P: Mar. 15–Apr. 20; C: Mar. 1–Apr. 28
• Days to maturity: 95–130
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 90%
  • Min. purity: 99%
  • Max. weed seed: None
• Remarks: Use higher plant populations for irrigated fields. See the current UGA Extension production guide.

Cotton

• lb seed/bu: 46
• Approx. seeds/oz: 225–350
• Seeding rate: For 36-in.* row width, 3–4 seed/row foot (dryland), 4–6 seed/row foot (irrigated)
• Planting date¹: S: Apr. 1–May 25
• Days to maturity: 140–160
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 80%
  • Min. purity: 98%
  • Max. weed seed: 0.02%
• Remarks: Irrigated fields should be planted after May 1 for best production.

Grain Sorghum

• lb seed/bu: 56
• Approx. seeds/oz: 750–1250
• Seeding rate: **See table below
• Planting date¹: LV: May 15–July 1; P: May 1–July 1; C: Apr.15–Jul. 15
• Days to maturity: 100–120
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 80%
  • Min. purity: 98%
  • Max. weed seed: 10%
• Remarks: Plant when soil temperature is above 60–65 °F. Increase seeding rate for irrigated fields.

Peanuts

• lb seed/bu: 20–30
• Planting date¹: C: Apr. 15–June 10; Preferred: May 10–25
• Days to maturity: 135–150
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 75%
  • Min. purity: 95%
  • Max. weed seed: None
• Remarks: Always use certified seed. Plant when soil temperature is above 68 °F and soil has adequate moisture to germinate seed.

Virginia Peanuts

• Approx. seeds/lb: 25–30
• Seeding rate: For 36-in. row width, 5–6 seed/row foot

Runner Peanuts

• Approx. seeds/lb: 45–50
• Seeding Rate: For 36-in. row width, 6–8 seed/row foot

Spanish Peanuts

• Approx. seeds/lb: 55–60
• Seeding Rate: For 36-in. row width, 6–8 seed/row foot

Soybeans

• lb seed/bu: 60
• Approx. seeds/oz: 135-250
• Seeding rate (assumes 80% emergence): For 36-in. row width, 10–12 seed/ft; for 30-in. row width, 9–11 seed/ft; for 12-in. row width, 5–6 seed/ft; for 6-in. row width, 3–4 seed/ft
• Planting date¹: LV: May 10–June 15; P: Apr. 1–June 30; C: May 1–July 15
• Days to maturity: Group IV: 135; Group V: 145; Group VI: 155; Group VII: 160
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 80%
  • Min. purity: 90%
  • Max. weed seed: 10/lb
• Remarks: Use certified seed for best results. Consult the current UGA Extension production guide.

Sunflowers

• Seeding rate (assumes 90% emergence): For 36-in. row width, 10–12 seed/ft; for 30-in. row width, 9–10 seed/ft; for 24-in. row width, 8–9 seed/ft
• Planting date¹: LV: Apr. 1–June 15; P: Apr. 1–May 1; C: Mar.15–Jul. 15
• Days to maturity: 90–100
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 85%
  • Min. purity: 97%
  • Max. weed seed: 0.1%
• Remarks: Very little market in Georgia. Often susceptible to Alternaria leaf blight.

Confectionary Sunflowers

• lb seed/bu: 24
• Approx. seeds/oz: 300–500

Oil Sunflowers

• lb seed/bu: 32
• Approx. seeds/oz: 600–900

Tobacco (in beds or field)

• Approx. seeds/oz: 325,000
• Seeding rate: 0.2 oz/100 square yards (beds) or 7,000 plants/acre (field)
• Planting date¹: S: Dec. 20–Jan. 10
• Days to maturity: Varies
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 80%
  • Min. purity: 98%
  • Max. weed seed: None
• Remarks: Evenly distribute seed in beds and keep moist during germ the first 4 weeks.

¹ LV = Limestone Valley, P = Piedmont, C = Coastal Plain, UC = Upper Coastal Plain, LC = Lower Coastal Plain, S = Statewide.

Quick Guide: Cool Season Crops (Grain Only)

Barley

• lb seed/bushel (bu): 48
• Approx. seeds/oz: 800–900
• Seeding rate: 75–100 lb/acre
• Planting date¹: LV: Oct. 10–Nov. 1; P: Oct. 25–Nov. 15; C: Nov. 7–Dec. 1
• Approximate harvest dates: Mid-May to early June
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 85%
  • Min. purity: 98%
  • Max. weed seed: 10/lb.
• Remarks: Very sensitive to acidic soils. Control loose smut with proper seed treatment. Use certified seed.

Lupine

• Planting date¹: LV: Sept. 15; P: Oct. 15; C: Nov. 1
• Approximate harvest dates: Late May to mid-June
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 80%
  • Min. purity: 98%
  • Max. weed seed: 0.3%
• Remarks: Usually used for hay, grazing or green manure. Use an inoculant.

White Lupine

• lb seed/bu: 55
• Approx. seeds/oz: 65–100
• Seeding Rate: 100 lb/acre

Blue Lupine

• lb seed/bu: 60
• Approx. seeds/oz: 180–200
• Seeding Rate: 80–90 lb/acre

Oats

• lb seed/bu: 32
• Approx. seeds/oz: 1,000–1,425
• Seeding Rate: 60–75 lb/acre
• Planting date¹: LV: Sept. 25–Oct. 15; P: Oct. 7–Nov. 1; C: Nov. 7–Dec. 1
• Approximate harvest dates: Late May to late June
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 85%
  • Min. purity: 99%
  • Max. weed seed: 10/lb
• Remarks: Control loose smut with proper seed treatment. Use certified seed.

Winter Rape or Canola

• lb seed/bu: 50
• Approx. seeds/oz: 6,500–8,500
• Seeding rate: 4–7 lb/acre
• Planting date¹: LV: Oct. 1–15; P: Oct. 1–Nov. 1; C: Oct. 15–Nov. 15
• Approximate harvest dates: May to late June
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 85%
  • Min. purity: 99%
  • Max. weed seed: 15/lb
• Remarks: Harvest as early as possible to reduce shattering. Watch for aphid infestation and apply control methods to avoid damage.

Rye

• lb seed/bu: 56
• Approx. seeds/oz: 1,135
• Seeding rate: 60–90 lb/acre
• Planting date¹: LV: Oct. 1–20; P: Oct. 7–Nov. 15; C: Nov. 7–Dec. 1
• Approximate harvest dates: Late May to late June
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 80%
  • Min. purity: 98%
  • Max. weed seed: 10/lb
• Remarks: Use certified seed.

Triticale

• lb seed/bu: 48
• Approx. seeds/oz: 700–950
• Seeding rate: 80–90 lb/acre
• Planting date¹: C: Nov. 7–Dec. 15
• Approximate harvest dates: Mid-May to early June
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 85%
  • Min. purity: 98%
  • Max. weed seed: 10/lb
• Remarks: Varieties differ in feeding efficiency. Contact county agent for info.

Wheat

• lb seed/bu: 60
• Approx. seeds/oz: 625–935
• Seeding Rate: 60–90 lb/acre, or 120–150 lb/acre (for intensive management). For best results, plant 22–25 seeds per row foot in 7.5-in. drill widths.
• Planting date¹: LV: Oct. 10–Nov. 1; P: Oct. 25–Nov. 15; UC: Nov.7–Dec. 1; LC: Nov. 15–Dec. 1
• Approximate harvest dates: Late May to mid-June
• Certified seed quality:
  • Min. germ: 85%
  • Min. purity: 98%
  • Max. weed seed: 10/lb
• Remarks: See the current production guide for more information. Use deep tillage for best yields. Do not plant seed more than 1.5 to 2 in. deep. Use certified seed.

¹ LV = Limestone Valley, P = Piedmont, C = Coastal Plain, UC = Upper Coastal Plain, LC = Lower Coastal Plain, S = Statewide. Note. Because of the growth habit of cool-season crops, approximate harvest dates are given rather than days to maturity.

This is to be used as a guide and does not replace the need to obtain additional information for good management practices. Consult current performance bulletins for variety yield data. Always use certified seed to ensure good germination, trueness to variety, and freedom from noxious weeds.

Helpful Tables and Formulas

Corn Planting Rates According to Row Widths

Final population, plants/acre	Row spacing (in.)				Seeds/acre planted
	30	36	38	40
	inches between seed
16000	11.0	9.2	8.7	8.3	18800
18000	9.9	8.2	7.8	7.4	21200
20000	8.9	7.4	6.9	6.6	23500
22000	8.1	6.7	6.3	6.0	25900
24000	7.5	6.1	5.8	5.5	28200
26000	6.8	5.6	5.4	5.1	30600
28000	6.4	5.3	5.0	4.8	33000
30000	6.0	4.9	4.6	4.4	35300
* Corn planting rates assuming 85% emergence.

Grain Sorghum Planting Rates According To Row Widths.

Final population, plants/acre	Row spacing (in.)						Seeds/acre planted
	7	10	20	24	40	36
	inches between seed
34000	22.4	15.7	7.8	6.5	5.2	4.4	40000
42500	17.9	12.5	6.3	5.2	4.2	3.5	50000
51000	14.9	10.5	5.2	4.4	3.5	2.9	60000
59500	12.8	9.0	4.5	3.7	3.0	2.5	70000
68000	11.2	7.8	3.9	3.3	2.6	2.2	80000
76500	10.0	7.0	3.5	2.9	2.3	1.9	90000
85000	9.0	6.3	3.1	2.6	2.1	1.8	100000
106350	7.2	5.0	2.5	2.1	1.7	1.4	125000
** Grain sorghum planting rate assuming 85% emergence.

The following three formulas can help you determine seeding rates:

• seed per row foot = number seed desired per acre x row width (ft) ÷ 43560
• seed per acre = (43560 ÷ row width (ft)) x seed per row foot
• pounds of seed needed = (seed per acre ÷ seeds per pound) x acres to be planted

Estimating Plant Populations

This table can be used for all crops in determining plant population or seed drop per acre. Simply follow these easy steps.

1. Determine average row width, in inches (left column).
2. Either determine average spacing between seeds (or plants) in inches (top line) OR determine average number of seeds (or plants)/50-ft row length (bottom line).
3. Read seed drop or plants per acre from table below (intersection of line and column).
4. Add 000, as all counts are in thousands.

Plant Population Per Acre (in thousands)

Row Width (in.)	Spacing between seeds or plants (in.)
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	9	11	12	15
7	896	448	299	224	179	150	128	100	81	69	60
10	627	314	209	157	125	105	90	70	57	48	42
15	418	209	139	105	84	70	60	46	38	32	28
20	314	157	105	79	63	53	45	35	29	24	21
28	224	112	75	56	45	38	32	25	20	17	15
30	209	105	70	53	42	35	30	23	19	16	14
36	174	87	58	44	35	29	25	19	16	14	12
38	165	83	55	42	33	28	24	18	15	13	11
40	157	78	52	39	31	26	22	17	14	12	10
Average number of plants or seeds per 50 ft
	600	300	200	150	120	100	86	67	55	46	40

Count the number of plants in a length of row equal to 1/1000 of an acre. Make several counts in several areas of the field and figure the average of these samples. Multiply the average number by 1,000.

Row width (in.)	Row length equal to 1/1000 acre
7	74 ft 8 in.
15	34 ft 10 in.
24	21 ft 10 in.
30	17 ft 5 in.
32	16 ft 4 in.
36	14 ft 6 in.
38	13 ft 9 in.
40	13 ft 1 in.

Original manuscript by R. Dewey Lee and J. Troy Johnson, former agronomists for the University of Georgia Crop and Soil Sciences Department; later revised by R. Dewey Lee.