Ultra-early seeding: February 2024

With a currently below-average snowpack this winter in most of the province, making the most out of soil moisture becomes more crucial for the upcoming 2024 growing season. One of the ways to take advantage of early spring moisture is ultra-early seeding.

Ultra-early seeding has been tested in the Prairies. Seeding based on soil temperature rather than calendar date brings yield benefits, especially to areas south of 51°N latitude (Calgary). The study found that the seeding when soil temperature is 2-4 °C provided the greatest yield gain.

Learn more on how to make the most out of ultra-early seeding, in this previous Growing Point article.