Twin-row multiple variety planter and method of use

A multiple variety planter (10) is disclosed. The planter (10) comprises a frame (12), a plurality of planting units (16, 18, 116, 118) mounted the frame (12), each planting unit (16, 18, 116, 118) having an opener (24) for forming a furrow in the soil, a hopper (26, 126) for holding a quantity of seed, a seed meter (28) and a delivery device (30) to deliver seeds to the furrow. In order to lower complexity and to provide high seed spacing accuracy it is proposed that the planting units (16, 18, 116, 118) being arranged in twin-rows (20) wherein each twin-row (20) has a pair of first and second closely spaced planting units (16, 18, 116, 118) with each twin-row (20) spaced from an adjacent twin-row (20) a greater distance than the first and second planting units (16, 18, 116, 118) within a twin-row (20) are spaced from one another; further comprising means for selectively driving either the first or the second seed meters (28) in each twin-row (20); and means for switching between driving the first or the second seed meters (28) in each twin-row (20). Furthermore a method of operating such planter is disclosed.