Food plot

[Fulker250]

Looking to add a good plot to my land next year. I want to know what is best to plant. I am located in north west Illinois. The property is hard wood with alfalfa growing on it as well. There is basically a cove on one part of the property that I would like to set up the plot on. Was thinking clover, but don’t know if that is best. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[Hmr]

How big of an area are you planting? I’ve had great results with Whitetail Institute Fusion, it’s a clover chicory mix. Also, put in a late season planting of beans too, but one thing to keep in mind is you have to keep the deer out of them till a week before you hunt.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I’ve had great luck with mixes of balansa, alsike, and ladino clovers. Mossy Oak Biologic markets it as “non typical” clover or you can go to your local feed and seed store and buy about 10 times as much seed for the same price.


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[N2TRKYS]

Do you think brassicas would be better for late season? Turnips, radishes, and the like should draw them in like crazy after you get a good hard freeze.

 

[Hmr]

Do you think brassicas would be better for late season? Turnips, radishes, and the like should draw them in like crazy after you get a good hard freeze.

Yes, in my neck of the woods they really start hammering the beets and greens in December. Some of the beets grow to 6-7” in diameter.

 

[Lvthntitall]

You can do a 50/50 blend of turnip and rape, the rape I’d sweet until it frost and the turnips after so they will use it all season. A few things to keep in mind when planting, don’t plant to deep, don’t plant to thick and turnips like nitrogen so be sure to put some fertilizer on them. 12-12-12 at 200 lbs per acre or 46-0-0 at 100 lbs per acre

 

[Recurveaholic]

You can do a 50/50 blend of turnip and rape, the rape I’d sweet until it frost and the turnips after so they will use it all season. A few things to keep in mind when planting, don’t plant to deep, don’t plant to thick and turnips like nitrogen so be sure to put some fertilizer on them. 12-12-12 at 200 lbs per acre or 46-0-0 at 100 lbs per acre

You do not plant the turnip and rape at the same time do you?? I usually plant clover and overseed with rye later so just wondering about this combo! If you plant together it would make my life easier!!!!

 

[Lvthntitall]

Yes I plant them at the same time, usually mid august, I add radishes to my mix as well

 

[N2TRKYS]

You do not plant the turnip and rape at the same time do you?? I usually plant clover and overseed with rye later so just wondering about this combo! If you plant together it would make my life easier!!!!

I plant everything at the same time. I sow and cover my large seed, then top sow my smaller seeds.

 

[Recurveaholic]

I plant everything at the same time. I sow and cover my large seed, then top sow my smaller seeds.

do you drag over the small seed just so it doesn't wash away?

 

[Team4LongGun]

I’m my experience-the MOST IMPORTANT thing with plots is doing a soil test and getting PH correct. I won’t waste time, money and effort on a plot without it. From there, then timing the maturation of the crop to match your hunting times would be next

 

[N2TRKYS]

do you drag over the small seed just so it doesn't wash away?

I do not. I've had great luck with rain being enough to cover it. However, a cultipacker would be a great tool for this.

 

[Lvthntitall]

I drag before and after, the small seeded broad leaves do better with a firm seed bed but it’s not a have too

 

[Recurveaholic]

I drag before and after, the small seeded broad leaves do better with a firm seed bed but it’s not a have too

This is usually what I do!!

 

[Diesel]

do you drag over the small seed just so it doesn't wash away?

Cultipack or use a lawn roller to get good seed to soil contact. Do not cover clover.

There are volumes written on food plotting. One of the best was written by a farmer in the mid west that went by lickcreek. He used a mix of winter rye, clover, turnips, ground hog forage radish, winter peas. That way the plot was attracting year round and was a nurse crop to get clover established.

Hard to find online, but it is the bible of food plots.

When I get time I'll see what I can link if you are interested.

 

[Diesel]

Team four is 100% right. soil test is the most beneficial thing you can do. Then lime, but remember the soil can only absorb so much lime at a time and it takes about 6 months to really get completely absorbed.

 

[tulsaburnside]

Lot of great info in the thread, go with soil testing and with what does great in your area. On a side note, if you have some grass areas that you can mow down in late August, mow them and broadcast turnip seeds in these areas. Dead thatch will hold moisture and keep turnip seeds from washing away. Of course thatch can't be too thick but I've had great luck seeding some turnips in grassy areas like that.

 

[Diesel]

If you are serious about doing it get soil samples and test as soon as you can so the lime can be doing it's thing. It will take time (most likely a couple of seasons) to get your PH up to optimal (7.0) which is hard to achieve.

The "Lickcreek Mix" is planted in the late summer. The peas will be eaten first, radish and brassicas thru the winter and winter rye will be protection for the clover getting established in spring. Clover is a nitrogen fixer and the deep tap roots of the radish helps break up the hard pan improving the soil... All Good.

 

[Billy Goat]

You can do a 50/50 blend of turnip and rape, the rape I’d sweet until it frost and the turnips after so they will use it all season. A few things to keep in mind when planting, don’t plant to deep, don’t plant to thick and turnips like nitrogen so be sure to put some fertilizer on them. 12-12-12 at 200 lbs per acre or 46-0-0 at 100 lbs per acre

This. Also rape is 60 day maturity and turnips are 90. So if you have a dry spell and the turnips won't mature it gives you some backup. Doesn't hurt to mix in some wheat, barley, or annual rye also.

Generally I don't think it's worth the money for the name brand stuff. I plant 30-60 acres of this kind of stuff every year and I get my seed from local distributors. Most of it comes from allied. If purchasing a blend look at the contents and percentages on the back to know what your purchasing. Most of the time it's a pretty picture on the front.

 

[Billy Goat]

If you are serious about doing it get soil samples and test as soon as you can so the lime can be doing it's thing. It will take time (most likely a couple of seasons) to get your PH up to optimal (7.0) which is hard to achieve.

The "Lickcreek Mix" is planted in the late summer. The peas will be eaten first, radish and brassicas thru the winter and winter rye will be protection for the clover getting established in spring. Clover is a nitrogen fixer and the deep tap roots of the radish helps break up the hard pan improving the soil... All Good.

If you purchase pelletized lime it reacts much faster, it is lost faster as well. If you need to improve pH a fair amount I normally recommend a pelletized lime and getting ag lime applied. Get fast and lasting results that way.