What are you planting this spring in your food plots??

[BLACKJACK]

BLB's post about the MDHA's seed program has me getting psyched up about getting out this spring and doing some planting, I'm wondering what other guys are planting?

For me its going to be:

5 acre corn plot

4 acres clover - planted in three types, the MDHA clover, the MDHA Wildlife blend which has annuals and clover, and then some of the Imperial clover.

2 acres plot, either corn or I'm debating doing some rye/oats early, then working it up mid-summer and putting in the MDHA cold weather blend.

My clover spots are spread out, as I've went from spot to spot, I've dropped the disk down and I'll be overseeding some red clover (low areas) and alfalfa (dryer areas).

What are you planting?

[hookset]

You cant go wrong with rape and turnips. The deer mow it down in the fall. I am going to plant some of the new cold weather stuff from blb in few spots. And I will have the neighbor plant 10-15 acres of corn.

Cant wait to jump on the tractor and disc up some more plots!!!!

[jlm]

Rape/turnips were a bust for me this year despite a beautiful plot. My late season cereal rye out-produced it 10 to 1. Not to say it won't work in your area, however, in farmland, it was a no go for me. Sugar beets worked very well as did the carrots. Corn is always good but in my area it is for late Winter food only as they do not touch it until the deep snow arrives. Soy beans are fantastic! With round up ready products, the plots are clean and grow well! I also put in a couple of acres of round up ready alfalfa. This is its second year so the jury is out on that yet. If you want to go cheap and easy, late season rye, oats, and other grains are a great start. More later, good luck! Remember, fertilizer is your friend !

[PerchJerker]

The weather hasn't been kind to my plots the last 2 years, hoping for a much better year this year. I have several small plots in the woods that I work with an atv and atv implements.

I'm planting clover this spring, all Imperial Whitetail. I have some 3 year old clover (not Imperial) that I'll carry over, and have used other clovers too, but I've found Imperial to work the best for me so that's all I plant for clover now. I'll probably put some chicory in with some of my clover too, although the herbicide I use will take out the chicory if I have to spray the clover.

I also plant brassicas every spring, turnips and kale are my favorites. Seems like I plant more and more of these every year, I wonder why

[BLACKJACK]

Quote:

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Remember, fertilizer is your friend

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Thats a fact!!! When do you fertilize your clovers, in the spring or late summer?

Been thinking about the roundup ready soybeans, when do you get the most usage, when they're green and growing or after they're mature?

When do you guys plant your rape and turnips and/or beets? Right away in the spring or later? What about weed control??

I agree on the rye, good stuff and the deer love it!

[PerchJerker]

I fertilize my clover right away in the spring, as soon as the frost comes out of the ground. And again in the first half of August, it gives the clover a nice shot of growth going into the bow opener.

I try to plant my brassicas by Memorial Day weekend. I've waited longer, but I've never got as much growth out of the later plantings as I have with the May plantings. But I'm quite a ways north, shorter growing season and earlier frosts at my place.

I'll put in a vote for cereal grains too, oats, wheat and rye. I plant them in the fall, late August seems to be the best. Fast growth, stand up to browsing, and the deer LOVE them.

[Mark Christianson]

What am I planting?

I think the better question will be what do I not plant this year?

I plan on a rape/turnip blend, more clover, corn, sorghum, sunflower, wheat, possibly beans, and who knows what else.

The wheat is actually being planted by a farmer on a 15 acre field. It was corn 2 years ago, beans last year, and now this year he wants to do wheat. We are fine with that. His other wheat fields in the area end up being heavily reseeded after its combined, and the deer use it hard.

As far as everything else, I am diversifying so that if something doesnt grow, chances are something else will. Also, I kinda figure that the more options I have, the better chance I will have food that they will want/require on a year round basis.

Chances are good that I may not plant some of it, but it all depends on what is happening when its time to plant.

I was out to the farm a couple weeks ago, and the deer are digging up turnips right now. Also, they are in the wheat pretty heavily in one area.

I cannot wait!

[Cooter]

A new plot not yet prepared will hopefully be planted in rye this fall.

A small, established plot in the woods is up for discussion yet - gonna be beans, clover, or some mix.

3 acres of old pasture very well might be beans/corn and maybe some rye. Was corn last year with some beans that the weeds dominated - the neighbor is gonna plant 30 acres of corn so we might go all beans there(the Round up ready variety for sure!).