food plot prep

[BLACKJACK]

With moisture and heat/sunshine, most seeds will sprout in 7-10 days. I could see the rows in my corn field after 8 days but it was spotty, but it hasn't had any rain on it. Hopefully this rain will sprout everything.

To answer your question, I'd be concerned after 14 days, especially if you've had rain. Goto one of your rows and slowly start digging down and find some seeds and see whats happening. Also check for critters. Stripped gophers like digging out small plants and eating the seed and I've had problems with rabbits in my garden eating young bean plants.

Good luck. You still have plenty of time to replant if necessary.

[jltimm]

I got 'er all planted yesterday as the rain was beginning to fall.Planted half Clover, and half Turnips. Now to wait and see how it all does?

[roosterslayer]

So now i have picked up the plot master and heading up north tomorrow, does anybody use anything to help keep the deer off the plots until the plot takes. I was able to buy plot saver last year from cabelas, but now this year it is mail order only and that was a kick in the nuts when i realized now it is just up to mother nature. also has anybody mixed corn and clover together, and how was the results?

[Jigging Bob]

Where do you guys find trees for a decent price? Those Sumac look very nice. Where can I get some of those also? We have the same problem as you. The deer come to our land but for some reason like to stay across the other side of the river and stay most of the time. Thanks and good luck.

[Cooter]

I get my trees at Menard's or Shopko or Wal-Mart - don't remember seeing any sumac at those places.

[LABS4ME]

Just dig up Sumac from the wild... take the shorter root suckers off to the sides and they will transplant no problem. Do this early in the spring just as the buds are swelling, or late in the fall after they go dormant.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Nova]

the sumac are natural there, but I dug some of the small ones up and brought them home. They transplant very easily, but be careful. Once they get going they spread pretty fast and can take over. I just got a deal at Sam's club $9 for 4' trees crab apples, oaks and maples, not sure if they still have them. Find deals at nurseries in the fall or at places like Home depot, Sams, even Kmart. A food plot with some nice cover near by should hold the deer on your property a lot better. That and a safe haven for them to go to where they aren't being chased off by humans.

[Nova]

I am starting to worry. The food plots at home have been in 2 weeks now. The sunflower plots is coming in decent, but the corn had just a few plants starting to pop. The dry weather may have slowed germination a little but I should have most of the plants going by now shouldn't I? Hope things get going pretty quick here with the rain lately.

[Mark Christianson]

My corn was popping in less than a week.

If something doesnt happen within in the next week, it may be time to go to plan B....

[BLACKJACK]

You may also want to check for critter damage. I'm having some serious issues with striped gophers and geese on my corn plot. As the corn comes up, the gophers see it and dig it up for the corn at the bottom of the plant, I can see where they went down the row, little holes where every corn plant was!!! &*())&%$#!!! I can see 20 - 30 foot stretches where the corn is dug out!!! ^%$%$@###$&*(%!!!! I've been trapping the little devils, four so far.

The geese have been a problem too, they go thru and as the corn comes up, they eat it off, I can see the little stalk. I've been trying to haze them off and put the fear into them with my labs but since I'm not home every day they're free to pillage all day long. The other day I misjudged and sicced the dogs on them too soon and next thing you know my young black dog was delivering a fuzzball back to me. Luckily she has a soft mouth, I was able to take it down to the edge of the pond and let it go. But it has made the geese more wary, last night the old gander saw me coming and they were in the water when I got there.

I can see where farmers would be pi$$ed at geese and get a permit to shoot them.

I'm considering a solar fencer next year for the geese, I'd have to put up a 150 yards of wire to keep them out of the corn. And I'll start trapping the gophers BEFORE the corn comes up. Live and learn.

What I really need is some moisture so that the corn would just take off and get to 6-8 inches, then they'd leave it alone.

Nova, with the rain, if you're not seeing corn in 7 days, consider replanting. If you can't find some, I have a bag left over that you can have.

[Cooter]

My uncle put in corn the day before mother's day and its all up. Something in my plot is finally coming up - its not weeds so thats a good sign. We'll see how it turns out - broadcast seeding by hand and then light raking is not precise seed depth control but hopefully....BTW - for those of you in blackberry country they were blossoming like crazy on Monday - pretty white flowers if you need to take a nature hike.

I pulled the majority of new apples off my trees this year, my pear tree has fruit this year - I'm gonna leave a couple on just to see how they turn out. Also planted some cranberries in the woods and they are doing great.

[Nova]

Blackjack, thanks very much for the info and the seed offer. I do have enough left to redo this plot if it fails. I will wait until mid next week and then replant if things don't get going. The corn is going to stand until next spring so a little later planting should hurt too much should it? Thanks for the info guys, I am crossing my fingers

[jltimm]

My clover is coming up, and I think the turnips are coming up also and I just planted them last week! So far so good!

[BFT]

Blackjack , is that a name for a company ?

[roosterslayer]

You guys are lucky that your seed has been in for awhile, mine were just planted over the weekend, but the good thing is the rain that has been falling since. not a ton of rain but enough to start the germination process.and we planted 4 plots, one was an acre or annual MNDHA blend and corn, another on clover and chicory, the next was the wildlife blend from MNDHA, and the last one was a small one that was half milo and clover. I am really hoping this works this year.

[Mark Christianson]

How did the plotmaster work rooster??

[roosterslayer]

Honestly, not as good as i was hoping and now after using it i dont see what the hype is all about. When we were in the middle of planting corn on one of our plots the motor for the seed hopper seized up and the plot master was put back on the trailer. the rest of the plots were broadcasted and harrowed under. I am not upset or disappointed cause i would have never know until i tried it so live and learn i guess.

[Mark Christianson]

I guess I would disappointed if I hauled that thing out there and it failed......

That sucks.

[roosterslayer]

Oh well nothing can be done about it so no reason to get upset, i just wont use it again. We will just use a four row planter. again not the end of the world.

[BLACKJACK]

Quote:

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Blackjack , is that a name for a company ?

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BFT, not sure I understand the question?? Is what a name for a company?

[BLACKJACK]

At this point, later planting affects yield, the corn would have a shorter growing period. Who knows, I may have to replant myself, depending upon how it turns out with the gopher and goose damage. I will reassess next week once it dries out. Maybe the 1/2 inch of rain that we had will help the last seeds germinate and help them shoot up past goose range. Going to go out and price a solar fencer at noon. Also going to shoot me a few geese next fall...

[Mark Christianson]

Too bad you dont have some beans to plant Blackjack.

I happen to have an extra bag.

Last weekend I drilled soy beans between all the corn rows. The corn is looking outstanding so far!

[BLACKJACK]

Let me send some geese yourway!!! Bastages!!!

I looked at the Albert Lea seed house HSOforum, I could get a bag of RR soybeans shipped to me for $28 - with the price of gas I don't think I could drive to Big Lake or Brandon for that!!! Not unless there was fishing or beer involved!

Seriously, I'll be making a decision early next week on the replanting, I may consider the soybeans between the row thing. Or maybe redisc and do soybeans by themselves. Or redo the corn only. (Contact Us Please) geese.

[Mark Christianson]

Do the beans between the existing corn.

At least the corn that does grow will mature decent, and the beans will be a good filler.

RR beans for $28 including shipping??????

Is that a 50 lb bag? Wow. I guess I didnt realize they were that cheap.

[BLACKJACK]

Nope, doesn't include shipping. Add about 20%.

I'm thinking positive, its going to rain cats and dogs this weekend, the corn going to take off and I won't have to replant.

Let me know how the deer like your soybeans, they're definitely in my future. Did you change the plates in the planter or just use the corn plates?