Fall food plots

[NELS-BELLS]

Looking for suggestions for a small 1 acre food plot which I cleared in the woods. (moderated sunlight) I want something that I can plant in mid Aug and will hopefully attract deer from early bow season to rifle opener provided we ever get rain.

Nels

[PerchJerker]

There have been several posts and threads about this recently, just read back through some of the recent threads. Cereal grains are what you want for sure but they might not last until gun season. Brassicas might work but there's a chance they won't put on enough growth to amount to much before the frosts come.

[BLACKJACK]

My recommendation would be winter wheat or rye, it will be the last green growing plant around. Or do clover, it still has time to establish and it will be around for a couple of years.

[firebug]

fridge forage makes a autumn quick plot. It's suppose to be planted in mid-August. It has rye,winter peas,rape,and vetch. They call this a Bi-annual mix. Which means that it will grow til about next june then start dying off.

[Cooter]

I vote winter rye - cheap, grows anywhere, deer love it, competes well with weeds. Also greens very early in spring and deer hit it then, gives them a good start in spring.

[NELS-BELLS]

Thanks for the replies. Sorry I didn't check the other threads first. I guess I thought those were started last spring and focused on spring planting.

Don't you need a lot of direct sunlight for winter wheat and rye? The spot I have cleared out only gets maybe 4 hours of sunlight each day due to the size of the trees around it and the few that I have left in it. Once the leaves drop, than its a different story. Also, I am a little more concerned with rifle opener than bow as its around my permanent stand.

Thanks again,

Nels

[Mark Christianson]

Even with only 4 hours of light, try it.

Go winter rye. It will stay somewhat green even into December(under the snow).

Its less than 10 bucks for a 50 lb bag. If I remember correctly, 50 lbs of seed per acre if you drill it(I would guess you dont have a drill to do this planting), or 100 lbs per acre if you broadcast it. That should give you an idea of how much you need.

[Cooter]

I planted my rye in a woods plot surrounded by oaks and it did fine.

[Nova]

Winter wheat and winter rye sound good. Do you need to go to a fed mill to get them? Does Fleet farm carry it? Going up Wednesday night to plant the MDHA cold weather blend and might want to pick up some of this also.

[BLACKJACK]

What area are you in? Look in your phone book under Seed or Grain Elevator and then start making some calls. Also do a search for Albert Lea Seedhouse, they'll have winter rye and can ship it.

[Nova]

I am in Stillwater and the plots are in Fergus Falls. Thanks Blackjack, I will do that.