Advice on small food plot?

Hey I was planning on going out sometime this week and clearing out some land and planting a small plot. I am on a budget and dont have any big equipment, i do have a tiller. I am in central Minnesota and wanted to know what the best blend or seed was to plant for my climate. Also was wondering if this would be the right time to plant? And what should i do for fertilizer? Thank you! All advice and opinions are welcome.

 

Before you decide what you are planting.. first you need to know why you are planting a food plot....what is it you are trying to accomplish (nutrition, full season attraction, attraction during a specific time of year, etc). Then you must find out the soil condition to see what will grow the best. That will narrow down your choices quite a bit

 

When I put in a new plot or expand a plot the first crop I put in winter wheat, easy to plant, easy to get to grow. The best part is the next crop you put in will be more weed free.

 

Those are some very good points, i haven't thought through this enough. Thanks

 

The winter rye will stay green even under the snow and starts growing as soon as the snow melts off. I would not deep till if planting winter wheat just enough to rough up the tope 1-2" of mineral soil. It is about the easiest plot to grow.

 

What about winter wheat and forage oats together....do the deer like it that much, and is there an "Idea" time to plant it....Meaning, if you plant to late, will the deer still be attracted to it....Or will they stay on it all Fall/Winter??
Thanks
Creeks

 

Forage oats are bar none the best food plot forage there is for pure attraction...imo. deer will eat them from the moment they sprout above the dirt till they are gone. I've never had any make it to maturity...the deer on my farms won't let them get over 4 inches tall

 

Extended time frame I 100% agree Boon, now once harsh snow hits my deer will dig through ice to hit turnips/radishes :D

 

Yea mine do the same...But by the time there is snow cover my oat plots are bare dirt

 

I knew you were going to say that :D Yup I love oats, we mix winter rye in more than you do but man do I love em both!

 

Well Heck, this food plotting is some addicting stuff, I find myself putting stuff in every little patch that has sun in it....LOL! I think I will try a bag of wheat/oats with some austrian peas thrown in....for good measure...and from what Im hearing, do the oats and wheat need full sun, or will it grow just about anywhere.......
Here is a spot I worked on a little while back and put clover/chicory/Monster Magnet in...and I can't believe how good it's doing....Just tilled it up and threw 10-10-10 fertilizer on it....and BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!! now it's small, but that's all I have to work with....You do what you can...

 

Looks great!

 

Oh, another thing...Do the Oats come back every year, or do you have to replant....Plus if they do come back, are they just as effective in the coming years....I guess if they come back you have to keep them mowed down to keep them fresh...Or what, I don't know...

 

Oats are annuals. They need to be reseeded.

 

Ok...Good....Thank You!...This is where I think Im going to try the Oats

 

Oats need sun. Cut those center trees down!!!!

 

Ok...Thanks
Creeks!

 

this isnt a job interview im sure he knows the answer. anyways if your planting a food plot and you got an open field. id spray it down with round up. a week or two later till it and then broadcast the seeds. right now its best to plant clover. i recomend whitetail institute imperial whitetail clover. i also recomend the biologic ph fertilizer

 

Is the PH fertilizer you mention something you put on after your plants start coming up, or something you put down before you plant...

Thanks
Creeks!

 

As discussed elsewhere, yes clover can and is establish"able" in this spring/summer.

However, this is the worst time of the year for weed growth and that can easily cause headaches to getting a solid clover plot started off right, but like you said as long as one is willing to do extra work to combat weed growth it most definitely can be done right now.

Weed competition is why many have learned fall plantings of clover mixes truly set up the next year the best if one wants a thick lush clover plot without as much work. Every clover plot we've started in the spring or summer fails to truly get kickin' if you will...but fall plantings of clovers (we like to mix rye/oats) have a great ability to kick off growth (rye/oats help lesson browse).

Then in the coming year we frost seed and even over seed it in the wet springs and by the first fall after a year it is booming typically.

Also Booner is right in one really needs to answer questions first, many times clients or folks I know have personally just "put in a plot" no thought rhyme or reasoning...every decision you make with your plot factors into how it will impact the deer and your hunting. It also will impact how you treat the edges of it and how thick you want it to be surrounding it.