I wanted to try and plant a food plot of whatever will grow. I won't have any tractors, or farm equipment, just me and manual labor. The soil tested 6.5 if that matters, however the part of the state (SW oklahoma) doesn't get much rain down there year round. It will only be a few acres, but I at least want to try something. So what grows the best? I'm not afraid to put in the effort, just don't want to waste my time like everyone else obviously.
For my fall plots this year I used some pure attraction from whitetail institute and it came up fast and easy but I had equipment. If you do not have equipment you will have to temper your expectations but there are products like throw and grow and secret spot and others that are designed to plant without much working of the soil that may give you some level of success.
I have had good luck with the throw and grow. The no or very little rain concerns me. Clover is always a good option.
Check these guys out. This is a throw and grow wtyle that you will need minimal equipment to grow. http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/products/noplow.html hey Pat, aren't you supposed to be trying to make a good first day impression at your new job?? or does this mean there's an opening??
We've used some secret spot or throw and grow stuff with nothing more than a garden rake...yes you may not get the lush thick growth you want but in a pinch it'll work. Also you need to realize those throw and grows typically will be a little bit more 'grassy' than other mixes. We've had good success with just raking in clover seeds and also winter rye in our small plots.
Appreciate it guys. The in-laws land I am talking about doesn't offer much cover, or food so I need something besides $9 bags of corn everytime I make the 1.5 hr trip down there to keep the deer around. I'll try some throw and grow or clover it sounds like.
Alot of the throw and grow types have rye grass, not rye in them to make you think you grew something. You'd be alot better off buying some farm oats and working with them.
Exactly what I say a lot...sometimes it's best to make your own blend with the seed in the throw and grow mixes. Any good farmer supply store in the area should be helpful in building this blend. As Ben mentioned, Rye Grass IS NOT THE RYE DEER HUNTERS WANT!
Glad I read this! Was gonna try that stuff but now im not! I think ima go with winter rye and clover Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Thanks for the tips also, was about to go to Academy and buy some throw and grow. So should I still buy the throw and grow and mix it with something else, or just scrap it totally from the idea?
Spoon...up to you. Some don't want to spend the time choosing and making their own mix...others will head off to the local farm supply center and create their own. Bottom line planting some throw and grow is going to be better than doing nothing! However, like some have stated just understand a lot of throw and grows include high rye grass content...not really beneficial at all to deer but will make it appear it is growing great. Just research what is in the seed mixes you want to try, there are some good ones out there.
