Hello Everyone, I was just wondering if anyone has recommendations on the best places to buy cheap fertilizer? I don't have a big food plot operation, 1/2 acre at most this year. Might go with 1 or 2 more acres next year. Are co-ops the place to go or can you do better elsewhere? Thanks
Well if your looking for a fertlizer that will keep deer off your food plots for a period of time while giving your crop a chance to establish its self before over grazing then Milogranite is your ticket at 5-2-0 it provides dual purpose. Oh and to answer your question, you can buy this at WalMart. Or you can go to your local co-op and ask for 12-12-12 or some other combo. You really should do a soil test to determine which nutrients your soil needs. In fact it is likely that a co-op would suggest not wasting your money on such fertilizers that are being planted this late in the year for the single function of feeding whitetail deer. You can likely grow a good enough crop that whitetail will feed on it even if your working with a marginal soil at best.
The type of fertilizer you use depends greatly on what it is your planting. Clover doesnt need a high N as were brassicas do. So before you buy see what it is your crop needs as far as n/p/k and buy accordingly.
I just planted my plot over the weekend. I planted a 20ft wide strip between the woods and the corn field that the farmer leasing our land put in this year. I am hoping that enough fertilizer has run off the corn field that the soil in my food plot area will be plenty fertile for my Antler King Honey Hole plot. The farmers corn is 8ft high already so I am thinking the soil should be good. I know there is really no secret to a good food plot, get soil test, lime and fertilize accordingly, pray for rain. I need to know the secret to convincing my wife that it makes sense to spend our hard earned money on a "garden" for the deer to eat.
I would look for a 19-19-19 or something close to it and broadcast it before a rain ideally. They run about $15-20 for a 50lb depending on where you get it from. Make sure you dont get anything meant for your "lawn" as they have broadleaf killers in them and well, brassicas are a broadleaf. Or if you are interested in a different method, Antler King makes a product called "Jolt". It is a foliar fertilizer spray that is a 9-17-8. It isnt a cure all, but doesnt hurt. $30 bucks a bottle and it can cover 2 acres. So your 1/2 acre plot you can hit it once now, and once again early September(dont spray after a frost happened obviously). Then still have some left over for next year. Keep me updated on how the Honey Hole mix works out for you and thanks for the purchase. Any other ?'s drop me a PM, or reply to the post.
X2 LOL. If I am planting clover I go for the soil test. All the other stuff I do not. Never have a problem. I did about 7000lbs of lime per acre 5 years ago and am going to do another 7000lbs per acre next spring. Never have any issues growing anything. Winter wheat and rye will grow on a rock if you fertilize it.........for my brassicas I go half urea and the other half 17-17-17 (200lbs+ per acre between the two) The main thing is rain......no or not enough.........= bad foodplot. Believe it or not Aug in Wis. is a good month for rain....this year not so much but its not over.
If you live anywhere near farming communities, local mom and pop seed and feed stores are generally not to hard on the wallet, and theyre definitely the most friendly stores I've ever been to.
Jolt- It is a foliar fertilizer you spray when plants are 3 inchs or taller. Other thing is if you have round up ready crops you can mix jolt in with the round up. Plot Max- It is a soil conditioner that helps add organic matter,slightly raise Ph,airate the soil. Best is to mix it with round up or spray prior to working the soil. Kinda like a tune up for your soil. http://www.antlerking.com/pdf/plotmax.pdf
