Im in Tn and wanting to plant some food plots to help out my deer during antler growth. Any ideas? I would like something to plant now aka spring and maybe summer if what I plant in the spring is gone. Then I want ideas for the fall and into winter. Thanks.
First thing is first. Have you done a soil test? You can waste a lot of time, effort, and money without this little step. Assuming your soild ph is good, establishing a good stand of white/ladino clover would be good. Mix in chicory during your spring planting for a nurse crop. Chicory is also more drought tolerant so it will stay green later in the summer if there is little rainfall. Till this under and replant with winter rye and additional clover. The rye is great as it serves as a nurse crop for the clover as well as providing additional nitrogen. The rye will stay green through the winter and can be till under in the spring.Brassicas and oats (winter) are also a great option for fall/winter food. Ben/pa on here has experience with oat plots. I'm sure he can chime in.
If soil quality and price aren't an issue, I would plant a soy bean mix such as Antler King's Red Zone, and then a week before Labor Day, till under and plant any variety of oats, they will be 6-8inches at season's start. My deer stay on them all season long. Make sure your ph is right, if it's not spend the time on lime, and the money on fertilizer and you should be in good shape.
What they said.. Can't go wrong with clover. Or beans if you have the room/can keep them out of it until they mature or get ahead of browsing. Corn is great if you wanna leave certain sections standing, they'll hit it and use it as bedding until pretty late, into late season. Fall/winter, I'd try either turnips or another brassica of some type, or winter wheat/oats mix. Brassicas for later, ww and oats for a little earlier in the cold months.
