Hey fellas, just now got permission to put a plot in here where the white outline is: There is a creek that runs along the west side of the "plot" and it has great access to hunt. Large hill top (bedding) on west side of plot. I plan on putting turnips/brassicas down there, but would appreciate and advice/tips/suggestions. For the record- I know ZILCH about planting/farming/anything like that.
Well I personally would say to not plant the turnips and this late in the season plany some oats, wheat and winter rye - more cool season crops. Those barassicas will work well but in a small plot you might have some trouble getting them established. It also looks fairly shaded and if so you will need to take that into consideration. Step 1: spray for weeds ASAP! Make sure no rain in forcast. Step 2: dono if you plan on using a tiller or not but mow those weeds down a week or 2 after spraying. Step 3: seed but try and do it prior to a major rain event - good luck with the rain around here lately. If your not going to be able to till that dead grass you cut can actually help hold moisture in the ground and assist with germination. Other: might consider some lime or fertilizer. But you can see first year food plots work without spending the money on lime or fertilizer. If it were earyler in the summer I'd say go ahead and get a soil test, but this late in Aug. I probably wouldn't bother. Lonesome Elk sells a wheat varity seed I think, I've heard good things! I would consider wheat, rye or oats over turnips but that's just me!! Next year i'd plant the top of your map with EW on both sides of that opening to create a cover and on the inside I'd probably try clover, oats, alfalfa and maybe cow peas or spot seed some winter peas late in the year!!
Wow looks good i would say plant whatever the deer will eat and that hook in the middle will be a great place for a stand.Good luck
Are You in Texas, Vermont, BC, Mn.? Climate zones matter for good food plot input. Soil sample first.
May be worth adding, it's usually chest high weeds but the landowner just mowed it all down yesterday.
Having it mowed recently is the perfect time to get in there and spray some gly. Wait a week or two and plant a cereal mix. Like said, winter rye, oats, and throw some white clover in the mix. In case of a low ph, rye and oats are tolerable of a low ph. They grow fast also. Should have a nice green plot in a couple weeks after planting and rye can grow in mid to upper 30 temps.
Nice plot. I disagree about the turnips though I don't know where you are in the country. I'm in MO/KS and there is worlds of time here for turnips. If you're set on Brassicas and Turnips together, I'd consider cutting the plot up into two sections and plant one section in a mix of winter rye, oats, wheat either mixed or choose one....then add in some crimson clover, winter pea and brassica. Personally I'd shoot for about 60% crimson clover, winter pea, brassica in the mix and the other 40% one or all of the grass crops. Assuming you use wheat or rye the mix would look something like this in pounds per acre W.rye= 15#/acre Wheat= 15#/acre....Or either one alone at #30/acre Crimson Clover= 8#/acre Winter Pea= 30#/acre Brassica= 3#/acre Turnips/surgar beets at #5/acre This will give you about 76#/acre of seed and cost about $66/acre. If your plot is three acres (assumption) it'll cost you a couple hundred for a thickly seeded and lush foodplot that will graze extremely high quality all fall, winter and spring until you redo it next year. It'll also fixate nitrogen while supplying all the N needs of the rye and/or wheat. Though I generally throw some starter fert on with it. Of course you can play with the seed quantities, you wouldn't have to put that much on and there would be freight on it if you use the place I do. They charged me $100 for over 1000# of seed.
Thanks for the input guys! I'm looking forward to getting this started. I think he could be a huge success for me.
+1 Lime and moisture control fertilizer is a must even more so because of the lack of rain this year. You should be ok with brassicas and turnips yet. They usually recommend seeding them mid Aug, so your only a week behind. If mother nature cooperates you should be fine.
