I know some of you northerner's are getting some snow right about now, but here in PA, our somewhat mild temps coupled with an ample amount of rain has me thinking planting/growing season. Our main plot on the property is ~.75 acres. We planted clover/rye last year with a winter wheat planting on the exterior edges. This field has been maintained very well over the years (yearly fertilizing/lime), disced regularly, clover/rye mowed once a season, etc). I went up today to check it out, and it's doing great. We have clover and rye coming up very well right now. In fact, this is the furthest along it's been in recent years. The only downside is the potential for a frost this week, so we'll see how that goes, but as long as it's not prolonged for days, I think we will be ok. I will try to get a few pictures up this week (forgot the camera), but here's a picture of it in October this past season. So, does anyone have plots planted yet, or perennials coming in yet from last year?
Some of the clover I overseeded in late winter is starting to come up, as well as a new alfalfa/clover plot. The clover I planted last spring is doing very well with all this rain we've been having. I'm also worried about the frost tuesday and wednesday coming here.. But it should be ok temps are going right back up. Other than that its just been planting a few more apple trees and preparing and liming a winter wheat/rye/oats plot that will be planted in late august or early december depending on the weather. Great looking plot you have there, nice picture
Im new to food plots. I just bought a nice chunk of timber about 80 acres, We are currently putting in 3 food plots and I had to cut done some mature oaks that were 2-3 years old, alot of briars and miscellaneous stuff growing. We are reaady to till it up but I am wondering what to spray it with first to kill the weed and other stuff that will come back up. Also After I spray, do I wait a certan timeframe before I can till and plant? Anything would be helpful from you veteran bowhunters. We found 5 - 6 sets of sheds this weekend so we have some big deer here just need to get some good nutrition in for them... Thak you sny help you can give...Chris
If you can find a place to purchase glyphosate, it can be had for much cheaper (and in bulk) than Round-Up. It's basically Round-up without the name. Usually wait a few days after spraying, and you should be good and ready to till it up and begin planting. Since this is new land, have you had a ph test done? Oaks like a moderatly acidic soil, so you may want to take that into consideration before planting (and what you plan to plant) assuming you cleared oak groves for your plot. Usually a brassica is a good first year plant especially if you haven't had much time to get the soil limed (which in your case I'm assuming not, since ideally you want to begin applying lime about 6 months or later before planting).
Thanks for the tips Matt..I have a local farmer doing the ph tests for me. We had alot of choke cherry and orange ?? trees. It is very good dirt and black soils. I was trying to find and alternative for round up which is super expensive. I will give the other a shot and plant this year and see how it goes. We have some monsters on the property and its surrounded by all corn and beans. We are working on trying to fence up some areas to keep out the locals. thanks for the info. It will help alot. Chris
i put down about 1/8 of an acre in Chickory, clover and kvetch. I planted 3 1/2 weeks ago and when I checked it March 29th everything was looking good. New growth that hasn't been browsed yet, all about 4" high. We had a late freeze warning last night weather.com says it didn't reach freezing in the nearest town. I won't know if it died off until I get out there again on the 18th.
I just bought 3 27 lb bags of biologic maximum and 5 bags of lablab that i am going to plant here shortly, as soon as i can get up to my farm and spray & disc the fields this year we have put my farm into a quail restoration program which also helps to benefit the deer, it pays you to plant tall grasses and also to plant 25% of the land into food plots so hopefully that'll improve the deer hunting this year
Lots of good information here.. Since you said its surrounded by corn and beans, you could try something that will compete with local agriculture during the hunting season. Oats, winter wheat, or brassicas could attract deer that usually go to corn.. My cousin has had a lot of success with the "green to green" method for spring and fall plots.. Also, another sometimes overlooked thing is simply fertilizing existing hard mast trees. Its amazing how much it can help when its a bad year for acorns in your region, and your trees are the only ones producing some. Good luck to you, have fun
Ask me in 1 month, I should be able to get my oats in some time around the first of June, the snow is just coming off this week. Its really wet here, ground is soft. I have a 1000lbs of oat seed (120.00 bought it in bulk=cheap)in the garage ready to be disked, seeded and harrowed...
last june pix below here.. I ended up seeding 6 acres of my land and my neighbor did 20 acres. I used my Cat to do the plowing and prep work and borrowed my neighbors tractor to seed and harrow.. I dont bow hunt right on my plots because my place is pretty open, but the plots really keep the elk in the area and I try to set up to intecept them say from 1/4 up to a mile from the house.. during the early season before the hvy elk rut. the plots also attract the local does but I have yet to see a big buck in them during daylight.. but they are around during the rut! prepping with my Cat/dozer last summer.. outside the house in my pasture
Shed, you certainly have the view off the back porch! That's awesome. How many acres do you have again? That's a great looking plot prep (nice equipment, too).
