Need Advice on Current Food Plot - UPDATED Below are the pics of our food plot this spring (from beginning to now). This is our first go at a food plot. The question is what do we do with it now that it's time to get the fall plot planted. We used the Evolve Throw and Grow with clover, brasicas and rye. As you see in the last photo the plot is full and tall. Almost two feet tall to be exact. Do we just leave it as is for the fall or do with kill it off, re-till and replant? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. This is what it looked like before we got started Working the ground Before Planting Planting (not fun in the mud by the way) Some of the hinge cuts we did Seeing Growth More Growth Filling in nicely Even better Momma and her baby in the plot This is just a shot of our bachelor group in the second plot that will be going in here in a week (ignore the date, ants have the camera all messed up) Plot last month What the plot looks like now *UPDATE* Well, not long after mowing the plot down the rains started and didn't stop. We had a major flood and the plot sat underwater for about a month. Once it was dry enough to get back in there we went ahead and threw some seed down. We've been pretty down after all the work we did in the spring. Hopefully something will come up and the deer will come back. Here is the last picture of the food plot before the water went over the trail cam. Unfortunately, we weren't able to save the trail cam but at least got the card out of it. Our timber is in the background with the river behind it. Just to give an idea of how high the water was. And here is the results of what the plot looked like once the water went down. Some of the downed trees from the flood. We lost quite a few big ones. Here is what the plot looked like a couple of weeks ago. We have a little bit of growth coming back. It rained a week ago so we are hoping that it goes crazy with growth. Will be heading down to hunt next weekend so we'll see if the deer are back.
That plot turned out great!! I have no experience in this area but I am sure some of these guys will chime in.
The rye is rye grass if it's throw and grow which is the last thing you want in a food plot. If you plan to plant a fall plot you will have to hit it with gly to kill the grass or it is just going to over take anything you plant. Cereal grains,radish,turnips,DER all make good fall food plots.I would spray it wait a week mow it to the ground.
That looks pretty good. You got lots of options. Them brassicas if left alone would get pretty big and have alot of food into the winter being a small spot vs lets say a acre of brassicas. Which is a good thing. Another option would be to mow like half of it and see how it comes back. Even use a weed wacker. I know some brassicas/rye grass can take a mowing and not sure what is exactly in that mix. Not sure where you are located, but if that was my plot here in Wisconsin, I would leave it as them brassicas will be sought after come later in the season.
I'm thinking since the brassicas were left untouched they would mature and seed out (bolt) before the first frost...?? If this were my plot I would spray with gly a couple times to get a good burn. When all the vegetation is dead I would mow very close to the ground or till again and plant a cereal grain mix like winter rye (not rye grass) and oats. You can also add some clover and a small amount of purple top turnips or radish to the mix to add variety. Do not over seed the radish and turnips too thick due to it shading out the rest of the mix. Good luck and keep us posted!
Thanks to all for the advice. I think what we'll do is leave a descent size strip along the edge of the plot to see what happens with the brassicas. I'll mow, spray and re-till the rest of the plot and plant with suggested seeds. I'll update with pics as they come. Will do the mowing and spraying tomorrow and tilling next week. Along with tilling the other food plot we have killed off and ready to go. BTW... we are in Eastern Kansas.
I would definately spray and till under at least 75% of it. Unless those are a long season brassica, they will be very stemmy by deer season. Good luck. John
This. I've experimented with early season plantings of Brassicas, and they simply do not have the same attractiveness and palatability once into October/November that July plantings seem to yield. I would mow (or till under), spray, and till. Plant clover with some sore of cool season annual cereal around the beginning of September. Or do a Brassica mix (Turnips, rape, and radish) in mid-late July.
Like the others have said, it's probably time to kill most off and start over. I wouldn't do all of it though as you will want to keep them attracted to the plot the rest of summer. Maybe once you see good growth on that 75% or what ever you till up and replant then you can go and kill off the remainder and plant it as well.
Just curious, but why did you plant that type of mix in the spring? That is what I would want to be planting late summer around here to have a good fall plot. For spring/summer, you would likely do well with a clover mix. Well done on the plot. I also would get it killed out, burned and then replanted to a mix similar to what you used the first time.
Fletch, we are brand new at this food plot thing and just grabbed something off the shelf. The Throw n Grow actually had clover in it but we never saw it come up. We went out this last weekend and mowed it all down (broke my heart doing it) and got it all sprayed. Plan on heading back this weekend to till it back up weather permitting.
You should have a great fall plot. You could go with a clover and chichory mix that would last for several years there if you mow it a time or two each summer. Don't forget to fertilize each year also.
keep us updated on how it turns out. Did you leave any of it standing to see how it does? Or you mow the whole thing?
Here it is after mowing it down. And this is what we left on one side of it. We actually have pictures of deer all over in the plot the very night we mowed it. Only a few hours after we left.
