Hello, right now I have 2 1/4 acre plots I need advice on. The one I want to hunt over I planted last year with extreme radish throw and grow and want to let the deer chew on that for a bit then plow it under to replant. What do you suggest planting to hunt over. The other is about 40 yrds from there and would be a little to far of a bow shot. I'd like to plant this one for summer grazing, what would you do there. I have several other places that I want to plow under and put in perennial plots and need suggestions for those. I have a tractor and implements. In all I eventually plan on having about 10 acres of plot. I live in northern Ontario Canada just accross the border from Minnesota. I have hay fields and pasture the deer already graze in but not as much as I'd like. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Fre
For summer grazing that's fast and easy it's hard to beat soybeans. I hear you northern boys have short season options now that should work for ya there and if they produce, leave them standing and interseed some rye, crimson clover and brassica in there late summer right before a rain. Brassica and winter peas, winter wheat, winter rye, crimson clover (I doubt the crimson clover will over winter that far north but it'll be good fall hunting). Any one of those or any mix of those or all those will make a killer mix and a cover crop for green manure to build your soil come next year. I'm not up to snuff on everything that fits in Canada, expect I missed a lot of options.
I'm not as much of a fan of crimson up north as i am of berseem. But i am doing some clover trials as we speak. I believe in plot rotation. I love spring seeding plot restore (berseem and radish) and then late june or early august using beets and sweets, brassica blend or succulent succotash.
I actually think that before you decide what you should plant, you need to find out what type of forage will grow the best in your soil. Plants are just like whitetail bucks in that they will grow better in optimal conditions. Not every plant is designed to do well in every type of soil. Sure anything will grow, but plants will be healthier and more nutritious and more palatable to deer if they are grown in optimum conditions. I don't know what type of soil you have in southern Ontario, so i would recommend a soil test. This will not only tell you the type, but the ph, and the amount of organic matter. You can also put on the form what you want to plant and the results will tell you how much lime and fertilizer to use for the forage you want to plant. Generally, a dark most soil is what you want for a clover. A moderately drained soil like a loam is good for alfalfa and chicory, beans or corn. A sandy soil is more suited to a brassica or Hardy grains like oats or wheat. If you find what will grow the best in your soil, then make your decision on what to plant based on that and what you want to provide the deer, your food plot will be the best it can be Sent from my C5170 using Tapatalk
Here is how i approach it. I talk perhaps 1/2 the day with people asking me for help. Here is the questions I ask. Where do you live. Huge factor based on temperature, moisture, and soil type. What type of equipment do you have? Have you pulled a soil test? Have you ever planted food plots before? What is your budget? What are your goals? What was planted the previous year? What is the slope, type of ground? High ground, low ground, is it wet? What i had happen yesterday was a guy from out east was floored by what i told him he should spend per acre on his food plot. His quote for fertilizer and seed was $7000 for like 5 acres. I almost fell off my chair. In the end, i believe he will spend $750 for all......... Plant for success... Make it fun... Think like a farmer and enjoy the learning experience...
