This year I wanted to plant my fall honey hole plots in the summer so it would have time to grow nice and lush by early season. Well, I went with a rye and oats base and mixed in some clover. They turned out awesome and did just what I hoped. The deer ignored them all through the summer and it wasn't on the deer's palate, which is exactly what I wanted. Then all of the sudden our Ohio weather changed a bit and we've been getting colder nights and the temperature has dropped. Within a 3 week period, the deer absolutely slammed my plots. I know I took a chance by planting early but for a no till honey hole that maybe cost me $50, I was glad to see how much the deer liked it. I guess it's time for round two of planting.
Both honey holes are in the woods with an open canopy. The presence of sunlight just so happened to be in 2 different areas where there also happens to be deer paths. So I just cleared away the debris and exposed the ground and used a seed spreader. I did it the day before a light rain and it worked out great. I used a rake to lightly cover the seeds with whatever dirt and debris there was and it came in within a few weeks. So I guess if using a rake isn't technically no til but close enough in a about an hours work. Here's a picture from late June after it started coming in. EDIT: Not sure why the site shrunk the picture down.
Thanks, I went the cheap route this year and I was happy with how well it turned out with such little work required. I plan on planting a brassicas, turnips, and oats combination to replace them now that they're wiped out. I'm a little behind on re-planting these honey hole plots but I have a baby room and a cabin to to work on too.
I'm trying to do mine tomorrow. Planting a 1/4 acre brassicas blend and was hoping how the no till method would work. Hope mine turn out as nice as yours!
