My buddy is hopefully getting permission to plant ~ an acre sized area this year. I'm trying to come up with possible mixes for him. I was thinking of splitting the plot in half, so two 1/2 acre plots. Plot 1: spring oats winter rye winter wheat Plot 2: I think I'm going to go something similar to I believe, buckeye's, recommendations on another thread. 3# purple top turnip 2# dwarf Essex rape 5# groundhog radish Mail goal here is for some late season attractiveness as well as a plot for them to hang out in and have a thorough food source all winter long. What planting rate do you guys recommend for plot 1 and any other additions/subtractions from the above plots? Anything else to add? I have the fertilizer/lime figured out.
I would plant the entire plot in 1040 or Austrian peas, oats, crimson clover and rye grain. Since you don't plant Brassicas until mid summer. This way you are utilizing the entire space all season. Come Summer when it's time to plant your brassica's terminate the area you want to plant and plant your seed .. The above mix will add a ton of nitrogen to the soil which will aid the Brassica's in growth.
I thought about doing something right away this spring but it's going to take time to clear some old stumps and kill grass and so on so I want to spend the first few months getting the seedbed prepared to my liking before throwing anything on the ground.
Then I would plant Austrian winter peas, Rye and wheat grain, and oats come August 1st in plot 1 and your Brassicas in plot 2. AWP's take a couple really good frost to kill and deer love them even after killed by frost 1040's are much cheaper and will work also but frost affects them harder. For 1/2 acre I would use 20lbs of peas and 20lbs of each grain.
Plant the whole plot in August at the same time for plot 1. Depending were you are located in MN. Typically 60-75 days before your first frost.
I mean variety wise, winter wheat and rye or spring wheat and rye? I'm shooting for first week in August for planting.
Yeah the type is a direct correlation to the season in which they are suited to grow. Spring varieties are not winter hardy and don't need cold weather to flower. You may not need it to set a seed head but you definitely don't want winter kill.
I planted 2+ acres of soybeans last season out in front of my place. Not only did it attract deer all summer and fall, it attracted deer from all over all winter long. Matter of fact, they're still hammering it. Not many beans left now which is great. Can't go wrong with some soybeans.
Soybeans are largely under appreciated by plotters though they are really gaining popularity. They are such a good fusion of standability in poor weather and compact, high protein food. I love soybeans for food plots.
What type of soil do the plots have? That should dictate what you plant more than anything else. You want to plant something that will grow well in the conditions you have
All depends on plot size and localized herd size. If we planted beans without spending money on some serious plot protection they'd never reach maturity. If you can get them to maturity I whole heartedly agree!
Yeah, not a problem here as I have about 800 acres of mixed ag crop mixed in with about 100 acres of food plots. We have a load of deer but enough browse they don't hammer any one plot to that extent. I was making that statement under the assumption that proper measures would be taken to protect the bean plot. Grant Woods has some good video's at growingdeertv about protecting beans.
There are thousands of acres of beans around that they hit all year long, many of which have areas of standing beans all year because of weather conditions and so on. I would like to give them something they cant readily have. It's an option though.
If you do provide them, plant them later because you are not looking for harvest, but food for the deer. Soon when the other fields are yellowing and browning your beans are still lush...producing some awesome early season chances.
I see a lot of guys broadcasting them with positive success. All of our planting equipment will be put away later on so that is probably what I'd have to do.
Similar here. Deer like diversity, go with other options would be my advice, given the circumstances.
