Food plots in Northeast TN mountains

[miller1buc]

I have plans on trying to create a couple small food plots on some family land in the mountains. Elevation is roughly 2500 ft. on the top of a mountain. There are a couple fields that used to be garden plots years ago. They both are currently covered in pretty thick grass. There are a couple apple trees and walnut trees between the two fields which are only 20 yards apart or so(An old logging road separates them). The rest of the property is steep mountains with many oaks and beech trees.

Field #1: 150 yards x 75 yards
Field #2: 60 yards x 40 yards

We have an older 650 John Deere tractor that has the boxed in tillers about 5 ft wide.

I intend to put out a mineral block as well as a salt block. There is a small natural spring about 200 yards down the hill that I intend to dig out bigger.

At this climate/elevation/plot sizes what food does everyone recommend planting?

Thanks!

 

[buckaroo]

I have tried about everything, easiest and best for me are ladino white clover and winter wheat, usually spray and spread, then mow couple times in the summer.

 

[jmb4wd]

Like Buckaroo said, clover is probably your best bet.

Just take the time to get your soil test done, lime it accordingly and get go ahead and get prepped for spring.

Might work it down with your tiller, sow some buckwheat this spring after last frost. Let it go to seed, bushhog it down, and next fall, till all that under, sow some Winter wheat, ride it in with your tractor or atv, and then top sow the clover after that.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I add this to what the other said. Regarding sunlight, how much direct sunlight do these spots get? I have tried to plant Fall annuals on the North side of big trees in the past with bad results. Luckily my woods plot is long and skinny with the long side running North to South so that it gets maximum sun year round. (Not good for dry Summers but great for Fall plantings) If your spots are shaded a large part of the day, you need to take that into consideration when you chose what to plant.

 

[BlountArrow]

I used to hunt a place on the Hawkins/Hancock county line up the mountain from Rogersville and we would plant rape and turnips up there and they would eat it up. It looked like you took a lawn mower to it, but I have planted that same thing else where and the deer not touch it. Bad thing is rape and turnip are annual. Most clovers are perennial so if you can get a good stand of clover to come in that is nice on the labor aspect but if the deer don't eat it - what does it matter??? It will just depend on your area. Plant a few different things and see what the deer hit the most. Then work towards that next year predominantly and maybe try something new too and just keep experimenting.

 

[miller1buc]

I add this to what the other said. Regarding sunlight, how much direct sunlight do these spots get? I have tried to plant Fall annuals on the North side of big trees in the past with bad results. Luckily my woods plot is long and skinny with the long side running North to South so that it gets maximum sun year round. (Not good for dry Summers but great for Fall plantings) If your spots are shaded a large part of the day, you need to take that into consideration when you chose what to plant.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. The large plot runs east to west and is wide open so plenty of sun most of the day. The smaller one has trees bordering the western side but still gets several good hours of sun during the day.

For turnips and sugar beets, is it better to plant those in rows like corn/potatoes?

 

[Football Hunter]

clover and oats almost always works

 

[Doskil]

White ladino pernennial clover would be my choice

Deer love clover

 

[Hunter 257W]

For turnips and sugar beets, is it better to plant those in rows like corn/potatoes?

I don't have a drill so all my plantings have been broadcast so I can't say from actual experience about benefits of rows vs. broadcasting but I would think sugar beets would grow just as well broadcast as they aren't a tall plant. Turnips seem to grow under any circumstances - used to consider them as a weed when trying to grow hay for cows and the darned things would get in a field.