Food Plots how do you plant your plots?

[rtaylor]

So basically, it's reseeding itself?

Yes, it's reseeding itself and it puts off so many seeds it really looks thicker and better after cut than the initial planting.

 

[BSK]

Yes, it's reseeding itself and it puts off so many seeds it really looks thicker and better after cut than the initial planting.

Very interesting. Thanks.

 

[BSK]

I do remember last year as our fall blend germinated we also had little buckwheat sprouts popping up everywhere...which was fine with me.....I just hope the cost comes down some...$83 per bag is ridiculous.

Just looked it up. I paid $1.82/lb for Buckwheat. But you think that's bad, I paid $2.03/lb for coated Crimson Clover! Ouch.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Just looked it up. I paid $1.82/lb for Buckwheat. But you think that's bad, I paid $2.03/lb for coated Crimson Clover! Ouch.

Wow! or ouch!.... only good thing on the clover is that a little seed goes a long way....but agree....that's high.

 

[Deer 1]

In the past roundup, disk, fertilize, use spreader for seed. Normally to thick.
Stepped up to a walkbehind 1 row seeder this year. Improvement but lots of work.
Recently Stepped up to a 2 row 3pt no till planter for next spring. Hoping to save time and work

 

[twcgo]

In the past roundup, disk, fertilize, use spreader for seed. Normally to thick.
Stepped up to a walkbehind 1 row seeder this year. Improvement but lots of work.
Recently Stepped up to a 2 row 3pt no till planter for next spring. Hoping to save time and work

if u dont mind me asking what kind of planter did u get? been looking for one myself

 

[Deer 1]

if u dont mind me asking what kind of planter did u get? been looking for one myself

It's a rebuilt allis Chalmer. Originally a 6 row planter. Guy I got it from restores them to 2 row planters.

 

[Ski]

I'm a little jealous of you spray, throw & mow guys. I've been trying it for a few years and feel I've given it an honest effort, but my plots just don't do as well as when I disc up fresh dirt. Not sure what I get so wrong but the difference is pretty drastic.

 

[BSK]

I'm a little jealous of you spray, throw & mow guys. I've been trying it for a few years and feel I've given it an honest effort, but my plots just don't do as well as when I disc up fresh dirt. Not sure what I get so wrong but the difference is pretty drastic.

I only used spray, throw and mow because I didn't have the equipment to do anything else. Now that I have the ability to till, I till. Production is night and day difference. First picture is what I would get with spray, throw and mow. Not bad for poor soil "hunting" plots. The second picture is what I get with tilling. Again, night and day difference.

 

[Jcalder]

I kept going through this and finally had to convert to spray, throw and mow no-till. Plots don't start out as pretty as tilled, but far fewer weeds down the road. Especially serecia, my nemesis.

Guy I used to work with said deer loved serecia. Myself, I don't know that I've seen it lol.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Guy I used to work with said deer loved serecia. Myself, I don't know that I've seen it lol.

For about 15 minutes when serecia is 2" tall and tender....maybe.....but I agree, I don't know that I've seen it.

 

[DoubleRidge]

I'm a little jealous of you spray, throw & mow guys. I've been trying it for a few years and feel I've given it an honest effort, but my plots just don't do as well as when I disc up fresh dirt. Not sure what I get so wrong but the difference is pretty drastic.

No doubt spray and sow isn't perfect...but some of our plots are on slopes...not super steep but enough to wash...so erosion is a concern....but the most successful spray and sow plots we've had involved winter wheat or cereal rye....and for soil building buckwheat is great for spray and sow....two plots pictured haven't been disked in 7 or 8 years.....sprayed with glysophate and sowed heavy with buckwheat....and weed suppression was impressive....but in the same breath I'll admit we've had plenty of spray and sow failures...but in certain applications it has its place....and next year we're planning to experiment with spray , then burning the old layers of thatch then sow...in hopes of improving seed to soil contact.

 

[DoubleRidge]

It's a rebuilt allis Chalmer. Originally a 6 row planter. Guy I got it from restores them to 2 row planters.

Good friend has a two row Allis Chalmers no-till planter....we've considered trying to spray some plots and no-till plant Eagle beans or RR corn....but of some of our sloped plots I'd like to try the no-till planter out...never used one before.

 

[Ski]

No doubt spray and sow isn't perfect...but some of our plots are on slopes...not super steep but enough to wash...so erosion is a concern....but the most successful spray and sow plots we've had involved winter wheat or cereal rye....and for soil building buckwheat is great for spray and sow....two plots pictured haven't been disked in 7 or 8 years.....sprayed with glysophate and sowed heavy with buckwheat....and weed suppression was impressive....but in the same breath I'll admit we've had plenty of spray and sow failures...but in certain applications it has its place....and next year we're planning to experiment with spray , then burning the old layers of thatch then sow...in hopes of improving seed to soil contact.

Yeah those look great! Mine are generally what BSK posted. I'm intrigued by the burn. I want to try but I'm afraid I'll burn the whole forest down!

 

[DoubleRidge]

Yeah those look great! Mine are generally what BSK posted. I'm intrigued by the burn. I want to try but I'm afraid I'll burn the whole forest down!

As dry as it currently is I would never attempt a burn...but once the time comes...with normal rain fall and everything greener....I'm hoping to spray ...wait a week...then burn brown thatch.... probably try it on a couple of smaller plots as an experiment.

 

[Swampster]

Here is how I plant! There are edge spots, small clearings, and potential erosion spots I will till and hand throw for heavier cover.