Food Plots is it too late?

[buckaroo]

To throw wheat and rye on a dry ridge top foodplot, before this weekend rain forecast, on the east end?

 

[Boll Weevil]

Yes (IMHO). All you'll be doing is feeding turkeys and tweety birds with very little actual growth.

 

[348Winchester]

Probably not. The temperatures look good for about a week. It's moisture that is critical. If it gets a lot of sun exposure that will help in sprouting. Rye would be the better of the two for it is more cold hardy.

 

[348Winchester]

I meant probably not hurt. I think you will be okay.

 

[DoubleRidge]

I recently heard a university study quoted as saying cereal rye will germinate as low as 35 or 36 degrees....and on the warm sunny afternoons in the 50s it will actually grow through winter....also cereal rye is more tolerant of poor pH than wheat.....so with moisture and the current mild temps we're having both the wheat and cereal rye should germinate ....and the last we purchased wheat was $15.49 and cereal rye was $20.

 

[BSK]

Not too late.

 

[megalomaniac]

What's the soil condition? If it's hardpan I would at least scratch the ground to get a little seed to soil contact. Otherwise I do think you will lose 90% to seed predators.

As far as temps, it's not ideal to plant this late, but with the warm temps forecast, it should germinate and grow. But big gamble we don't get a hard freeze to kill it in east Tn before it gets established.

At least you don't have to worry about armyworms this late

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I'd do it if I needed to.

 

[buckaroo]

I just got me some rye, will drag my landscape rake over it couple times, hope it rains

 

[DoubleRidge]

I just got me some rye, will drag my landscape rake over it couple times, hope it rains

Landscape rake works good...collect limbs and stuff off of the plot....and exposes some dirt....with some rain and the forecasted temps you should be good.

 

[deerhunter10]

Add the wheat to it not to late at all. We've planted winter wheat in middle and late December just takes some warm days. You are good to go.

 

[Bgoodman30]

What about now? Ive got 2 bags sitting in my garage... I hate to intrude this time of year though.

 

[megalomaniac]

What about now? Ive got 2 bags sitting in my garage... I hate to intrude this time of year though.

Put it down... may do nothing except feed the birds, but not worth holding onto till next fall IMO... I want fresh seed when I'm planting

 

[deerhunter10]

What about now? Ive got 2 bags sitting in my garage... I hate to intrude this time of year though.

Plant it. The majority of farmers haven't done their cover crops yet. You have plenty of time.

 

[Bgoodman30]

Put it down... may do nothing except feed the birds, but not worth holding onto till next fall IMO... I want fresh seed when I'm planting

Welp just planted my last plot on November 3rd. Might not be worth a damn until February but at least it will feed something.

 

[Popcorn]

If you got seed to soil it will be up and growing next week any fresh tender growth will be an attractant and food source. Long range weather trends are in your favor with a mild fall and possibly mild beginning for winter. It should be great for late season when bucks are looking to build back what they run off during the rut.

 

[Bgoodman30]

If you got seed to soil it will be up and growing next week any fresh tender growth will be an attractant and food source. Long range weather trends are in your favor with a mild fall and possibly mild beginning for winter. It should be great for late season when bucks are looking to build back what they run off during the rut.

Yep the pictures I have of the deer in January hammering a plot I plotted last October is what motivated me .

 

[mbader5]

I believe it germinates down to 38 degrees - you should be fine.

 

[Bgoodman30]

Welp just planted my last plot on November 3rd. Might not be worth a damn until February but at least it will feed something.

And that something would be doves..... I'll add a seed drill on the list of wants...

 

[megalomaniac]

And that something would be doves..... I'll add a seed drill on the list of wants...

I wonder... if you legitimately top sowed wheat with the intentions of growing a wildlife plot, the doves found it... could you shoot the doves legally?