Need Help with First Clover Plot

[Marlin308]

I am attempting to establish my first clover plot this Spring. I realize I probably should have planted it last Fall, but I wasn't able to get the ground cleared in time.

I plan to get the seed out within the next week or so. My question is should I also sew some oats along with it to keep it from getting over browsed until it gets established, knowing the oats will die out when the weather gets warm. Also, should I include some chickory as well?

I don't plan on fertilizing until the plants reach several inches in height. I'm just worried it will never get there if there's nothing growing along with it.

Thanks for your help - I'm new at this food plot stuff.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I would throw some oats or wheat in with it as a cover crop. I would also add chicory because it is drought resistant. If I had the bare dirt already, I would throw my seed on top of this snow we have right now, but thats just me.

 

[deerchaser007]

Yes with the oats ,. and yes with the chicory. Go ahead and fertilize now also,.. if you use a zero nitrogen fertilizer you don't have to worry about burning anything up. Clover loves potash ,.. so you need to get that fertilizer in to help the growth get started. Remember ,.. food plot plants just don't grow from the soil itself. It need lime, fertilizer, and water. Without it,.. you are wasting money on seed.

 

[hard county]

I never use a cover crop with spring plantings because there are so many types of forages available at this type of the year. I highly recommend fertilizing the clover when it is planted with 0-20-20 or it may never reach to several inches in height. I would add chicory. Alfalfa or small burnet would also be good. Dont forget to lime. If you havent limed in the past 3 months then evolved habitat makes a product called gain that will raise ph instantly. Without adequate PH your plants wont be able to use the fertilizer you put down.


The thing about perrenials. They can be much more expensive or much cheaper than the average foodplot. To make them cheaper spend more money. I have had a clover plot that is 9 years old and still going strong. But, if you dont establish a thick stand the weeds will have a much easier time taking over and you plot will quickly be choked out. The cost of planting a plot is much higher than maintaining a plot.
Good luck

 

[Marlin308]

This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for. Thanks a lot fellas. Sounds like at the very least I need to get some zero nitrogen fertilizer. Waiting on the soil test to come back regarding lime, but will probably add some anyway. I know it won't work immediately, but should help by the fall.

Will look into the "gain" product - sounds interesting.

 

[deerchaser007]

Don't waste your time with 0-20-20 fertilizer. Its cheaper and more productive for your plots to use 0- 46-0 and 0-0-60 fertilizer. Use that soil test to see how much you will need of this. Not only will a soil test show you the amount of lime,. but fertilizer also.

You want some more advice,.. use pennington durana clover seed. Not only is it more drought resistant ,.. but will tolerate a lower ph than most perennial clovers. This will let you go ahead and plant the plot with a lower ph level ,.. but over the course of time you can add lime to increase the ph ,.. but still have a productive plot as you build up the ph level. I recommend 5 lbs of durana clover with 5 lbs of patriot clover. The patriot will act as a nurse clover while the durana establishes the extensive root system. OR,. you can use 5 lbs of durana and then add in 7 lbs of red clover. This would be very productive also and tolerate lower ph level.

Have heard negatives and positives on the gain,.... mostly NEGATIVE.

 

[hard county]

A positive on the gain, raised my ph from 6.0 to 6.8 in 5 days. Its no substitute for lime as it only works for a year, but its much better than having low PH.

 

[HOOK]

deerchaser....I've never heard of potash for clover! What ratio do you use and do you apply the same time as your fertilizer?

 

[deerchaser007]

potash is the last number in the fertilizer ratio like 15-15-15 ,.. thats
15 percent nitrogen-15 percent phosphate-15 percent potash(potassium)

The only fertilizer i use is 0-46-0 and 0-0-60 in 50 lb bags.
100 lbs each once in the fall and once in spring.Its much cheaper and you get more bang for the buck by buying it this way. Such as ,.. if you buy a bag of 0-20-20 you get 20 percent potash ,. but if you buy a bag of 0-0-60 you get triple the amount of potash. In other words,.. more potash ,. so you will need less bags of it than you would by using 0-20-20. OR,. it would take 3 bags of 0-20-20 to equal 1 bag of 0-0-60 for the potash amount. Last year 0-20-20 was 9.50 a bag and 0-0-60 was 12.75. It would take $28.50 worth of 0-20-20 to equal the amount of potash in the 12.75 bag. You can see the cost savings. And with fertilizer prices like they are now,. you better save all you can!!

Rutherford county co op can order you this. Thats were i get mine. Have not priced it yet,.. scared to!!