Food Plots Plant or Wait

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EastTNboy

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Putting a food plot in for the first time and looking for advice from some of you more seasoned food plotters. My plan all along has been to plant my food plots this coming Labor Day weekend. However, it looks as if there's no rain in sight on the 10 day forecast which has me hesitant to plant this weekend after all. From what I've read it seem like it's best to hold off to wait for rain, but at the same time I don't want to wait too long in fear of not giving the plants adequate time to grow before the first frost. What would you some of you more experienced guys recommend? I'm planting a brassica plot, greens plot, and a clover plot. How late is too late if I do hold off. Thanks!
 
Labor Day weekend is understandably popular because of work schedules....but I was told few years ago, likely by someone on here, "dont plant by the calendar....plant by the forecast"....i agree with the advice already given....wait on a better chance of rain or better yet wait on multiple predicted rains.
And use the long weekend to work on other habitat projects....spray and kill some invasives, open up some closed canopy, clean up some logging roads, cut shooting lanes.....but wait on rain to plant.....you've got plenty of time to develop a green plot before the first frost.
 
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I always start in August, did some the 18th , some the 25th. My 18th stuff is coming up nicely with the recent rains . I have never had an issue at all with anything but I guess it's just been pure luck. I still have two small areas to do and will get to it in the next week. Think about all the top sewn wheat fields for dove that always look so good. Now again that's wheat, I think it would grow anywhere, anytime and is a big part of my mix. Good luck!
 
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I agree with the other responses. I will have my plots disked and ready to plant, but I won't plant until there is decent rain forecasted.
 
Sowed Winter Wheat, Oats and Crimson clover last Friday. Checked the plots just a while ago and they are already greening up. We had a good rain yesterday and again today, they should be prime by opening day archery.
 
All my plots are prepped and waiting. I may just go ahead and plant the lowest 2 acres this weekend, as they hold TOO much soil moisture. But gonna wait on the rest till the next big rain event
 
PickettSFHunter said:
The other thing that alot of people don't think about with wheat/cereal grains is that they can get to mature if planted too early. IMO deer want that tender not tough.
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Good point, and you are exactly right.

If I were just planting cereal grains, I'd wait until late Sept/ early Oct.

But I'm planting a blend and really needs time for the brassicas to pop and form a huge bulb before cold hits, so I prefer to plant around Sept 1st, weather permitting
 
PickettSFHunter said:
A lot of seed is wasted on Labor Day weekend. You will be far better served most years by waiting until after Mid September.That being said, brassicas really need to be planted earlier IMO. Like August or even late July in the higher elevations.
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I planted my brassicas earlier than usual. It's been late Aug to labor day weekend. This year they went in the ground Aug 5th and they are 8-12" tall now. I've had great rains in Aug and it's really helped. with a recommended 45-60 day growth, I hit it just right with that plant date. The forecast isn't looking good for most of Sept, so I'm glad I jumped the gun this year.


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Shooter77 said:
I planted my brassicas earlier than usual. It's been late Aug to labor day weekend. This year they went in the ground Aug 5th and they are 8-12" tall now. I've had great rains in Aug and it's really helped. with a recommended 45-60 day growth, I hit it just right with that plant date. The forecast isn't looking good for most of Sept, so I'm glad I jumped the gun this year.


View attachment 193494
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You timed it just right for a brassicas only plot!
 
BSK said:
Beautiful plot!
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Thanks! love to say I did a lot of work, but I didn't. I sprayed it Mid July, put 100 lbs of 19-19-19, ran a groundhog max over it lightly then seeded it with 2 y/o Domain Big Sexy. Got a rain 2 days later and I've had 7 or 8 rains since.
 

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