Food Plots Plant or Wait

[BigAl]

Earlier didn't work for us this year. Actually started plot work in late July in order to be ready whenever conditions were right to plant. Got over 5" of rain in August, but since I've been burned so many times by those type of late summer rains, I held off. Lost a lot of clover last year due to drought & freeze, plus some was at end of life cycle anyway. Wound up with 40 plots to plant & planned to do them in "cycles" of 10-15 each. Definitely didn't work out and now have 27 planted just laying in dirt waiting.

So tired of fooling with it this year that I'm going to go ahead and plant the remaining 13 and be done with it. It'll be whatever it's gonna be.... Did get my pitiful looking 12 remaining clover plots fertilized in front of this last small rain so guess that's a plus. Not even sure I'm going to spend the money to fertilize all this newly planted stuff.... plan was to see what kind of germination & stand I got then fertilize accordingly. Glad we've got acorns for a change.

I'm thankful I have only 3 plots. That would be really frustrating. And yes on the acorns, but sometimes they make the hunting harder as the deer don't seem to move as much.

 

[BSK]

We only got 0.24" last week. And now the models look like less than 0.10" this weekend, and nothing much beyond that out 15 days. I have no idea when I'll spread the rest of my seed.

 

[tellico4x4]

DONE!!! Been working on stinking plots since late July, never been so tired of messing with them as this year, and costly to boot.... Cultipacked everyone twice to cover seed as much as possible. Good news is that turkeys are in hollows eating acorns. Checked some planted last week & not a single turkey track in a single one!

 

[deerhunter10]

DONE!!! Been working on stinking plots since late July, never been so tired of messing with them as this year, and costly to boot.... Cultipacked everyone twice to cover seed as much as possible. Good news is that turkeys are in hollows eating acorns. Checked some planted last week & not a single turkey track in a single one!

Turkeys are hitting ours decent. We just threw our hands up and finished last week. Just one of those years.

 

[BSK]

Turkeys are hitting ours decent. We just threw our hands up and finished last week. Just one of those years.

Turkeys are hitting my plots, but the doves are doing more damage.

 

[BSK]

All three primary models are now hinting at a solid rain sometime around Oct. 21-23.

 

[tellico4x4]

In addition to the grain mix, planted 650# of clover. Dirt was like dust & those tiny seeds just disappeared into it. Even if lose some grain to birds, the crimson & balansa should come on.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

We only got 0.24" last week. And now the models look like less than 0.10" this weekend, and nothing much beyond that out 15 days. I have no idea when I'll spread the rest of my seed.

What else would you put out this late? I have a couple of plots that we burned down but haven't planted because my time availability never coincide with the little bit of rain we've had. I'm leaning towards sowing wheat ahead of the next rain then frost seeding clover in February. Is there anything else that will be productive if planted in the next week or so?

 

[BigAl]

All three primary models are now hinting at a solid rain sometime around Oct. 21-23.

I don't think we're really supposed to get that in West, TN.

 

[BSK]

I don't think we're really supposed to get that in West, TN.

It's what the European, Canadian, and U.S. models all had this morning. But stuff pops in and out of the forecast pretty regularly, especially beyond 7 days.

 

[BSK]

What else would you put out this late? I have a couple of plots that we burned down but haven't planted because my time availability never coincide with the little bit of rain we've had. I'm leaning towards sowing wheat ahead of the next rain then frost seeding clover in February. Is there anything else that will be productive if planted in the next week or so?

Wheat, Rye, and Crimson Clover all good bets any time during the fall/winter.

 

[DoubleRidge]

What else would you put out this late? I have a couple of plots that we burned down but haven't planted because my time availability never coincide with the little bit of rain we've had. I'm leaning towards sowing wheat ahead of the next rain then frost seeding clover in February. Is there anything else that will be productive if planted in the next week or so?

This year we did a blend of Winter Wheat, Cereal Rye and Crimson Clover....and last year our Cereal Rye survived that super cold snap we had in December....was very pleased with its performance in the winter months...its also drought tolerant.

 

[BSK]

This year we did a blend of Winter Wheat, Cereal Rye and Crimson Clover....and last year our Cereal Rye survived that super cold snap we had in December....was very pleased with its performance in the winter months...its also drought tolerant.

Just don't plant Rye in August like I did last year. It came up and grew during the drought just fine. And then the Army Worms ate it all in a few days.

 

[44 mag]

I went ahead and planted the last of my seed today. Hopefully we will get some rain this weekend

 

[Crappieaddict]

I've got sprouts!

 

[BSK]

As of this afternoon, all three models still have the rain for the end of next week. The Canadian and European have it Thursday night (but have reduced the amount a bit from the overnight runs). The U.S. model has it mid-day into late Friday and they have increased the total amount from last night. The U.S. model has over an inch for most of western TN, Friday Oct. 20.

 

[NChunt1]

Drilled in the sand box today. Hopefully the rain will come next weekend and get a decent amount for once this year

 

[wildlifefarmer]

The 7 ac of firebreaks planted in oats, wheat, cc and peas on 9-23 is showing alittle green. Some usage by the deer in the firebreaks. Top sowed oats and wheat on Thursday just wishing some moisture will come thru. Standing corn has not been used much because of all the acorns but the turkeys will love it come spring!!

 

[BSK]

Models now not as aggressive on rain next Friday.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I've got alittle crimson clover here and they're doing okay. Otherwise just brown fields this year.