Food Plots Weather gurus...

[redblood]

any chance one of these tropical storms bring us moisture?

 

[megalomaniac]

always a chance, but nothing remotely looking good right now.

This big high pressure system causing the cooldown in TN is blocking all the gulf moisture from making it up to TN from the coast... That has to get outta the way before TN can get any rain. And another dry front is on the way, just going to reinforce the present one for at least another week.

 

[BSK]

I see nothing in the long-range models to suggest that. In fact, I'm seeing indications of no significant precipitation in Westcentral TN for the rest of September.

 

[DaveTN]

any chance one of these tropical storms bring us moisture?

 

[redblood]

thats what i was afraid. we got almost 2 inches this weekend and it has germinated and shot up, way faster than i expected. but it will need a drink soon

 

[Deer Assassin]

I havent put seed in ground. I may this weekend and hope and pray

 

[NChunt1]

thats what i was afraid. we got almost 2 inches this weekend and it has germinated and shot up, way faster than i expected. but it will need a drink soon

Mine only got around .25 and that's being generous but it did get them to germinate, especially the clover and that's what im worried about, reason being is that most of them where overseed and with the shallow roots I think they will get dried out, but crimson clover is supposed to be pretty drought tolerant. But I would venture say that only applies to established clover stand and not sprouts. Really wished I would have not paid attention to the weather man and just waited later to plant. From now on I will not consider planting until the last two weeks of sept unless something very unusual were to happen. BSK was pretty spot on his prediction of it be dry.

 

[megalomaniac]

It's the same scenario every fall, just with the variations in rain events.from year to year.

Be sitting on go with all your stuff ready 3rd to 4th week of August. Be prepared to be patient and not plant until mid October. There is never 1 single day annually you are safe to plant.

I rolled the dice and planted 1/4 of my plots just before the last rain event. Only got .75in into powder dry soils that haven't had moisture in 4 weeks. Plan was to plant the remainder today before the forecasted rain tomorrow (last weeks forecast), but sitting on hold since rain chances disappeared.

As of today, it looks like I won't be planting the remaining 15 acres until late Sept... which will still give me plenty of time for growth before ML season (except for brassicas... too late to waste that seed this year).

And if we get zero rain and zero acorn crop, then I'm positioned to have the best season I've had since the 2017 drought. No food plots, no acorns, but I have water sources and the only green native browse anywhere around.

I think the thing is to be flexible. Don't plant everything at once, and be ready with backup plans to pull deer off your neighbors who didn't plan ahead.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

We are spraying by the end of this coming weekend and have a 10-14 day residual wait for the 2-4D to go away, and plan on planting around the 3rd or 4th week of September as of now. We do plan on loading and calibrating the drill so she will be ready

 

[deerhunter10]

What a crazy weather year. As crazy as I can remember.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

As of today, it looks like I won't be planting the remaining 15 acres until late Sept... which will still give me plenty of time for growth before ML season (except for brassicas... too late to waste that seed this year).

I wasn't planning on brassicas for this year, but after looking at the acorn crop, I decided to throw some DE rape into the mix. Supposed to be winter hardy, so we shall see

 

[megalomaniac]

I wasn't planning on brassicas for this year, but after looking at the acorn crop, I decided to throw some DE rape into the mix. Supposed to be winter hardy, so we shall see

Let us know how it does!

In my mind, I just lump all brassicas together. They need 4 weeks to get started, then can grow 10in the following 4 weeks, then 12 MORE inches the following 4 weeks... so the key is getting them established at least 10w before first frost which stops growth.

Now we could have a late 1st frost this year and you could have incredible brassicas. Or we could get an early frost and have 2in brassicas.

So the question is, do the DER brassicas grow/mature much faster than radishes, turnips, or other rapes?

Although not as important, but still worth consideration... the DER is a little more cold hardy I think? Does that mean it's still going to be alive next spring, bolt and seed, and the seed compete with summer crops in 2025? Not the end of the world in a food plot, but that's what I really like about the ecotill radishes... no competition with next summers crop as low 20s temps kill it.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Let us know how it does!

So the question is, do the DER brassicas grow/mature much faster than radishes, turnips, or other rapes?

Although not as important, but still worth consideration... the DER is a little more cold hardy I think?

Will do!

It's supposed to grow and mature faster in colder temps according to the Deer Association (former QDMA), but we shall see…hasn't been promising from past experiences according to this and other brassicas

 

[BSK]

What a crazy weather year. As crazy as I can remember.

For us, the last two have been equally as dry August through October. In 2022, the rains stopped the first week of June and didn't start again until late October.

 

[chris1976]

Let us know how it does!

In my mind, I just lump all brassicas together. They need 4 weeks to get started, then can grow 10in the following 4 weeks, then 12 MORE inches the following 4 weeks... so the key is getting them established at least 10w before first frost which stops growth.

Now we could have a late 1st frost this year and you could have incredible brassicas. Or we could get an early frost and have 2in brassicas.

So the question is, do the DER brassicas grow/mature much faster than radishes, turnips, or other rapes?

Although not as important, but still worth consideration... the DER is a little more cold hardy I think? Does that mean it's still going to be alive next spring, bolt and seed, and the seed compete with summer crops in 2025? Not the end of the world in a food plot, but that's what I really like about the ecotill radishes... no competition with next summers crop as low 20s temps kill it.

I grow collards and turnip greens every year for our consumption and the frost may knock it back a little they continue growing all winter long. Even when the temperatures hit single digits they always rebound. Saying that the deer will probably eat them faster than they can regenerate.

 

[tellico4x4]

Have planted lots of DER over the years because it is so cheap. Experience has been it needs to be in by first week of Sept, but earlier is better as other brassicas. As far as cold hardy, maybe but our deer hammer it in late winter so really no way to tell. Don't remember ever having a problem with it in spring. If it works, great, if not you are not out much.

I've gotten where I really like Jackpot Forage Turnips, but I'm putting what I have in freezer until next year.