Food Plots What to do

[The_Utility_Dude]

I've got a new piece of property to hunt this year and made a summer plot of Iron & clay peas + sunflowers in an existing 2 acre clearing. Did the soil test and added lime and fert according to test results. The soil is red clay and has no organic matter. The primary reason for planting the summer plot was to get some organic matter into the soil as much as it was to feed the critters. This is my first time using the summer peas so I'm looking for some advice as to what to do for a fall plot in this spot. The peas and sunflowers did much better than expected so there should be plenty of organic bulk added to the ground.

My question is twofold: would leaving the peas and sunflowers standing over the winter be a viable option? Would deer browse them during fall/winter like they do soybeans left standing?

If not, my plan would be to mow the peas and till into the soil then plant a fall mix of wheat, winter peas and brassica. I'll be using a tiller attachment on my tractor for this. Should I till just after mowing the peas. I'm thinking if I left them lay for a week or more before tilling that they might too tough to get incorporated into the soil very well.

What say ye experts?

 

[Hunter 257W]

If deer eat soybeans in the Winter around your place it might be worth leaving half the plot. I don't think they eat soybeans at all around my farm. (The actual bean in Winter I mean - of course they eat the young plants in Spring/Summer.) I don't think you'll get any benefit for deer at all from the sunflowers. For this type tall plant that dies with frost, I like to cut strips in it to plant in a Winter mix. That way you have tall cover all mixed in the plot to make deer feel more secure and they'll use it a lot more in daylight. Your mix of Wheat Winter Peas and Brassicas would work well in the strips I mentioned. The longer you wait the better between mowing and tilling. There's nothing more aggravating than cutting green crap off a tiller or disk after it gets all wound up on it.

 

[Jmed]

If your peas actually bare fruit ( peas) you can leave strips. They will eat the peas when it gets cold, but I would suggest puuting a mix of cereal grains( wheat, oats, rye). Also consider adding daikon or ground hog radishes and get em going in the next couple weeks so they can form the large tubers that will help break up your clay and add organic matter. Keep testing and adding lime/fert as needed but I like to test fall and spring to see what direction the ph and key nutrients are headed