Planting Food Plots

lesterg3 · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject: Planting Food Plots

The food plots I planted 3 years ago are looking pretty raggedy and I am planning on replanting next spring. Of my 26 acres 6 to 7 acres are food plots. 4 different plots about 1.5 acres each, the remainder of the land is a mix of hardwoods and pines, some nut trees and wild persimmon mixed in on the edges of the woods.

I will be checking for lime again, but would like some ideas on what others are planting and what kind of results you are getting.

This is in zone 8, South Carolina.

TRBLSHTR · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

Food Plots?What types of crops/veggy's/herbs/ect. are you growing @ this time of the year? Question

lesterg3 · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

Well I am not planting anything now.

I am making plans to plant next spring and what to do my homework before I plant.

Donut Slayer · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

Normally we plant every Oct, winter wheat, oats and rye grain. Some plant crimson clover too in fall.

TRBLSHTR · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:36 pm Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

Lester;maybe I misunderstood what your intention was for these food plots?Are they for human or animals to eat? Laughing

lesterg3 · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

The food plots are for the deer and maybe the turkeys. The pigs are in there too but I am trying to keep their numbers down.

Donut Slayer · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

If your wanting turkeys, plant chufa's.

Donut Slayer · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

www.nwtf.org/conservat...chufa.html

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 3:05 am Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

Do you know topinambour? It's family of the sunflower, you plant it as patatoes and it gives sweet patatoes. Very strong plant and it normally lasts for years.

On our hunting area we also doe mixtures of seeds. It contains 14 different seeds. I don't know all the names in English, but maybe the Latin name could help. They include special flowers for bees (facelia).
10 % Helianthus annuus (sunflowers)
2 % Brassica oleracea var. acephala
3 % Brassica napus
5 % Brassica rapa
3 % Raphanus sativus oleifera
3 % Sinapis alba
3 % Phacelia tanacetifolia
6 % Fagopyrum esculentum
15 % Lupinus angustifolius
10 % Pisum sativum
10 % Zea mays (corn)
10 % Avena sativa
10 % Hordeum vulgare
10 % Triticum aestivum

and since you already know the size of our hectare: this mixture goes about 10 kg/ha.

It's nice and good, but there is only 1 big problem: weeds. We were thinking not to mix them anymore but plant them on separate spots, so that you can use chemicals to fight weeds. It's or this or every 2 years no mixture and only corn, grain or grass, so that we can clean the land again.

When you cannot find all these different seeds: go for corn and/or spots of the mixture Avena sativa+Hordeum vulgare (this mixture of grains we also feed horses).

Vince · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 3:32 am Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

These are the common names of the plants Aloys has listed above.

Topinambour - Jerusalem artichoke also called the sunroot or sunchoke or earth apple, is a species of sunflower

Helianthus annuus - Sunflowers
Brassica oleracea var. acephala - kale, collards, flowering cabbage
Brassica napus - Rapeseed
Raphanus sativus oleifera - Oilseed Radish
Sinapis alba - White Mustard
Phacelia tanacetifolia - Lacy Phacelia, scorpionweed, heliotrope
Fagopyrum esculentum - Tartary Buckwheat
Lupinus angustifolius - Narrowleaf Lupine, Blue Lupine, Australian Sweet Lupin
Pisum sativum - Typical Garden Pea
Zea mays - Maize
Avena sativa - Common Oats
Hordeum vulgare - Barley
Triticum aestivum - Common Wheat

Cheers, Vince

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:34 am Post subject: Re: Planting Food Plots

Thanks Vince.

And another tip: when you know someone with honey-bees, he sure will appreciate that mixture. I've seen the results on the increased amount of honey they get. They even could sponsor your effords... it's a good cooperation: they like the flowers, your game will like the seeds afterwards.