Fall Food Plots...what you planting?

[M16]

I've tried just about everything in the past. Nothing now but bob oats for me.

[Arrowsmith]

My neighbors fields in Iowa. Corn, beans, alfalfa/clover. These fields were planted in early May.

We help him maintain his fences, let him cut hay off our place and he grazes some cattle on our place. He lets us hunt his ground.....pretty good trade.

[GLM]

Ordered the Fall Deer Mix from Turner seeds today. Plan to plant late September.

[txarcher]

These are two of the best fall blends out there in my opinion. Some friends of mine are putting in 60 acres of the Rack'em & Rut'em at Junction right now. Bamert Seed has been around for a long time. They are great people and great to do business with.

https://www.bamertseed.com/product/cereal-grain-food-plot-blend/

https://www.bamertseed.com/product/rackem-rutem-superior-fall-food-plot/

[dbaio1]

Certified winter wheat
Buck Forage Oats
Elbon cereal rye
Crimson clover
Ladino clover
Forage brassica aka rape seed
Purple top turnips
Chuffa
Chicory


Various plot mixes from above based on soil and terrain ranging from 1/2 to 2 acres. All total about 15 acres.

[gingib]

We plant 10 acres. This year we are doing oats and turnips. In my opinion the most important factor is adding enough fertilizer. We fertilize 200lbs per acre.

Certified winter wheat
Buck Forage Oats
Elbon cereal rye
Crimson clover
Ladino clover
Forage brassica aka rape seed
Purple top turnips
Chuffa
Chicory


Various plot mixes from above based on soil and terrain ranging from 1/2 to 2 acres. All total about 15 acres.

I love this combo..minus the turnips lol

[jondraper]

What do you guys do about planting if there is no rain in forecast? And what about fertilizing? I need to fertilize the ground - but there hasn't been rain in a week or two and there is no rain in the 10 day forecast - but I need to get them in the ground before October hits us.. Any thoughts?

[gingib]

What do you guys do about planting if there is no rain in forecast? And what about fertilizing? I need to fertilize the ground - but there hasn't been rain in a week or two and there is no rain in the 10 day forecast - but I need to get them in the ground before October hits us.. Any thoughts?

My suggestion is wait for cooler weather and rain. You do NOT have to plant, you just want to then.

Wait unless you want to risk your plots being dried up or eaten by worms. I would rather wait and have it ready middle/end of October personally

[walker1983]

I had a borrowed tractor available for 2 days, so planted my 3 acre plot last night w/ 500# of a 50/50 oats/wheat mix.

Then lightly disked the seed in, so it should be covered well. Soil is powder dry now.

Currently no rain in the 10 day forecast, so I am hoping the next rain will be a soaker associated with the next cold front.

My plot is really sandy soil in NW Parker County.

If it doesn't work, I will try and re-seed and drag with my 4wheeler in early October.

[BrandonA]

What do you guys do about planting if there is no rain in forecast? And what about fertilizing? I need to fertilize the ground - but there hasn't been rain in a week or two and there is no rain in the 10 day forecast - but I need to get them in the ground before October hits us.. Any thoughts?

We won't plant until probably first of October. We fertilize and plant at the same time.

[Drycreek3189]

What do you guys do about planting if there is no rain in forecast? And what about fertilizing? I need to fertilize the ground - but there hasn't been rain in a week or two and there is no rain in the 10 day forecast - but I need to get them in the ground before October hits us.. Any thoughts?

I've planted dry ground so many times I can't remember, just did yesterday and Saturday in fact. About to do it again this weekend. If you don't have enough moisture to germinate, the only risk is birds eating the seeds. If they're covered well enough, you're safe there. When you get a rain, it will come up. I didn't have the luxury of waiting on rain for most of my planting in the past, and I learned that planting in dry ground will still be successful. Good luck !

[jondraper]

Thank you guys for all your replies..

I planted some Clover a few weeks back. A week or two after planting, I took a photo of the clover coming up everywhere (we had a really small and short rain) and then I went back the next week after a long, hot, and dry week - and they were all gone. Will the clover come back again after the next rain? Or did it die off because they didn't establish well enough?

[BrandonA]

Whats a good clover to mix with oats?

[jondraper]

I've planted dry ground so many times I can't remember, just did yesterday and Saturday in fact. About to do it again this weekend. If you don't have enough moisture to germinate, the only risk is birds eating the seeds. If they're covered well enough, you're safe there. When you get a rain, it will come up. I didn't have the luxury of waiting on rain for most of my planting in the past, and I learned that planting in dry ground will still be successful. Good luck !

What about fertilizing when it's dry and no rain?

[TTU TX Hunter]

So I scrapped my idea to use my buddies seed for fear it would be too much rye and unsure if it's elbon rye. I'll go back to my original plan of buck forage oats, Austrian winter peas, elbon rye and a fall blend from MSB. I'll put down 125lbs of fertilizer per acre before we drag over the seed. After the initial growth I may go back over with more fertilizer from 50-100lbs depending on weather and growth conditions.