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**EastTexasMan** · 10-29-2013, 08:31 PM

Planted it at the end of September... I planted whitetail institute imperial clover... The clover we spread in like first or second week of october

Don't really think I can mow it but I got 20 cows I can let in!

**unclefish** · 10-29-2013, 08:59 PM

Originally posted by EastTexasMan View Post

Planted it at the end of September... I planted whitetail institute imperial clover... The clover we spread in like first or second week of october

Don't really think I can mow it but I got 20 cows I can let in!

Cows would work!!

Good deal on the clover that's supposed to be some good stuff.

**EastTexasMan** · 10-30-2013, 06:26 AM

Problem with the cow idea is that the clover is coming up, wouldn't they destroy it to?

Here is a clover pic from this weekend, it's gotten taller after the 1" rain this weekend and it's fixing to rain 4-6" more....

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**unclefish** · 10-30-2013, 07:14 AM

Yep they would probably destroy it.... Especially first year clover.

**EastTexasMan** · 10-30-2013, 07:43 AM

Guess I'll roll the dice and just let it grow. Clover is coming up too good to be destroyed...

Educate me on clover, what can I expect? How long does it take for them to start hitting it, and will it grow until spring and seed out?

**unclefish** · 10-30-2013, 08:51 AM

Originally posted by EastTexasMan View Post

Guess I'll roll the dice and just let it grow. Clover is coming up too good to be destroyed...

Educate me on clover, what can I expect? How long does it take for them to start hitting it, and will it grow until spring and seed out?

I can tell you what I've experienced. I planted Durana in late Sept of 2012. It came up well and they were hitting it some by late November/December. You could see the snipped off ends all over the plot. The clover wasn't lush but it was a decent stand for the first year planting. They continued to eat it through January.

By February/March we had some warm weather and rain and it really took off. They were hammering it but even then the growth was out pacing the browsing. I had to mow it sometime in late April/Early May as I recall. This promoted lush new growth and the deer continued to eat the crap out of it. They were even bedding in it and I got some good TC pics of them in it.

I had some cows break in to the plot in late May and ate everything and destroyed it. Alot of it reseeded but I decided to replant it anyway.

Once the plot has established well after the first year you can even spray it with Round Up. Clover is Gly resistant in light doses and it will kill all the grass and weeds but leave the clover to grow. Mowing it in the spring helps keep it short and lush so the deer will use it.

The plot should last many years without replanting except if cattle destroy it.

**EastTexasMan** · 10-30-2013, 09:39 AM

Hmm, so I can just leave the half acre or so thats in clover in the spring, and plant the other acre in iron clay peas/soybeans again huh

**unclefish** · 10-30-2013, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by EastTexasMan View Post

Hmm, so I can just leave the half acre or so thats in clover in the spring, and plant the other acre in iron clay peas/soybeans again huh

Yep you can leave the clover. You can also plant into it as well....I plant on planting cowpeas and corn into them next spring. The clover will go dormant but not die. Once the peas are done you can mow it and the clover will come back once sunlight can reach it.

Its always better to rotate annual crops (corn, peas, beans) so diseases and fungus don't take over. But as food plotters we can get away with going same back to back crops in the same field. Ideally you could have clover over the entire 1.5 acres and rotate half of it every year with an annual.

**EastTexasMan** · 10-30-2013, 10:25 AM

Well if I plant into it, your saying I can disc up the clover and plant my peas, and the clover will end up coming back in the winter on its own?

**unclefish** · 10-30-2013, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by EastTexasMan View Post

Well if I plant into it, your saying I can disc up the clover and plant my peas, and the clover will end up coming back in the winter on its own?

Light discing yes. Normal heavy discing probably not unless the clover reseeded already.

A no-till would work great or even a cheap row planter with a disc opener.

**unclefish** · 10-30-2013, 04:22 PM

Had a quick trip to the farm today to pick up a trailer for Halloween.

The plots look great. Deer are eating in it everyday. Got there at 1:30 and ran a doe and fawn out of them.

The tall green is Egyptian wheat. It might make a decent screen yet if a freeze will hold off.
Rye/Radish/Kale

Extremely impressed with the kale. Looks like every single plant had been eaten.

The cage tells the tale

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