Spring food plot thread

[Dushon]

I thought this could be beneficial. I see a lot of people asking what to plant, or how other people do their plots. I will be planting 30 acres sunn hemp/ iron and clay peas, starting the middle of next month.

[Christianhuff]

Im in! going to plant soybeans, Egyptian wheat, and Milo(Sorghum). Will also be irrigating and taking care of the fall clover plots that we planted last September.

[Etxnoodler]

Going to plant cowpeas, and brown top Millet here in northeast Texas. And just maintenance mow the clover in the corners and edge of the plot to ensure reseeding.

[Dushon]

Went to the feed store today and ordered my peas, have them looking to see what the sunn hemp is going to cost. This will be the first time planting that this year, any suggestions?

[unclefish]

Went to the feed store today and ordered my peas, have them looking to see what the sunn hemp is going to cost. This will be the first time planting that this year, any suggestions?

The only thing I would say about Sunn Hemp is that it needs a little warmer soil temps than soybeans or peas to germinate. 68-70 is the number I've seen to get good germination. So you may need to plant a week or two later pending the weather. A guy on QDMA planted it too early and had a terrible stand of it.

I tried to throw and mow it last year and it was a flop....but elgato planted it and was impressed with it.

For my spring plots....I'm gonna wait and see how my chicory/clover plot looks in April before making a decision on what (if anything) to plant. Last year my chicory lasted until July so I enlarged my chicory plots last fall. Right now its looking great and the deer are just devouring it.

[Dushon]

The only thing I would say about Sunn Hemp is that it needs a little warmer soil temps than soybeans or peas to germinate. 68-70 is the number I've seen to get good germination. So you may need to plant a week or two later pending the weather. A guy on QDMA planted it too early and had a terrible stand of it.



I tried to throw and mow it last year and it was a flop....but elgato planted it and was impressed with it.



For my spring plots....I'm gonna wait and see how my chicory/clover plot looks in April before making a decision on what (if anything) to plant. Last year my chicory lasted until July so I enlarged my chicory plots last fall. Right now its looking great and the deer are just devouring it.

The way it's looking that 68-70 is gonna be here sooner than later haha. I'm just mainly lookin for a protective crop for my peas so they don't burn up. Plus I read if it goes well, it can out out up to 1100 lbs of organic matter per acre. You being on the other side of the lake from me, know how crappy this soil is. We need all the help we can get. Plus at up to 30% protein what's not to like?

[bwool]

Is there any reason not to plant chicory in the spring along side the peas & beans?

[unclefish]

Is there any reason not to plant chicory in the spring along side the peas & beans?

It will come up just fine and the deer will eat it. It's just alot more vulnerable to heat/drought than if planted in the fall. It hasn't had enough time to lay down deep roots. That's what it does all fall/winter. Same goes with perennial clover...fall planted is better.

[unclefish]

The way it's looking that 68-70 is gonna be here sooner than later haha. I'm just mainly lookin for a protective crop for my peas so they don't burn up. Plus I read if it goes well, it can out out up to 1100 lbs of organic matter per acre. You being on the other side of the lake from me, know how crappy this soil is. We need all the help we can get. Plus at up to 30% protein what's not to like?

No kidding on the temps...ha. Petcher seeds or Hancock seeds are one of the better places to get it. I got mine from Hancock last year when it was on sale.

[Dushon]

No kidding on the temps...ha. Petcher seeds or Hancock seeds are one of the better places to get it. I got mine from Hancock last year when it was on sale.

Thanks for the info. Looking into both of them right now. Got the feed store in Somerville getting me a quote on some also

[Outback77]

I've never had good luck with my warm weather plots. They either burn up in a record drought or the rancher says thanks guys, my cows will love it! I'm in for pics as you go. Good luck guys

[macoop]

Soybeans, black eyes, sunn hemp, milo, and a little hay grazer to help build my soil back up.
Trying to get it all grubbed this week and start plowing to be ready by about May 1st.

[Sergio_III]

Plot #1: Eagle Seeds Annual Summer Blend (Big Buck Forage soybeans, Cowpeas, Peredovik Black Oil Sunflowers, and Buckwheat).

Plot #2: Tecomate LabLab, DeerPeas, Sunn Hemp and Chicory.

Plot #3: Pogue Buck Buffet (mixed cowpeas, mung beans, soybeans, lablab and Cream grain Sorghum)

House Plot: Mix of all of the above.

The purpose of the different blends and brands is to see what works best in our soil (Sandy Loam) and to see what our deer herd prefers for food plot blends.

[macoop]

Plot #1: Eagle Seeds Annual Summer Blend (Big Buck Forage soybeans, Cowpeas, Peredovik Black Oil Sunflowers, and Buckwheat).

Plot #2: Tecomate LabLab, DeerPeas, Sunn Hemp and Chicory.

Plot #3: Pogue Buck Buffet (mixed cowpeas, mung beans, soybeans, lablab and Cream grain Sorghum)

House Plot: Mix of all of the above.

The purpose of the different blends and brands is to see what works best in our soil (Sandy Loam) and to see what our deer herd prefers for food plot blends.

Take pictures so we can all see the progress of the blends. How many acres total will you plant?

[Sergio_III]

Take pictures so we can all see the progress of the blends. How many acres total will you plant?

I think total should be around 5 acres.