Foodplots???

[Big Blue]

Hello everyone... I'm going to plant a 1/2 acre food plot this summer and was thinking of planting Whitetail Institute Pure Attraction..... Anyone out there ever use this or can give any recommendations? Soil ph is 6.7 which I also top dressed with 300 lbs of lime....area is tilled twice and sprayed twice? Thanks

[Live to Hunt]

Good luck with it 

[Russ 11]

Big Blue I believe Pure attraction is a mix of oats and brassicas. It's nice since you get early attraction with oats and late attraction with the brassicas. But I believe it's more of a fall planting  ( August to early September ) . Your soil ph is great. You may want to mix some clover in also. Seed and fertilize then culdipak and pray for rain . Best of luck !

[Livesintrees]

With that PH your options are unlimited. Since it looks like it’s a first time planting (ground was freshly prepped), I would caution you to make sure the soil isn’t to “fluffy” for lack of a better word. Ensure it’s packed well. You could always drag after initial packing just to loosen the very top 1/4” or so. With that said for this fall I would go in with a mix of crimson clover, winter rye grain (not grass) and brassicas. That would be your main mix for this fall. In addition I would plant a clover/chicory mix in addition to it. The clovers and chicory will barely take hold this fall. Basically barely break the surface and go dormant. But come next spring the clovers/chicory will explode and the winter rye will act as a nurse crop/weed suppression. 

[Big Blue]

Thanks for the info ..will send final pics during/after planting.....

[tcook8296]

I would wait a little longer to plant anythng. I would add winter rye around labor day with a mix of clovers. Rye will grow in anything some clovers maybe more tricky. By doing a mix, most likely something will grow. Clover is a must especially if you only have 1 foodplot. I usually like to ring my plots with a 10 to 15 ft strip around the edge leaving the rest of the plot if big enough for another crop. Whitetails like choices. I have clover surrounding my bean plots and they eat in the clover more than the beans. Clover rye and brassicas is my go food plot recipe which keeps deer feeding in my plots all season. I do the beans just because I have a larger area but with the amount of deer I have its more of a candy crop until my fall planting. 

I try to never wipe the plate clean, always offering something. 

The plot you are planting is an annual, so next spring you will have nothing. 

Seriously consider the clover in the fall followed up with a frost seeding 1st week of March. 

Check out Merit seed in Ohio, you can save some money on the fancy packaging. 

Edited June 30, 2019 by tcook8296

[Big Blue]

Thanks for the info... Are you saying plant something say late July early August then overseed with winter rye in September? Or just start planting beginning of September..... I was thinking of waiting for some rainy weather in August.... Have access to water right near pond can water in drought situation.... Thanks again to all🦌🦌🦌🦌

[tcook8296]

Brassicas I usually plant early August by overseeding into my beans. Labor day I will overseed the plot again with clover and rye. I then overseed [frost seed] clover In March. 

The mix you are planting is oats and brassicas. 

Depending on the brassica seed it may or may not have some radishes or turnips in it. If thats the case you dont want to plant too early or the tubers will be rotting before late season. 

Oats, WI say their oats are cold tolerant but after a heavy frost or 2 most likely  they will be done. 

Check out Merit seed. You can buy their brassica mix pretty cheap and you can buy oats cheap locally possibly agway. 

Check the seed tag to see whats in it. Usually buck on the bag mixes will contain more of the cheaper seed and more filler seed and coatings and come in the fancy bag. 

Also, planting a mix with larger and small seeds can sometimes be difficult as they require different depths for optimum germination. If you are doing different size seeds, plant the larger ones first, then cultipack, then broadcast the smaller seeds then cultipack again. 

When I am layering my food plots I up the seed amount and surface broadcast usually with a rain in the forecast. 

The rye will stay green all winter and goes dormant in low 30 degree temps, if it warms up, the rye will start growing again not to mention its a great weed suppressor and great for the soil. You definately want the rye as you just disturbed a massive seed bank   You most likely will not have any benefit from the clover this season, but come spring, your rye will green up again and clover will take off. 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2019 by tcook8296

[Big Blue]

Great and useful information thank you very much

[Big Blue]

I started this thread a while ago and have some final pictures of my plot to post.... Planted Whitetail institute pure attraction initially which was followed by a very heavy rain.... Left quite a few bald spots then over seated with Whitetail institute no plow..... Coming along very nicely as the pictures indicate...... Check all the proper steps from pH to fertilizer and the most important thing rain.... Can't wait to get some pics.... Thanks again

[Big Blue]

Picture was taken yesterday...... I will hit it with 24-0-0 nitrogen in another week to give it a final boost

[tpr1921]

Best of luck hunting it.

[tcook8296]

Lools good

[Live to Hunt]

1 hour ago, tcook8296 said:

Lools good

[megavites]

Fill in the gaps with winter rye or crimson clover this fall. Looking good so far!