Spring Plot

[BrushyPines]

Looking to do a spring plot this year for the first time. My soil is sandy and the PH for the plot is 5.5. I am located in North Mississippi. My goals for this plot are to create biomass to build the soil and something the deer will utilize. This plot was planted in brassicas and AWP and have been destroyed. The plot looks like bare dirt as of right now. Since this is my first rodeo with a spring plot, I'm looking for some recommendations on what to plant. During the summer, it is very hot and humid and can have droughts from time to time too. What would you guys recommend?

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Depends on the size of your plot and deer numbers. I think the majority of the guys on here would say buckwheat. Maybe a buckwheat, cowpea, sun hemp, and sunflower mix?

 

[roymunson]

Can't go wrong with buckwheat. Put it in, mow it a couple times, spray it this fall and put your brassica/cereal grains in then.

Maybe a cereal grain w/ clover this fall. I did this a couple years ago and the clover plot is a mainstay on my farm.

I think buckwheat is too big to frost seed, but I'd wait til after last frost and put in buckwheat

 

[BrushyPines]

Depends on the size of your plot and deer numbers. I think the majority of the guys on here would say buckwheat. Maybe a buckwheat, cowpea, sun hemp, and sunflower mix?

The plot is .40 acre. I would say deer density is slightly above average with no ag fields around my property. The pines on the property were thinned last summer, so I'm hoping a lot of vegetation will be on the ground this coming growing season. My overall goal is to improve the soil.

 

[roymunson]

Look into the Whitetail Institute Power Plant product too. Supposed to put out a whole lot of tonnage per acre. Ours never got up last year due to browsing, but may be worth checking.

 

[BobinCt]

Lime to get your PH up then BW will work. I’d keep it simple as your starting out. Don’t let BW go to seed prior to terminating the plot or you will have lots of volunteer BW for your Fall-Winter planting. If anything , terminate BW early to be safe.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Lime to get your PH up then BW will work. I’d keep it simple as your starting out. Don’t let BW go to seed prior to terminating the plot or you will have lots of volunteer BW for your Fall-Winter planting. If anything , terminate BW early to be safe.

Not saying your wrong but it could be a good cover for a fall clover/cereal planting depending on your first frost date.

 

[BobinCt]

I did it prior to my brassica before and i did not terminate it early enough. As a result, I had the BW outgrowing my brassica and shading them out. BW is not a good choice for a fall food plot as least here in Connecticut. I’d much rather have Winter Rye.

 

[roymunson]

I did it prior to my brassica before and i did not terminate it early enough. As a result, I had the BW outgrowing my brassica and shading them out. BW is not a good choice for a fall food plot as least here in Connecticut. I’d much rather have Winter Rye.

so kill it in august or whenever you plant your brassica is the key. also makes a decent thatch for t&m

 

[BrushyPines]

so kill it in august or whenever you plant your brassica is the key. also makes a decent thatch for t&m

That's what I'm wanting to turn this plot into. August is super early to plant brassicas here. We usually plant around Labor day. When does BW go to seed? 90 days?

 

[BobinCt]

ROY: I do kill it early now just to be safe.
Brushy: I’ve had mine go to seed as quick as 60 days before. It depends on your soil, rainfall , PH and location of plot.

 

[ruskbucks]

I did it prior to my brassica before and i did not terminate it early enough. As a result, I had the BW outgrowing my brassica and shading them out. BW is not a good choice for a fall food plot as least here in Connecticut. I’d much rather have Winter Rye.

I had the exact same problem, ruined my brassica plot.

 

[yoderjac]

Buckwheat - No till, just T&M and cultipack. You may want to add sunn hemp.

 

[LEWI B]

Sun hemp is not legal in Mississippi
Wish it was

 

[DiSc0Rd]

Do you guys put your AWP down with your buckwheat? I thought I went in later. I'm wanting to try planting some this year.

 

[yoderjac]

Sun hemp is not legal in Mississippi
Wish it was

Guess Mississippi must be far enough south that it can produce seed and germinate.

 

[yoderjac]

That's what I'm wanting to turn this plot into. August is super early to plant brassicas here. We usually plant around Labor day. When does BW go to seed? 90 days?

Buckwheat provides food value for deer for 60 to 90 days. It produces seed in that window. Any seed should germinate along with your fall plant. The volunteer crop is a great bow season attractant in our area. It is cold sensitive so whatever the deer don't eat will die at the first frost making room for your fall crop. Some folks with fertile soil have issues with the volunteer crop smothering their fall plant. I don't have that problem with my soils. The volunteer crop is not thick enough or persistent enough to cause a problem for me.

THanks,

Jack

 

[roymunson]

Do you guys put your AWP down with your buckwheat? I thought I went in later. I'm wanting to try planting some this year.

AWP around here is a fall plot, or an addition to a fall plot. Put that in when you plant your fall food. Buckwheat is to hold the plot over thru the summer, build soil, give the deer a little something, but it's primarily a placeholder until you get in with your hunting plots.

Not sure how AWP would do early. But at the first thought of frost, buckwheat is done.

 

[FarmerDan]

I guess I have an alternative opinion. I always do. I'm making assumptions about climate in northern Mississippi. Those assumptions lead me to propose the thought that a single spring planting - of anything - will only fill half the time until fall where I assume, again, there's a different direction. If it isn't possible to plant there now, in northern Mississippi, it will be in another month? February, March, April - to June, July, August. That's more than half a year. Maybe you can get away with buckwheat now, but in 60-90 days it's toast. Or am I too early? Mississippi? Hot and dry as soon as April? Or hot and wet? Anyhow, just a couple of thoughts that jumped into my head as I was reading the thread. Right now, planting today I was thinking of spring oats. It won't span the gap either, but it would buy some time to get to a second spring planting of something else - like buckwheat.

Just for kicks and giggles I checked the inferred soil temperature in and around Abbeville, MS.
It looks like an opportunity to me.

 

[BobinCt]

Disc: your prob thinking of Iron and Clay Cowpeas. Those usually go with BW.