Cafeteria plot experiment

[Derek Reese 29]

4 week update..with a good amount of rain and hot days, the brassica mix has taken off and the clovers are actually starting to get some growth on them. The random sorghum from the GRO mix is at least a foot tall too. The buckwheat seems to be getting browsed the most, but that was expected. Overall very pleased..also had this buck in the plot in daylight.

 

[splitbrow]

4 week update..with a good amount of rain and hot days, the brassica mix has taken off and the clovers are actually starting to get some growth on them. The random sorghum from the GRO mix is at least a foot tall too. The buckwheat seems to be getting browsed the most, but that was expected. Overall very pleased..also had this buck in the plot in daylight.View attachment 66917View attachment 66918View attachment 66919

Then top seed some rye, wheat or both mid September, be awesome!!

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Then top seed some rye, wheat or both mid September, be awesome!!

Plan to do just that ..maybe a mix of the two and maybe some triticale also…

 

[splitbrow]

Plan to do just that ..maybe a mix of the two and maybe some triticale also…

Plan to do just that ..maybe a mix of the two and maybe some triticale also…

Never tried triticale, have always want too. It's not readily available around me, how is the usage compared to rye and wheat?

 

[RGrizzzz]

Plan to do just that ..maybe a mix of the two and maybe some triticale also…

Where are you getting the triticale?

 

[Derek Reese 29]

I have an Amish farm store near me that has WR, WW, oats and triticale at reasonable prices. I noticed a bit of an uptick in usage last year compared to just WR

 

[Derek Reese 29]

7 ish week update?
Brassica and turnips are getting big and clover is starting to fill in the in between spots, but figure some cooler weather will help that along..interesting note that the bottom half of this plot was burned earlier this spring is markedly more sparse than the non burned top part..not sure if this is due to the decent slope or if the fire ate up some nutrients…still very pleased overall..

 

[Newbie]

7 ish week update?
Brassica and turnips are getting big and clover is starting to fill in the in between spots, but figure some cooler weather will help that along..interesting note that the bottom half of this plot was burned earlier this spring is markedly more sparse than the non burned top part..not sure if this is due to the decent slope or if the fire ate up some nutrients…still very pleased overall..View attachment 67693View attachment 67694

Looking great!!!

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Getting some results now..only issue is I can’t hunt till archery opens in a month! Toddler pic for comparison…

 

[PatinPA]

When did you plant that? You got some really good growth. I planted the first weekend of august and might have 1/3 of the growth.

 

[Newbie]

^^^ what he said. I planted in July and have less growth. Looking good, buddy!

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Planted July 1st and got 9” of rain that month. Also added alfalfa and Winfred later and will add WR in a week or so. I think that field being a former hayfield means it has a lot of nutrients stored up in it ….

 

[Newbie]

Planted July 1st and got 9” of rain that month. Also added alfalfa and Winfred later and will add WR in a week or so. I think that field being a former hayfield means it has a lot of nutrients stored up in it ….

I planted around the same time as you, also a former hayfield. I think my biggest problem was that I went too small. I've got a half acre plot and routinely have a deer grazing it like a herd of angus. The clover is filling in nicely but the brassicas got nibbled off and few made it past 4in tall. I hope to see you bag a nice one on that plot!

 

[Derek Reese 29]

I planted around the same time as you, also a former hayfield. I think my biggest problem was that I went too small. I've got a half acre plot and routinely have a deer grazing it like a herd of angus. The clover is filling in nicely but the brassicas got nibbled off and few made it past 4in tall. I hope to see you bag a nice one on that plot!

That plot might be a half acre but probably between 0.3-0.4 acre..it’s like 50 yards from my neighbors house so that might take some of the pressure off…

 

[Newbie]

That plot might be a half acre but probably between 0.3-0.4 acre..it’s like 50 yards from my neighbors house so that might take some of the pressure off…

Well daggumit @Derek Reese 29 cut me a break I’m running out of excuses now

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Well daggumit @Derek Reese 29 cut me a break I’m running out of excuses now

Haha sorry about that..guess the corn, beans, alfalfa and hay all around me are good for something after all…

 

[PatinPA]

Personally I think this is the way to go for those with smaller properties/plots. That's my ultimate goal is to offer a little bit of everything. The cafeteria buffet, I have apples, pears, persimmons, plums, chinkapin, and oaks for full time food sources, then plots I'm a bit limited to what will grow but I put in oats, wheat, rye, PTT, Radish, clover, and chicory. I about out of room for fruit trees, so I think my next step is shrubs. I have a couple hazelnuts that I'll be planting this fall. I'm surrounded by cash crops, typically just corn and soy beans so I try to offer something different, along with a lot of cover.

 

[Foggy47]

^ Don't forget the chicory.

 

[PatinPA]

^ Don't forget the chicory.

Haha never. My deer like it and it's one of the few things that grows fairly well for me.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

My main thought with this plot was to just see what I can get to grow and then refine it next year..still can’t believe sorghum and alfalfa came up but that is encouraging for the future…