Clover planting date in Central Wis. sand country, Adams county Zone 4b

[Joe Buck]

We can't plant until Aug. 26, is that to late to plant medium red clover and winter rye as a cover crop? We are trying to establish a perennial clover plot for next year. We also would like to over seed an existing clover plot that is thin and has a lot of weeds ( mostly ragweed ) and grasses. For the new plot we will be tilling. plan on planting rye first, cultipack, plant clover and cultipack again. For the existing clover plot we were thinking about seeding and then run over with the cultipacker. Would very much appreciate any info. Thanking you in advance for your help.

 

[Don'tWorryIHuggedItFirst]

Sounds perfect. We usually plant Labor day weekend.

 

[JFK52]

I plant a week or two earlier than Labor Day weekend in the Central Sands region of southern Portage county, but that is just my preference. I think you will be just fine with your planting date.

 

[wiscwhip]

That will be perfect, just don't expect much from your clover until next spring. The rye will provide the fall deer food and ground cover which should help keep the clover from being browsed to death. If you want it to last a few years with red clovers, make sure you are planting a meduim red, not a mammoth red. Use an improved variety of red such as Marathon or Arlington, as they are proven to last more than one or two seasons, do not rely on VNS or bin run seed to give you a long term plot.

 

[bueller]

For perennial clover in the sand. Plant rye and red clover Aug 15th - Sept 15th. I prefer August so the rye gets more than 3" before the cold sets in. Leave the rye to go to seed next year and the clover will flourish underneath with the protection. Over seed with rye each year and rye/clover every other year. I'm reestablishing one this year because I didn't reseed clover last fall. I had planted in 2015 and 2016-2017 the medium red was fantastic, but this spring it was non existent. I'm going to add chicory with the rye and clover when I plant in a few weeks.

 

[Joe Buck]

bueller, I like your idea of the rye/ medium red. We have a lot, I mean a lot of turkeys and some sandhills ( eating seed ) What would you suggest for lbs. per acre for each in the new plots and lbs. per acre in the existing thin clover plot. We have a cultipacker, should we cultipack the overseeded plot as well. Thanks to all of you for your advice, we really appreciate it.

 

[Joe Buck]

wiscwhip, Where do you get your Marathon or Arlington Med. Red Clover, and is it innoculated or do you innoculate it yourself or don't you inoculate it at all? Thanks so much for your response.

 

[bueller]

bueller, I like your idea of the rye/ medium red. We have a lot, I mean a lot of turkeys and some sandhills ( eating seed ) What would you suggest for lbs. per acre for each in the new plots and lbs. per acre in the existing thin clover plot. We have a cultipacker, should we cultipack the overseeded plot as well. Thanks to all of you for your advice, we really appreciate it.

I'd spray the thin weedy clover plot and then seed and cultipack afterwards. Even though much of that clover will likely survive I'd seed both plots the same rates. High if not a bit over recommended rates expecting losses to deer, turkeys, sandy soil, etc. I don't know off hand but I'm thinking 200+ lbs acre of rye and 12+ lbs of red clover is close.

 

[wiscwhip]

wiscwhip, Where do you get your Marathon or Arlington Med. Red Clover, and is it innoculated or do you innoculate it yourself or don't you inoculate it at all? Thanks so much for your response.

First I would check with Allied Coop in Adams. I'd be surprised if they don't have a good improved variety available. I usually ordered from these guys if the local coops didn't carry what we wanted.

WELTER SEED & HONEY CO.

We would either buy pre-inoculated seed or do it ourselves, but as was stated earlier, it is not necessary.

 

[Aaron]

I planted mine yesterday with a shot of Alfa rack. Sounds like I should give it a little winter rye for a nursery crop.

 

[bbcoach]

You guys in Wisconsin need to give Deer Creek a look. They have a coop in Windsor if you live close by. They carry a lot of mixes and individual seed for food plots. Prices are very competitive if you buy 5 lbs or more.

 

[wiscwhip]

I have used Deer Creek in the past.

 

[Joe Buck]

Bueller, What rate would you mix the gly for the thin clover plot and what rate for the killing for our new plots. We plan on spraying next Sat.

 

[CrazyEd]

I buy all my food plot seed from deer creek and have so for 3 years now. They seem like good peeps. I am planting on Tuesday. Hope we get some rain.

 

[JFK52]

I buy winter rye and dwarf Essex rape seed for myself plus winter triticale for a friend from Deer Creek seed company. Great people to deal with especially as I pick up all my seed at their location just off State Hwy 19 and the Interstate in Windsor, WI. Saves all shipping costs and I go right by there a couple times a week on my way into Madison to run errands. I call my order in ahead of time and give them my credit card information. They have it ready to go for me when I arrive and load it into my vehicle. I will be ordering my 50 pound bags of winter rye from them this upcoming week.

 

[bueller]

Bueller, What rate would you mix the gly for the thin clover plot and what rate for the killing for our new plots. We plan on spraying next Sat.

I always spray with a rate of 1.5 qts (48oz) per acre and get a good kill. I think my sprayer holds 15 gallons and I can spray my biggest plot of .75 acre with that. When I spray a 1/2 plot I use about 12 gallons of water. I would personally use the same rate on the thin clover plot since you are adding new seed anyways, although I think you will be surprised at the amount of clover that will survive the spraying.

 

[bueller]

I buy my winter rye, dwarf Essex rape seed and triticale for a friend from Deer Creek seed company. Great people to deal with especially as I pick up all my seed at their location just off State Hwy 19 and the Interstate in Windsor, WI. Saves all shipping costs and I go right by there a couple times a week on my way into Madison to run errands. I call my order in ahead of time and give them my credit card information. They have it ready to go for me when I arrive and load it into my vehicle. I will be ordering my 50 pound bags of winter rye from them this upcoming week.

How much do you normally pay for the bags of rye through them? My local coop usually doesn't get rye in until later in the month while I like to plant in mid-aug. Wonder if Deer Creek is open late enough that I could swing by on my way up on a Friday afternoon?

 

[JFK52]

Bueller, glad you asked as I went to look it up. Winter rye is $16 for a 50 pound bag picked up at the Windsor location. I know they are open until at least 4 PM daily, perhaps an hour later. I am planting my winter rye and dwarf Essex rape seed some time in the week after August 10. That is the day my farm helper returns from his vacation. I like to give all my fall plantings the most time to grow before there is a hard freeze that ends the growing season. I have had success with mid August plantings.
Bueller, I am sending you a PM with the direct phone number to reach the Windsor office. This gets you better service than the 800 number.

 

[CrazyEd]

How much do you normally pay for the bags of rye through them? My local coop usually doesn't get rye in until later in the month while I like to plant in mid-aug. Wonder if Deer Creek is open late enough that I could swing by on my way up on a Friday afternoon?

730-4 or 430 I think.