New food plot

[Cowboys518]

I want to start a food plot , the property I hunt is 2 hours away so I’m limited on amount of times I can get thier during the summer , I have 50 acres , 5 of it open field and want to plant 1-2 acres of food plot , my question is what should I plant and how should I plant it ? Soil ph is 5.8 , I have a tractor with a 5foot tiller my plan was going to be to go up 1 time to till it , then 2 weeks later to spray it , then in august plant something , maybe brassicas ? Any input is appreciated with the best way to establish something with limited visits

 

[Newbie]

I'm far from an expert & there's more nuance if you have greater detail, but given the circumstances you described I, personally, would attempt a brassica, rye, and clover. Brassicas and rye can be a draw this year and be a nurse crop for a clover stand. Next year, clover should come in early in spring and provide some forage year round with pretty low maintenance.

 

[Telemark]

I would plant a blend. Annual clovers, perennial clovers, radish, turnip, peas, and oats, for example. Then go back in fall and plant rye anywhere it looks sparse or bare.

This should give a quick start but also last into winter and spring, with enough variety to attract deer and improve your soil.

 

[bigboreblr]

Small seeds will get buried too deep right after rototilling. Spread larger seed than be put 1 inch or a bit more, then level out the rotoilled area. Some sort of drag. Could be 6 1/2 ton pickup truck tires in a triange, 3 or 4 4 inch logs chained together, a piece of fence with soem weight. A actual drag harrow or cutlipacker would be good too.

MAny years I just use my ATV and roll around. Even better if you get a lawn roller. Some folks have used their rototiller in neeutral like a sheepsfoot cultipacker.

After the 1st pass, put your small seeds on the ground, brassicas and clovers.

I really like the earthway 2750 for large seeds like wheat, oats, or rye. Then I use a solo 421-s seeder for small seeds. Seen numerous decent large seed spreaders, but solo is the only 1 I have liked for clover or turnips seeds.

I do 60-80lbs of rye, 10-15lbs of oats, 4-6 lbs of clover, and 1-2lbs of turnips or daikon radish per acre.

518 area code? Near stamford NY. Tractor supply feed oats in purple bag have worked good every year for the past 5 or 6 years. plotspike forage feast is good there too. Kukon feed store in germantown ny is great too. Got a 1/2 acre of wheat in my backyard from them right now.

Assuming clay soil here. a pH of 5.8 isn't bad, maybe if possible add 1 ton / acre of lime. Even a 1/2 ton is good too. Done light fertlizier loads some years like 100 lbs / acre of triple 12 or 15. May not even need that. Maybe try 100 lbs/acre in one area and compare.

Keep those edge brushy if possible. Makes the deer more comfortable.

Clover should be a blend. ladino and medium red is a good basic start. Fancy clovers are ok, but basic stuff works fine too. My mix usually has 4-6 different ones in there. Whatever I can find. medeteranian, aslike, crimson, berseem,