Red Milo

[Wild Thing]

Sounds just like WGF.

No - they are different. I have planted a lot of WGF Sorghum as well. In fact, it has probably been one of my favorites - I even planted some this year in my summer cover crop. WGF only grow to 3' tall or so here but the seed heads are devoured by the deer. The Red Milo that Northwoods Whitetails sells is supposed to grow to 4-5 feet tall and the seed heads are definitely red in color. Looking forward to see how they do here.

 

[Wild Thing]

Curious to see how your sugar beets perform.

I grew RR sugar beets for a half dozen years or so before my bootleg seed source dried up. Of all the things I ever grew for deer, the sugar beets were the most magnetic draw. One thing about them I found is they were sensitive to seeding rates, as they don't like to be crowded.

I'm looking forward to planting sugar beets again some day - after I get my drill!

I have grown RR sugar beets quite a few times. I actually planted seed from 4 different sources over the years. The smaller coated seeds were my favorites.

I drilled these on 22.5" rows at 2#/acre (about 50,000 seeds per acre). If you get a drill next year let me know and I can give you the drill settings.


With good spacing and weed control I can get fairly decent sized bulbs, but I plant these in mid-May normally. Because I was planting the sugar.beets with the Milo, I didn't get them planted until June 10th this year so I don't really expect to see very big bulbs... plus, the milo is pretty much canopied over them by now so my expectations aren't really all that high. I may try planting these non GMO sugar beets earlier and see how it goes. I used a pre-emergent herbicide (Brawl II - S. Metolaclor) the day after planting this year and it worked pretty well in most areas.

 

[Wild Thing]

Ran across this guys' channel a while back and he is a believer in the Red Milo...

 

[farmlegend]

If you get a drill next year let me know and I can give you the drill settings.
View attachment 81099

That may be the extra incentive I’m looking for!

 

[omicron1792]

They are eating it first of Aug? I was thinking about planting it for doves, but if the deer eat it in Aug, I dont need that.

I planted early swamp. End of May. They eat it about 2-3 weeks after the seed head emerges, it will go through a dough phase then they hammer. So plan accordingly.

With droughts here starting in July most summers I plant early. But it has rained all summer so go figure.

 

[TreeDaddy]

I planted early swamp. End of May. They eat it about 2-3 weeks after the seed head emerges, it will go through a dough phase then they hammer. So plan accordingly.

With droughts here starting in July most summers I plant early. But it has rained all summer so go figure.

Does the red milo grow in the south ?

bill

 

[TreeDaddy]

never mind

Just read through your posts

thanks

bill

 

[omicron1792]

never mind

Just read through your posts

thanks

bill

The seed heads turn red. It is not the northwoods variety. I use igrowth sorghum.

 

[Northwoods Whitetails]

Sounds just like WGF.

It’s not that. We tried that before with varying results. In our ( and our testing partners) trials , this variety had much better use. Deer here in the U.P. where fall food is limited, did not touch this until October. Mine is just starting to think about forming seed heads, which I think is about perfect for early August.

 

[goatman]

Was planting radish and turnips yesterday next to the Northwoods milo. They are already eating off the heads. I'm in west central IL. Did the same thing to WGF last year. This years milo is headed but not turning yet.

 

[Foggy47]

It’s not that. We tried that before with varying results. In our ( and our testing partners) trials , this variety had much better use. Deer here in the U.P. where fall food is limited, did not touch this until October. Mine is just starting to think about forming seed heads, which I think is about perfect for early August.

When did you plant that milo Jon?

 

[Spike_Horn_Shooter]

So far on my Milo this year the deer haven’t touched the stalks - much different that corn where the eat the whole stalk down before tassel or ear set. This is definitely plus.

In one of the plots I have just PF Milo and that appears to be doing well. Germination was low due to poor planting conditions - too wet then to dry (clay ground).

In another plot, I planted NW Milo and Peas and the peas are ripping, but the Milo is holding its own. Deer haven’t touched the pea leaves yet - even though it’s a beautiful carpet of dark green leaves.

They have been pounding the snot out of my sunflowers though. I don’t even know if I’ll get a seed head at this rate.

I’ll get some pictures from my camp this weekend. It has been a tough growing year. Too much rain in May to get in the ground and plant and then very little rain in June / July. Northern NY, St Lawrence County.

 

[Brian662]

Ran across this guys' channel a while back and he is a believer in the Red Milo...

I used to watch his channel until he started promoting the spread of buckthorn seed for more cover. I like guys who take an unorthodox approach at times, but that's just irresponsible to promote.

 

[Wild Thing]

I used to watch his channel until he started promoting the spread of buckthorn seed for more cover. I like guys who take an unorthodox approach at times, but that's just irresponsible to promote.

Agree - he can rub me the wrong way at times also...

 

[Northwoods Whitetails]

When did you plant that milo Jon?

First week of june
But we also had a very cold, wet June and it was slow to grow. It’s starting to catch some height now as we finally have warm weather.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Check out this deer eyeballing the Milo seed head. Then look at the damage done in the next pic.View attachment 81090View attachment 81091

In the green "doughy" stage, right? That's when deer hit it here. After any heads turn brown & dry out, deer don't seem to bother them here - but the birds sure hammer them then. Good pic, Omicron.

 

[omicron1792]

In the green "doughy" stage, right? That's when deer hit it here. After any heads turn brown & dry out, deer don't seem to bother them here - but the birds sure hammer them then. Good pic, Omicron.

That’s exactly what they do. Usually a little after the dough phase. But my dear will eat them all the way though. I already don’t have many seed heads left on 7 acres.