Spring Plot

[BrushyPines]

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.

View attachment 33377

January and February are usually our coldest months. March and April are usually mild and wet with an occasional frost and a possibility of snow (I know it seems crazy, but it is possible). May is still mild and wet, but hot enough to not have another frost until November. I would consider the "dog days" of the year to be in July and August, where it is hot and dry, with timely showers God willing. My plan was to plant this plot during the middle of May.

 

[krekelly]

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?

One thing to consider... deer don’t have a huge need for summer food plots. There’s 25x’s more food than they need in the form of natural forage/browse.

With that in mind, focusing on soil health should be the primary focus.

Some of have suggested buckwheat which is awesome. And I’ve used it as well. I have a long growing season like you and one idea I had was a double planting.

Usually you only want BW in the ground for 8 weeks max before planting a fall crop. That doesn’t address a spring planting. So in order to get extra benefit from it you could plant 16 weeks before fall planting, then replant at 8 weeks before fall planting and terminate the first round. You could even plant a few weeks earlier and get some volunteer seed to fill in gaps.

Then T&M your fall planting.

The biggest advice though wouldn’t be a monoculture of buckwheat but use a blend.

Green cover seed in Nebraska has a great warm season soil builder mix that contains buckwheat, as well as other phenomenal plant varieties.

This diverse blend of legumes, grasses, brassicas, and broad leaves all work in synergy to build soil. Legumes concert nitrogen in the atmosphere and make it available to other plants. The grass roots improve soil aggregation and water infiltration.

Brassicas are excellent scavengers if nutrients unavailable to other plants.

Board leaves offer a deep taproot to break up soil compaction and attract beneficial insects with their flowers.

This combo leaves no room for weeds to grow, keeping your fields clean for your fall planting.

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[BrushyPines]

Decided to go with a BW, cowpea, oat mix. Is there a specific type of oat I need to look for to plant for spring? What seeding rate should I go with for this mix?

 

[yoderjac]

Decided to go with a BW, cowpea, oat mix. Is there a specific type of oat I need to look for to plant for spring? What seeding rate should I go with for this mix?

Cheap bin oats or feed oats work fine for me.

 

[Troubles Trees]

Green cover seed in Nebraska has a great warm season soil builder mix that contains buckwheat, as well as other phenomenal plant varieties.

What is the name of that blend if you don't mind me asking? Looks like the "Warm season soil builder" by the description on their site but wanted to be sure.

 

[krekelly]

That’s the one. Looking forward to planting that this year and watching the benefits for the wildlife!

I’m also considering using their pollinator blends on the outskirts of one of my plots. It’ll help with the edge feathering as well as introducing and keeping pollinators that’ll boost the overall health of the property.


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