The Sweet Clover Thread

[SD51555]

I've got considerable amounts of what I consider "natural" plantain on my property. Not sure the deer eat it very much. Seems it's about the same price as chicory.....so I have bought Chicory. I KNOW the deer like chicory.

They’re not the same. This is Boston plantain. It serves a few purposes beyond being a solid B forage for October. It’s an extra plant for diversity sake, and it seems to occupy places where other more aggressive stuff doesn’t seem to fill in.


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[Foggy47]

They’re not the same. This is Boston plantain. It serves a few purposes beyond being a solid B forage for October. It’s an extra plant for diversity sake, and it seems to occupy places where other more aggressive stuff doesn’t seem to fill in.


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So......are we going to see a new video "debut" on your seed slinger today? I figure you were doing some rye or oats or sweet clover over the weekend. Kinda like to see how you do with the Herd.

 

[SD51555]

So......are we going to see a new video "debut" on your seed slinger today? I figure you were doing some rye or oats or sweet clover over the weekend. Kinda like to see how you do with the Herd.

No video. I got it working, but decided not to spread today. My plots are starting to fill out now and I don’t see the seed making it until the deer get it knocked back in October.

I did spread a couple gallons in some bare spots, but I’m holding onto the rest of my 5 bushels for leaf drop weekend in October. I’m gonna have one day going back there blowing leaves off trails and spreading seed and checking cams.


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[Foggy47]

Oh no. You must have missed the mow video. I opened with the blower. That’s the only way to do small seeds short of a drill.

Annual Plots and Trails Mowing 2024

Had a buddy come in and help me get the bush whacked down and ready for deer season. This was slick!

rumble.com

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So, I just ran into this video on YOUTUBE and the first guy I thought of was SD. This combine is for you SD! (grin)

 

[SD51555]

So, I just ran into this video on YOUTUBE and the first guy I thought of was SD. This combine is for you SD! (grin)

That violates my anti-equipment values.


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[SD51555]

The tonnage is certainly there. It’ll be interesting to see where I end up on tonnage, and whether or not the deer will eat the oats that are not dark green.

I reached down and checked the thatch depth. I’m about 5 weeks in now I think. That layer was 4-6” thick and springy. The one spot I checked yesterday was at 3” now. I’ll keep watching it to see how well the sweet clover spots lay down as fall goes on.

Still need to spread winter trit after the chow down begins some time in mid October.

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[Foggy47]

^ Nice. But, why would you wait till mid-October to broadcast that Trit?

 

[Brian662]

I would be worried that the oats begin getting too mature for attractiveness if they don't start on them until mid Oct. From the looks of it, they are already getting longer than deer prefer (in my experience).

 

[SD51555]

^ Nice. But, why would you wait till mid-October to broadcast that Trit?

Historically, there's no space for them to get light or germinate until the deer trim the plot. This is a new year because the clover regen is very low. I should have spread trit when I rolled, but I had anticipated 12" clover canopy until mid october. Now the oats are in the way.

 

[SD51555]

I would be worried that the oats begin getting too mature for attractiveness if they don't start on them until mid Oct. From the looks of it, they are already getting longer than deer prefer (in my experience).

I've had good luck with oats pretty far along. I'm ok so far, but it'll have to cool off to slow them down.

 

[Skeeter]

Any kind words for Kieth?

 

[Foggy47]

 

[SD51555]

Any kind words for Kieth?

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[SD51555]

Getting tough looking out here. The good oats are tall, green, getting stemmy, and the deer are starting to eat them.

The tough spots must be compacted. This used to be a logging truck entrance and loading yard about 15 years ago. I just don’t think it ever healed. The oats here are 1/3 the height and fully headed out.

You can see the good spots looking across the plot. Need to switch to a compaction breakup focus. Not 100% sure on the plan yet, but I’m thinking an early spring throw of flax, rape, and white sweet clover. Not sure what I’m gonna get thru from my fall biennials.

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[Brian662]

Wouldn't a full growing season of some kind of groundhog radish be helpful with compaction?

 

[SD51555]

Wouldn't a full growing season of some kind of groundhog radish be helpful with compaction?

It might. Trouble with spring planted radishes is I don’t think u get the fat roots. Rape and collards can be broom stick roots by fall if you can get them going.


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