B
BJE80
Guest
When starting a new food plot. Do you like to get right into your rotation or do you have something you like to plant that first year to aid in building the soil (i.e. WR)
BJE, you're dealing with heavy, clay soil correct? High water table? Do you know the ph?
^^^that tells me what I'd plant next fall. Winter rye
Adding some red clover may be a good idea, but R.C. doesn't like wet feet. Whether I added clover would depend on my goal for the next year. Do you want this to be an annual or perennial plot? If you want this to be a perennial plot, then I'd likely add a clover blend including a few white clovers (Alice, white dutch, ladino) and probably some red clover too. I'm not a fan of alsike for deer, but it may perform better for you than it has for me. If you plan to make it an annual plot, then adding the R.C. and/or alsike for some "free" nitrogen is worth a shot I suppose. I'd also be tempted to top seed a bunch of crimson and/or berseem clover the spring of the following year (after threat of frost).
What you plant will also depend on your equipment. If you go with WR and can't get into the plot until late summer of the following year, what will you do with the dead/dying rye? Roll it, crimp it, mow it, burn it, till it under, etc.
Yes, the PH is why I'd go with straight WR (as well as the type of soil and water table)
Alsike seems to be a good choice of clover for bad ground whether its dry or wet....least from what i've seen?
That's why I have previously called it asslikeSo basically you guys are anti-Alsike.
I'm not anti-alsike for others, just for me. If alsike is the only clover that will grow, then I'd plant it. IME, those situations are relatively rare. White clover oftentimes will grow just fine in heavy soil with consistent moisture even in low ph soils.
Did not see it on your soil test, but I will assume your OM is low as well. I would also get a little better test next time to include OM, Sulpher, Zink, and Boron
The use of Crimson clover in the spring can help build soil as well.
Unless things will be different I can't really get anything to grow decently in the spring. At least not yet. Too wet for too long.
Too Wet? why are you trying to plot there then?
Too Wet? why are you trying to plot there then?