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Late season food plot

sirrloin

sirrloin

Active Member
Last year after a busy November things went pretty dead as the deer moved to the surrounding Winterset/river bottom ag fields. Having hundreds of acres of cover and timber in the area didn't do much without grub. So this being the first year to work it I went in and and frost seeded an acre of clover mix over pasture grass. I sprayed off a little more than an acre for a big n beasty area mid June and will be burning it here soon and adding fertilizer. No tractor here so I'll be using some man power to rake up the surface a little. Fingers crossed it does as well as the clover has.
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Looking good!! If u work the steps right u should have a great plot. Clovers already look great! Just make sure that N is treated & applied after fire. Looks great & post back on results!
 
Can you get an ATV and a disk in there? If not, if you are working with bare soil, and after a fire is as bare as it gets, then I have still had fair to good germination with brassicas. As Skip said, if you can't incorporate the N into the soil with a tiller or disk, be sure to use the treated N that will not evaporate when it is broadcast. Good luck! That looks like a pretty neat area!
 
Daver said:
Can you get an ATV and a disk in there? If not, if you are working with bare soil, and after a fire is as bare as it gets, then I have still had fair to good germination with brassicas. As Skip said, if you can't incorporate the N into the soil with a tiller or disk, be sure to use the treated N that will not evaporate when it is broadcast. Good luck! That looks like a pretty neat area!
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Unfortunately the Middle River is to the north and eastern and southern areas are too steep, even by foot. The only access area got washed out with the flash flooding a couple weeks back. No competition back here. It's good to have a hunting buddy who helps out. I'll keep updates going once its burned and planted.

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I wouldn't worry much about just burning it. I had great luck when I did it in the past. My advise is to make sure rain is on the way

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gunhunter said:
I wouldn't worry much about just burning it. I had great luck when I did it in the past. My advise is to make sure rain is on the way

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If I'm just going to broadcast before a good rain do you think I should go a little heavier on the recommended seeding rate?

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Yes definitely! I estimate this part a bit as but something like 25% extra for pretty bare ground.

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Well the soil test came back. Looks like it's not going to take much.
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Been almost two weeks without any rain but stuff still looks pretty good. Went out before the storms this morning and reseeded some of the bare spots with the solo. Just burned and seeded. I'll toss on a little N in a few weeks but overall not too shabby.
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Week 3, things are starting to fill in on the brassica plot. Rain really helped get thing germinating and growing. Clearing out an area to set some 6x6 to put up a box blind.
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Nice work...you're going to have an excellent plot! I took a wagon blind down to my Dad's farm south of Winterset a week ago, and drove home Sunday morning in a beautiful rain shower! Assuming that's the one that gave your plot a shot in the arm.

NWBuck
 
NWBuck said:
Nice work...you're going to have an excellent plot! I took a wagon blind down to my Dad's farm south of Winterset a week ago, and drove home Sunday morning in a beautiful rain shower! Assuming that's the one that gave your plot a shot in the arm.

NWBuck
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Yep. We're just a stones throw south of Winterset. Should get some more rain tonight.

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Well I figure it's about that time to wind things up. The big n beasty turned out great. I did have to fill in after the first couple of weeks but other than that I've just let the rain due its thing. It did take a little extra seed because it was broadcasted. No nitrogen added but the turnips are already the size of softballs. For just a spray, burn and broadcast I can't argue with the results. Took pictures every week or so anyone else can check the month and a half long stages.
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sirrloin said:
Well I figure it's about that time to wind things up. The big n beasty turned out great. I did have to fill in after the first couple of weeks but other than that I've just let the rain due its thing. It did take a little extra seed because it was broadcasted. No nitrogen added but the turnips are already the size of softballs. For just a spray, burn and broadcast I can't argue with the results. Took pictures every week or so anyone else can check the month and a half long stages.
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That looks great! I didn't spray before planting, and there is a huge difference between yours and mine. You should draw them in for sure.
 
What should a guy expect for winter feeding on the brassicas? The radishes are rotting after our freezing temps and moderate warm up. All the tops are melting away on the brassicas. The purple top turnip bulbs seem to be ok. Will the deer feed on the wilted tops and turnip bulbs through the winter??
 
Muskrat24 said:
What should a guy expect for winter feeding on the brassicas? The radishes are rotting after our freezing temps and moderate warm up. All the tops are melting away on the brassicas. The purple top turnip bulbs seem to be ok. Will the deer feed on the wilted tops and turnip bulbs through the winter??
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"Early" freezing temps will knock out the radishes by about now in my experience. They are just not as weather hardy as are the turnip bulbs. I suspect that your radishes are done-zo, but your turnips should still work for you and you will likely find deer scratching out those bulbs all winter long, if not now, then later when there aren't as many options.
 
What Daver said. In cold temps I have had them eat the bulb tops what they could get then when when the ground thaws they would dig the rest of the bulbs out. Good place to find sheds also.
 
100% they will hammer PTT turnips late season until they are gone. When planting brassicas, you are really only counting on the bulbs from the PTT as your late season food source.
 
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