My Father-in-law asked me last weekend what would be good for a food plot. He farms around 850 acres and there are two areas that he would like to make into food plots. One is about two acres in size and he was wondering what could still be planted this year, come up good for the fall and last for a couple years without replanting. The ground here is very dry already and maybe its too late? The other plot would be about one acre in a soybean field and this section got washed out in the spring. The ground on this plot is very moist all the time, even now. For this plot, it wouldnt have to come back every year and he wants something that gets no more than a foot or so tall. What are your suggestions or is there not much we can plant due to this time of year?

Thanks

4trax250x

Here in Ohio we plant same (1/2 A) in Bio Logic.................The trend lately has been turnips. The deer pull them up...and they get sweeter as it goes from fall to winter...

On the 1st plot that you want to last for 3 years you could plant clover or chicory. A mix would be better. I would wait until Labor Day weekend and plant it with a nurse crop of oats or rye. On the second plot I would plant a brassica mix [turnips and rape]. It gets about 16 inches to 2 feet tall depending on rainfall and should be planted the end of July. If this is to tall plant a mix of rye, oats , winter wheat and Austrian Winter peas Labor Day weekend and I guarantee the deer will not let it get over 6 inches tall

Thanks for the help. If anyone else has an idea, post it up.

Tom, we are planting exactly what you suggested. My father-in-law talked to his crop consultant and he told him the same crops, although he suggested maybe a few weeks sooner, mid-late August. Thanks for the help and I will post on how its turning out!!

I just got the second plot in with a 70% chance of rain tonigt, 50% tommorow and 40% on Friday. I got it in just in time!! I will post some pics of growth hopefully around this weekend sometims. Forgot to take the camera with me for planting pics.