Allow one to two weeks, or adequate die-off time, before planting. But when it comes to planting and growing the stuff, it isn’t for the faint of heart. Perennials like red and white clovers, alfalfa, trefoils and chicory provide dependable nutrition and attraction and are especially important for antler growth, fawn rearing and early hunting season attraction. Take a soil test – Don’t skip this important step to planting a successful food plot. What Is Your Preferred Food Plot Seed Option? Top Plants for Deer. Cultipackers for Food Plots – An important part of planting clover is starting with a good firm seedbed so you don’t plant your clover seed too deep. You can plant it in the spring before full green-up, … Wheat – Wheat is a cool-season cereal grain that is easy to establish, quick to germinate, and a great choice for fall hunting plots, especially when mixed with other species such as clovers. Consider the limitations of your particular piece of real estate, and work within the frame for best best results. Cool-season plants are the ticket as they can withstand several rounds of frost. The best time to plant clover in the spring is from mid-April to … To get the most from your clover food plot, there are a few important steps you can take prior to planting. Red clover, also referred to as purple clover, meadow clover, isoflavone, beebread, cow clover, etc., is a wonderful food source for deer. White clover just might be one of the best all-around legume food sources for deer. You can frost seed it in late winter and early spring when the ground is freezing and thawing, opening up pores in the soil for germination. However, … There has long been a need for a persistent, long-lived clover that is highly competitive in a mixed stand with perennial grasses or other aggressive plants including weeds. Conclusion. This high-protein seed option requires less maintenance than most varieties, too. If broadcasting, I prefer to plant about 7 to 8 pounds of seed per acre. The seed is tiny so making good seed to soil contact is not so difficult. Chicory – Chicory is a tough cool-season perennial crop that is a preferred deer forage. 5 Steps to creating the Perfect Clover Plot. There is a clover species or variety for everyone in every corner of whitetail country! We felt it would be good to incorporate all of this great information into a single post, so here you have QDMA’s Guide to Clover Food Plots. Make sure you inoculate the seed prior to planting if it isn’t already. Don’t Miss: 5 Food Plots for Procrastinators. AU-Robin is a recommended variety to plant but Dixie and Tibbee can be used also if AU-Robin is not available. Red Clover – Red clover is a cool-season legume that is classified as a biennial with a two-year lifespan, but with proper management it can persist for three or more years in the mid-South and northern states. While this can be a debatable subject (depending on location, climate, and soil), small grains, clover varieties, and brassicas are typically among the best cool-season food plots to plant for deer. If Crimson clover is the only clover in a mixture then the seeding rate is 12-15 lb per acre. Mossy Oak BioLogic has one wildlife planting that attracts turkeys as well as deer, and it’s relatively new for BioLogic – Non-Typical Clover. Ladino can be broadcast at 1-5 lbs/acre. 5 Reasons Food Plots Fail – Don’t fall victim to one of these five common food plot mistakes. You’ll want to plant clover in the early fall or late spring. In the proper growing environment, ladino clover can persist for four to five years, particularly in northern climates. ©2020 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Although crimson clover is an early maturing plant and provides no food during the warm months, it can still be useful in attracting deer to the plot in the earlier months. Fusion Planting Dates. If you decide to plant a perennial like Non-Typical Clover just follow these words of advice to get the most out of your food plot. PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS FIXATION PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS If you’re planning a new food plot where you hunt, or just looking to try something different in an existing plot, don’t overlook a good clover mix. Clover Feast blend is suitable for all soil types from dry to waterlogged. It may not be as “sophisticated” as some of the fancy blends available these days, but we can assure you the deer won’t complain. Ladino clover is one of several great perennial clover varieties. Once established, clover food plots need to be properly maintained in order to provide maximum forage. Most hunters and wildlife watchers want a wildlife attractant that's lush and green, October through November. While I’m not a big fan of seed mixes (much different than planting different things adjacent to one another), white clover grows decently when planted with non-broadleaf grasses. White clover prefers a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. But make sure the sub-variety of white clover you choose is the right one, as they are not all equal in terms of nutrition. Crimson clover does not tolerate cold; in northern states it is best planted in spring as a warm-season annual. The results are field-proven and can help you enjoy the best deer … White or Ladino clover: Plantings can be established by seeding as little as 4 pounds when drill-planting and 5 to 6 pounds per acre when broadcast. Whitetail Clover Planting Dates. The hunters who have planted BioLogic are reporting good success with feeding different types of deer. It’s highly nutritious, fairly hardy, and is often overlooked due to other clover variety options. 7. 5 Herbicides Every Deer Steward Should Know – While there are hundreds of herbicides on the market, these five will handle your most common weed issues in food plots. I ... Turnips are a little different as deer will consume the above ground plants as they grow. Whitetail Clover Planting Dates. 3. Depending on where you are, plant clovers from March to May (when a lot of clover is planted), and mid-August to mid-September. A trained wildlife biologist, Brian founded the Poor Boys Outdoors and Working Class Hunter web shows and associated media during his free time while working full time as a wildlife manager. Usually, the back of the bag will contain recommended rates. They grow about 18 inches tall and tolerate winter temperatures between 10 and 20 F. 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