Fall Plot Planting and Rain Forecast

[Native Hunter]

You planted winter cereals in April? BTW, my eye roll wasn’t directed at your methods, it was focused on our stubborn rain clouds.

10-4 on the stubborn rain clouds. No, I planted straight clover once that early and it did fine. I remember having some pilewort to germinate in it, but I waited for it to get tall and then mowed before seeding. Everything worked out fine.

 

[KSQ2]

Ok, I think everyone knows we haven’t had rain in ages. I have 1000 lbs of cereal grain seed, along with clover and chicory and radishes. At what point do I throw it on the ground anyway? There is no significant chance for rain in the foreseeable future. Wait until there’s a little bit of a chance? What if it doesn’t come all through October?

 

[Native Hunter]

Ok, I think everyone knows we haven’t had rain in ages. I have 1000 lbs of cereal grain seed, along with clover and chicory and radishes. At what point do I throw it on the ground anyway? There is no significant chance for rain in the foreseeable future. Wait until there’s a little bit of a chance? What if it doesn’t come all through October?

I would wait until the drought is over. If it doesn't come all through October, I would probably go straight cereal rye and save my other stuff until next year. The rye will give you a little growth on warm days all winter once it eventually does come up, but I feel that your other seed will mostly be wasted and competing with weeds next spring. Sorry for your bad situation and wishing you the best.

 

[dogghr]

^^^^^^ This.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KSQ2]

Back in ‘12 I only did plots conventionally. Actually, that’s how I did them just 3 years ago when starting portions over. When I did plots that way, the seed sat in the ground safe and sound until the rain came. In ‘12 the rain didn’t come until the first week of November and cereals and clover both came on like gangbusters. I’m assuming it’s entirely different with t&m. I took a pic today at the Massey. The only thing growing in the plot area right now is chicory, and the only place chicory is thriving is where I planted a fall plot conventionally two years ago. So, I think I will put in a small area conventionally, that I sprayed a couple months ago, throwing all the seed varieties. On the t&m areas, I’ll hold off like you guys suggest. I just hope when it finally decides to rain, it rains consistently at least for a while.
Here’s a pic of the chicory I mentioned…

 

[Drycreek]

I’ve planted in dust before but I don’t like to. I pulled some soil samples a week or so ago and there was moisture about 2.5” to 3” down. My greatest fear is my wheat will germinate and then die from lack of moisture. I’m holding off until the middle of October unless it rains. If it hasn’t rained by then I’m planting anyway.

 

[deer patch]

How’s your plots doing now? Did you get any rain in September?

I’ve been thinking about planting in early August the last couple of years but i keep thinking the dry Septembers would make everything die away anyway but some I planted at the end of August is still hanging in there barely.

 

[Drycreek]

How’s your plots doing now? Did you get any rain in September?

I’ve been thinking about planting in early August the last couple of years but i keep thinking the dry Septembers would make everything die away anyway but some I planted at the end of August is still hanging in there barely.

If you’re asking me, I just planted my home plot today. I’ll be planting plots at our lease Monday. It’s as dry as can be, but we have rain in the forecast for next week We’ll see if it rains or not.

 

[KSQ2]

I put in 4 plots conventionally the last couple of weeks. I’m planning to t&m the last week of October, if it hasn’t rained yet. I pray I’m doing it much sooner than that, for a whole lot of reasons.

 

[deer patch]

If you’re asking me, I just planted my home plot today. I’ll be planting plots at our lease Monday. It’s as dry as can be, but we have rain in the forecast for next week We’ll see if it rains or not.

Actually I was curious what Native plots looks like but he hasn’t posted in a while and I was hoping he was ok and nothing happened to him while he was cleaning up things around his and his dads farm. Hope you get some rain on your newly planted plots though.

 

[Native Hunter]

Actually I was curious what Native plots looks like but he hasn’t posted in a while and I was hoping he was ok and nothing happened to him while he was cleaning up things around his and his dads farm. Hope you get some rain on your newly planted plots though.

Hey deer patch, the plots turned out great, because of planting early when all the rain came. Since that time we have gone into a fall drought just like I expected we would. My yard is completely browned out, and one plot that I planted too late (at the correct planting time) has never germinated.

I will say that I've had some unwanted weeds due to the early planting, but I knew that would happen. It was mostly crabgrass, but not all that serious. One early plot in a low place also got some flatsedge, but it had good clover and chicory mixed in. I set the mower to 5 inches and knocked the top out of the flatsedge, and that worked great. Here are some recent plot pictures.

PS - We got dad's place cleaned up and have the supplies bought to do a bunch of fencing. However, I am going to hire a guy to do that, and he can't come until December.

 

[deer patch]

Thanks for the update Native. I planted some brassicas at the end of July and they did well. Between that planting and your posts, I’m going to be ready next summer to plant earlier than normal. Our weather patterns here have swung to rain in August and dry until sometime in October as well.

 

[Native Hunter]

Thanks for the update Native. I planted some brassicas at the end of July and they did well. Between that planting and your posts, I’m going to be ready next summer to plant earlier than normal. Our weather patterns here have swung to rain in August and dry until sometime in October as well.

I hope it works for you deer patch. I've learned over the last few years that an unusually high amount of rain in July or August for us likely means a drought starting in September. Sure enough, it worked out that way again this year. I will have a few weeds to deal with next year due to early planting, but that is better than not having a food plot. The last plot I planted this year was on 8-15, which was after the rainy period. That plot is a failure due to lack of rain. I was there 2 days ago, and it is mostly dust with just a little wheat that was able to germinate on nothing but morning dew.

PS - my canola is being eaten well this year, but the real star is the daikon radishes. I don't recall the brand name, but I still have the bag the seed came out of somewhere in my storage building. I will be buying the same thing and planting them heavy from now on.

 

[deer patch]

I hope it works for you deer patch. I've learned over the last few years that an unusually high amount of rain in July or August for us likely means a drought starting in September. Sure enough, it worked out that way again this year. I will have a few weeds to deal with next year due to early planting, but that is better than not having a food plot. The last plot I planted this year was on 8-15, which was after the rainy period. That plot is a failure due to lack of rain. I was there 2 days ago, and it is mostly dust with just a little wheat that was able to germinate on nothing but morning dew.

PS - my canola is being eaten well this year, but the real star is the daikon radishes. I don't recall the brand name, but I still have the bag the seed came out of somewhere in my storage building. I will be buying the same thing and planting them heavy from now on.

My weather pattern is mirroring yours the last few years as well. I planted my canola on August 27th and got 3” of rain the week after planting but none since then until yesterday, so all mine burned up but I have high hopes for next season. I did notice today, that after the 3/10” of rain yesterday, what I thought was dead wheat turned green again here at the house.

With the comment about the bag of radishes, I take it that you buy your small seeds in bulk and just store the leftovers? If you find the seed tag will you post the brand please?

 

[Native Hunter]

My weather pattern is mirroring yours the last few years as well. I planted my canola on August 27th and got 3” of rain the week after planting but none since then until yesterday, so all mine burned up but I have high hopes for next season. I did notice today, that after the 3/10” of rain yesterday, what I thought was dead wheat turned green again here at the house.

With the comment about the bag of radishes, I take it that you buy your small seeds in bulk and just store the leftovers? If you find the seed tag will you post the brand please?

Actually, I haven't been buying in bulk, but that would be a good idea for saving money. Since I was only planting about 2 acres, I just used some BOB bags that I found at Tractor Supply. Not very cost effective, but was convenient for me this year. I can tell you for sure it was Diakon Radishes, which are probably about the same regardless of the brand. However, I will try to remember to find that bag next time I'm over there.

 

[Drycreek]

Actually, I haven't been buying in bulk, but that would be a good idea for saving money. Since I was only planting about 2 acres, I just used some BOB bags that I found at Tractor Supply. Not very cost effective, but was convenient for me this year. I can tell you for sure it was Diakon Radishes, which are probably about the same regardless of the brand. However, I will try to remember to find that bag next time I'm over there.

Is it too late in my zone to plant Daikon radish ? I bought some this year but wouldn’t plant it because it was so dry. Supposed to get some more rain over the next few days and I was thinking of planting after that.

 

[Native Hunter]

Is it too late in my zone to plant Daikon radish ? I bought some this year but wouldn’t plant it because it was so dry. Supposed to get some more rain over the next few days and I was thinking of planting after that.

It's not too late to plant them in your zone. Anywhere in Texas you should be good planting through the end of October, and that date would extend as you go south. However, you will need some good rain. I hope you get some.

 

[KSQ2]

I’m going to throw and mow the rest of our plots a week from today. Forecast is bleak, but I really don’t care anymore. Mice can eat it in the field, or they can eat in the barn. I prefer the field. Forecast be darned.

 

[OkieKubota]

I’m going to throw and mow the rest of our plots a week from today. Forecast is bleak, but I really don’t care anymore. Mice can eat it in the field, or they can eat in the barn. I prefer the field. Forecast be darned.

We have a 90% chance Saturday night...we’ll see...

 

[Native Hunter]

For anyone who hasn't read this whole thread, here is a summation of my thinking:

I really prefer planting fall plots here about mid September into early October rather than what I did this year. Doing that will eliminate some of the late summer weeds that you will get, and I believe that your grains will be a little more palatable at hunting time. However, I would rather plant early if a large amount of rain is forecasted than plant in a drought at the preferred time according to the calendar.

I've learned over the years that when we have periods of unusually high rain in July and August, that generally means we are headed for a drought in September and October. When I see the likelihood of this situation I will plant early to take advantage of the abundant rains. If it looks like a "normal" year, I will wait and plant at what is considered the "right time."

This may or may not work for you at your location. Some of the members here have mentioned "army worms" being a problem with early planted plots. So far, I haven't had that problem, but I believe them and understand that it is a problem in their locations.

Good luck with your plots.