Sunn Hemp
- Thread starter Buckeye
- Start date
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Yes, it's a summer species, but I mixed it in with a fall mix planted around the first day of September two years ago. It came up quickly and was browsed hard by my picky deer that won't eat a lot of other things.
FL Plotter
Well-Known Member
Yes. Grows easy and provides tons of protein if you can get it established. Small plots will get wiped out quickly.
If it gets 6' tall and stalky, you cannot brush hog it and disc it on the same day. It needs weeks to break down the hemp (AKA rope) fibers. Ask me how I know!
If it gets 6' tall and stalky, you cannot brush hog it and disc it on the same day. It needs weeks to break down the hemp (AKA rope) fibers. Ask me how I know!
How big of a plot did you plant
FL Plotter
Well-Known Member
I did one acre and then a big strip on my 20 acre farm that might have at most 10 deer on it and it got tall and bushy....I don't think they knew what it was at first. On my hunting lease, we did a couple of acres and it got wiped out. More deer density and less other browse in the local area to eat there. We were able to grow nice buckwheat in small plots for a couple years until the deer figured out they liked it.
Doe Shooter
Active Member
I have a right of way cleared last year that is bare. This sounds like what I need. Any suggestions on who has the best seed price?
I’m going to see if I can get it at a local feed mill
Doe Shooter
Active Member
I checked with my guy.They will have it in the spring.
weekender21
Well-Known Member
I’ve never planted a factory generated blend (mainly thanks to this forum) but the Green Cover Seeds summer release looks interesting. I’m sure it could be pieced together locally, they’re not shy about what’s in it and the exact percentage.
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I like sunn hemp and have been growing it for years. Deer will browse the growing young plants then eat the leaves once plant gets large. I usually plant in a mix though it can make quite a forest planted monoculture. Can withstand fairly heavy pressure though I plant in larger fields.
My typical mix:
5 lbs sunn hemp/acre---more and it can choke everything else out. cowpeas will trellis up the hemp.
25 lbs cow peas
10 lbs soy beans
3-5 lbs sunflower
1 lb okra
5 lbs buckwheat--sometimes more
1 lb milo or sorghum sudan grass
Make quite an impressive jungle
My typical mix:
5 lbs sunn hemp/acre---more and it can choke everything else out. cowpeas will trellis up the hemp.
25 lbs cow peas
10 lbs soy beans
3-5 lbs sunflower
1 lb okra
5 lbs buckwheat--sometimes more
1 lb milo or sorghum sudan grass
Make quite an impressive jungle
weekender21
Well-Known Member
I love okra when its breaded and deep-fried ... but I've never heard of it being used in a food plot. Is it just for structure or do deer eat it?
Any suggestions on how much the planting rate for this mix should be increased for broadcasting?
Cedar Ridge
Active Member
Baker,
I like the sound of this combination. When do you typically target planting this mix?
Heart shot
Active Member
Can you plant that mix via spray, throw and mow?
I have a plot here is MO which was turnips, WW, & WR. As it greens up and bolts this spring it will likely have some crab grass/weeds. Was thinking I could spray early to mid June, seed your mix and then mow the thatch??
I don’t have a no till, but it is a very small plot in the suburbs and will get a ton of browsing. Want to see how Sunhemp handles it.
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I have a plot here is MO which was turnips, WW, & WR. As it greens up and bolts this spring it will likely have some crab grass/weeds. Was thinking I could spray early to mid June, seed your mix and then mow the thatch??
I don’t have a no till, but it is a very small plot in the suburbs and will get a ton of browsing. Want to see how Sunhemp handles it.
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Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
I planted sunn hemp as part of a mix, it reminded me a lot of horseweed, with about the same grazing value, deer eat it, but it's not a top preferred species. I would plant it as a soil builder, but not primarily as deer food.
