WWYD

[Seabee]

What would you do?

2012 I had a timber sale. There was a very small area(maybe 1/8 acre) that was cleared at the top of my hill where they staged the logs until they drug them down to the road to be loaded onto the semi. Since this was in the middle of all my timber, I decided it would make a good food plot location. In 2013 I sent in for soil tests and put down 1000lbs of pelletized lime. Since then I have added to the size of the plot by watching where the sun penetrates the canopy best, and moved the edge of the plot near a giant white oak that will have acorns dropping into the North edge of the plot. It is now just over a 1/3rd of an acre. While widening the plot over the last couple years I would automatically add lime to the newly cut areas.

So here we are. This fall I am wanting to put in some type of clover. I Am going to send in for a soil test again next month and do any fine tuning with the soil over the summer if needed, but I think I am pretty close. My question is, what can I plant this spring to help better the soil for Fall? I have never put any seed down so far and just bush hog the plot once a month to keep invasives in check. There is plenty of sun hitting the floor throughout the summer, I have girdled a few large trees that I noticed where blocking sun on the south edge of the plot. It's been a long time coming. I'm excited about my first plot!

 

[Fish]

Only thing i might do is oats and an annual clover (LC's recommend for spring following brassicas). Plow it in fall and plant your cereal mix.
If you have any nasty weeds, spend the summer killing them, then plant your fall mix.
Just a couple thoughts........

 

[dogdoc]

I'd probably wait till no more chances of freeze and toss in some buckwheat. Will out compete most weeds, when tilled under it will provide some great green manure to the soil, and also provide forage for the deer. It will probably seed out but don't worry about new growth. The plant has not cold tolerance and will die with the first frost so won't compete with your clover. When you plant your clover this fall be sure to add a cereal grain nurse crop such as rye grain or wheat.
todd

 

[swat1018]

I would do the buckwheat too. It's a good smother crop.

 

[Gator]

Sorry Fish, but I wouldn't plant annual clover in front of clover, I'd either go straight rye or buckwheat.

 

[Jeff H]

I would do the buckwheat too. It's a good smother crop.

X3 on Buckwheat.

 

[T-Max]

Buckwheat. I broadcast some last summer. Spilled a little in the road where I loaded the spreader and it grew in the road.

 

[Seabee]

Alright, Buckwheat it is! I will upload pics if it grows..lol

 

[Longleaf]

Just out of curiosity, what is growing there now that you have been mowing?

 

[Seabee]

Just out of curiosity, what is growing there now that you have been mowing?

Weeds/grass of some sort. Nothing was ever planted there.

 

[Seabee]

Too early to plant Buckwheat in central Indiana yet? I have read its not very tolerant of frost. I have this weekend all to myself(wife and kids at the beach on spring break) and the weather seems pretty decent with rain on Monday. I could even do rye if it holds up a little better with these cool temps. Is it bad I want fall to get here so I can get my clover in the ground..haha

 

[MarkDarvin]

Throw some sunflower seed in there too.

 

[swat1018]

Way too cold of a soil temp for buckwheat around here. Oats/Rye, yea.

 

[Chainsaw]

I'd leave what nature has planted and mow it around July 15, earlier if your weeds seed before then. Then on Aug. 15 it would be kill, throw and mow clover/rye or kill it as soon as it comes up good this spring, plow it and kill it again when it grows back in around July 15, then disk it as needed to keep killing new growth until ready to plant in the fall. Aug. 15 to Sept. 1 is our normal plant date for clover/rye. We are in zone 4b/5a. Your area might be later. Someone in your zone can chime in on what dates work best there.

 

[Mennoniteman]

Buckwheat. But instead of clover and rye in the fall I'd do clover and oats. Deer will be attracted to the clover/ oats shooting plot like candy and the oats should survive the winter in your area. Deer tend to eat rye when there's nothing else left.

 

[Chainsaw]

Buckwheat. But instead of clover and rye in the fall I'd do clover and oats. Deer will be attracted to the clover/ oats shooting plot like candy and the oats should survive the winter in your area. Deer tend to eat rye when there's nothing else left.

Good point Mennoniteman--our oats being in a colder place usually die off in the winter. And the deer eat rye again in the winter and in the spring when it is the first thing growing, in this zone. And the rye makes for a great fawning field as well as helps prevent some of the weeds from surviving(alleopathic).

 

[Mennoniteman]

Good point Mennoniteman--our oats being in a colder place usually die off in the winter. And the deer eat rye again in the winter and in the spring when it is the first thing growing, in this zone. And the rye makes for a great fawning field as well as helps prevent some of the weeds from surviving(alleopathic).

Makes sense. What works in one area won't be the same in another. I'm used to our PA oats being grazed most of the winter and spring. Rye didn't work well for me for a late summer planting/ fall shooting plot.

 

[swat1018]

Buckwheat. But instead of clover and rye in the fall I'd do clover and oats. Deer will be attracted to the clover/ oats shooting plot like candy and the oats should survive the winter in your area. Deer tend to eat rye when there's nothing else left.

Oats won't survive the winter in Indiana

 

[Chainsaw]

Makes sense. What works in one area won't be the same in another. I'm used to our PA oats being grazed most of the winter and spring. Rye didn't work well for me for a late summer planting/ fall shooting plot.

There is no question that oats are a fall draw but I was more answering the question regarding how would you start a clover plot? I do the LC in my larger plots but a small plot like that in the woods I'm betting that rye will get hit along with the clover.

Swat what planting zone are you in?

 

[Mennoniteman]

There is no question that oats are a fall draw but I was more answering the question regarding how would you start a clover plot? I do the LC in my larger plots but a small plot like that in the woods I'm betting that rye will get hit along with the clover.

Swat what planting zone are you in?

I misinterpreted the OP, started thinking fall shooting plot. If the oats don't overwinter in that area it's not as good for starting a new clover field. Makes a difference what clover as well, are you planting a faster starting clover like red, or a more difficult starting like ladino.