Food Plot update (1 mo. later)
 

If you missed the original two threads from the begining, here are the two links.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1512800

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1514519

I went out today and I was a little disappointed. We had rain through May however the ground seemed dry. The rye grass really grew however the clovers were very small. I couldn't tell anything about the rapes, brassicas, turnips, biologic etc...Course I don't know what I'm looking at. Also, the weeds did indeed come back or spread from the existing weeds. Either way, I was a little disappointed.

Here's a couple pics from today. Check the former links to see the progress. These shots were from the base of my treestand tree out into the plot. I was happy to see what was a bean field last year will be corn this year. That narrows the openness for my plot.



That's my baby standing at the far edge of the plot to show size, approx 50 yards from treestand.

RE: Food Plot update (1 mo. later)
 

Rob the first couple of years are hard , the ground is hard ,tree roots ,rocks & just plain poor soil .Rememberif it was good ground some one would be farming it.If you are next to the woods as you are the shade comes to play.

If this year does not please you don't worry.Do you have a 2 wheeled broad caster?If not get one.Once a month go back and broadcast 250lbs of lime.Its four bucks a bag for easy spread .20 bucks a month.It will pay off.
Next year spray with round up to kill the weeds ,and you will have plenty.
Plant buckwheat .it has a big root ball and helps free up the soil.
Use a frertilizer with little or no nitrogen 0-14-40 or 5-10-10 weeds thrive on nitrogen.
Feel free to p.m. me Good luck Jim

RE: Food Plot update (1 mo. later)
 

Rob; just 1 month after planting the important thing for clover is that it germinated and that you have a large number of seedlings. You'll probably need to mow it a couple of times to keep the competition down for the clover. Of course after saying that I don't know your exact mix is so please don't mow the turnips and rapes to help the clover. Overall all it looks OK from the pictures, you just need to give it time and hope for rain.

Dan O.

RE: Food Plot update (1 mo. later)
 

that soil just looks acidic. i can see a farmers field in the upper left of the first picture. the farmer has probably applied lime. your soil is probably the same as his. you just need lime and time.

RE: Food Plot update (1 mo. later)
 

DID YOU GET A SOIL TEST DONE? iF NOT GET ONE ASAP. DO THE FIVE SHOVELS TEST, ONE FROM EACH CORNER OF THE PLOT & ONE FROM THE CENTER OF THE PLOT AND MIX IT IN A PLASTIC BUCKET.iT COST ANYWHERE FROM $ 8 TO 15 DOLLARS. PLACES LIKE AGWAY CAN DO IT FOR YOU @12.00. I ALSO BELIEVEYOU CAN SEND A SMALL SAMPLE TO bIOLOGIC FORUNDER $10. AND THEY WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH LIME YOU NEED VIA COMPUTER OR MAIL.