SwampTHING

O.K. just recieved permission from the owner of the 2100 acres of farm and bush 4 of us deer hunt to put some small food plots in this year. Ditches were widened and dug this year. The results were 5 seperate 50-150'wide x 2-300 yard long strips surrounded on all sides by ditch or hardwoods. all is former farm field(corn, beans mainly, but onions, carrots once in a while) in southern ontario.

We have to get it in and plant on them before the leasee who farms the property gets in and plants his crops. Once this happens we will only be able to access one spot with any type of machinery. what do you suggest that can be planted early maybe on soggy ground, not sprayed or cut and will last the year?? we have a couple atv's and a 4.5' wide disk to pull behind. is it a pipe dream or is it do-able?

Thanks for any responses

PILOT

In the one area that you will be able to access I'd definitely plant some type of Legume mix and try to mow if possible. On the other plots Id plant brassicas which compete quite well with weeds and will give the deer something to feed on above the snow. If planted in the spring they should get atleast mid-thigh high by fall. Last year I planted Biologic Premium Perenial and had great success as this is a mix of clovers, chicory and brassicas. Have you thought about walking in with back pack sprayers and hitting cetain areas of the plot with a grass herbicide and fertilizing with a hand spreader around the first of August. You don't have to treat the whole plot just the areas near your stand locations. It could be alot of work but I bet it will pay off.

lunchbucket

We need to know what type of soil is there and you need to do a soil sample... Without this info we are in the dark...

1sagittarius

You might be setting yourself up for failure with out a Roundup burn down, soil test, and ability to maintain the plots. If It gets above 55 over night, attempt a roundup spraying even with a hand carried sprayer. Alsike clover may be our ticket, two or three mowings would help alot. An ATV spreader for lime, phosphorus, and potassium would improve your odds too. Keep the Nitrogen as low as possible so you're not feeding the grass and weeds.