Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

I have a 40ac. piece of land in South Central Illinois. and considering planting a 1- 1 1/2 ac. imperial whitetail clover food plot. Any experience with this clover would be appreciated.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

You can buy white dutch clover seed for about half the price and it will do the same thing..

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

IWC - puts out a real good video that really shows how to plant it well. And - the plot is a proven winner - for deer. I've planted it - and sometimes still do - its a good plot - and an excellent learning plot.

Still - Ron is right - there are seed sources for common white clovers that will perform as well - at a cheaper price.

I like IWC as a first plot - it was my groups' first REAL plot-quite a few years ago. Many will say that the Ph is the most important thing in a good clover plot - and While you cannot ignore it (strive for 6.0 at least) - I still feel that in most areas of the country - proper seed bed and adequate moisture in the next 2 weeks after planting are the most important considerations.

FH

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

The reason the PH level is important is not for the growth but the palatabilty of the plant to the deer. if your plot tastes better than your neighbor's than guess what more deer will be on your side of the fence:)

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

Farmhunter I dont remember if you have ever posted on this but do you overseed the clover after a year or so or let it re-seed itself as long as it stays in the field, how long do you figure on it being a viable food source?

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

This year will be my 6th. I mow it 3 times per year and treat it better than my lawn.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

Ron with IWC - I never let it re-seed on purpose. Whenever the field is more than 50% "in bloom" I mow it. It usually works out to 3 times a year - After the last mowing around Labor Day - some heads will always go to seed - but I'm not convinced that the natural seeding does much.
Ladino does a good job of "filling in" the field through propagation from the roots.

A good White Clover Plot (Like IWC) should stay REAL strong for 3 years - and decent another 2-3 years more with regular mowing. I've tried overseeding a couple times - but I've never been real pleased with the results - the truth is that the clover makes ALOT of nitrogen available for invading grasses - and they begin to outcompete the clover after three years. There are those that say you can extend the life of the plot by a couple years with a spray like Poast - and maybe so - but for what it costs - I'd rather plan on re-planting clover plots (or rotating them with other plots) every 4-5 years. Here's a picture of the last IWC plot I put in in 2000. some of you might recognize the picture for an old post. This was the plot's second year - and was very thick with clover - 1st mowing 6/22/02:



Here is a closeup picture of the same plot in June this past year - 2004.
There still is alot of clover - but grasses have really started to become a problem. Mowing helped - but 2005 will probably be the last year of this (my favorite) clover plot - then it will be corn.

For Red Clover - and Alsike - Alowing it to reseed naturally bewteen July 4th and the 1st frost is a good idea - Mow it when most of the seed heads go brown. These clovers are basically a 2 year Perenial - allowing them to go to seed seems to get you another year or two.

I've never done it - but I'd guess Annual clovers like Crimson clover - should be allowed to "go to seed" if you are not re-planting after the year.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

PY Seeker -

You are right on about the taste of clover. Lime makes it Sweeter - no doubt. In fact - most people can taste the difference themselves in the clover - for different Ph values.

Clovers will grow (in varying degrees) in Ph from 5.0 - 7.0+. But those closer to 6.5-7.0 are most likely "best". Ph is funny - a Ph of 7.0 is 10 times less acidic than an Ph of 6.0 and 100 TIMES less acidic than 5.0!!! So increasing the Ph even a couple 10ths of a point can mean alot on clover growth and taste.

Even light - topical applications of lime can have a big effect on clover growth and taste - in the first year - especially if its mowed and NOT harvested - regularly.

I don't like to get too hung up on Ph - If i get a plot anywhere near 6.0-6.5 ph - I did well - and I'm happy with it. If one's plots are more towards the 5.0 end - You should either give up on clovers -and look at oats/rye or plant annuals like oats/rye - and apply lime as you can afford - until the Ph is at least close to 6.0 before you seriously consider a clover type.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

Farm Hunter, back in the mid seventies I had a 10 acre field I seeded in clover to combine for seed and then I couldnt get it combined so it went to seed and the next spring it was rank, I sold it to some dairy farmers next door for hay, and it was the real deal , I forget how many bales of hay came off that little field, but it was many, and that has been my only experience with letting clover go to seed and regenerate itself, then it got plowed under and put into crops, rode by there the other day it is in rather large houses now......

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

Yes, RonM it is terrible how DE has grown. I used to hunt in Symrna with my Gpop for geese. Met a lot of good people from DE/MD. Used to guide at M&M shooting there. Still have M&M shooting here.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

M&M is owned by the state , we till the ground. Matarese just recently passed away. A couple years ago I was chopping stalks behind his house and he walked out to the field to talk a few minutes. Still a few geese around the area, mostly Snows right now, I say we till that, I help the Wilsons, they have the grain dryer about a mile or so N. of M&M. and till around 6,000 acres.......

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RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

Looks heathy! No need to mow. How does it produce come gunning season.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

If you know the Matarese then you know his boy and grandsons. They live in Pennsville, NJ where I live. They own the best shooting preserve in the area barring none. 1400 acres. All the Delaware boys come to shoot both game and sporting clays. He's made that farm what it is today. Good man, too. Boys of his are good, kids. My boy is friends with them. Your talking about his dad. I met him back in the 80's when I worked for them at the preserve. He was also a good fellow.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

Wild . we have a game dinner at Leipsic Firehouse, the first Monday in March every year and they send over Pheasants, or at least used to for the dinner. I've heard about the place over in Joisey.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

i'd stay away from Dutch white. if it is the same stuff I am thinking of, it is a native clover that grows very low and doesn't produce high yeilds. if you are going to plant something go with Ladino clover & maybe some red. Ladino can be a bit pricey ($4-5/#). I'm not sure how that compares with Imperial. However, you don't need many #/acre. I would say no more than 5#/ac. (maybe a bit more). We generally recommend 1-3 for pasture planting with grass. there are a lot of seeds in a pound of Ladino (871,000) and they go a long way.

RE: Imperial Whitetail Clover
 

we use this clover and it attracks deer very well and is very easy to grow it practically grows on it own with no work involved liked weeding or cutting. we also dont cut ours we just let the deers eat it..