PLANTING AND GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Planting:
Method: Choose a site that receives a minimum of 8 hours of full sun. Prepare a clean, smooth and firm seedbed by plowing and dragging the soil. Fertilizer and lime can be applied during this step to incorporate it into the soil. Plant with a drill or broadcast seed evenly across the soil surface and incorporate it using a cultipacker or by shallow disking. Care should be taken to ensure seed are planted at the proper depth. If seed are disked in, the use of a cultipacker or roller after seeding ensures good seed/soil contact which improves stand emergence.
Seeding Date: South - Sept. 15 thru Nov. 1; Upper South - Sept. 1 thru Oct. 15; North - Aug. 15 thru Oct. 1
Seeding Rate: 100 lbs. /acre or 2 1/2 lbs./1000 sq. ft.
Depth: 1/4 in. - 1/2 in. (stand failures will result from seed planted too shallow or too deep).
Fertilizer: Soil testing is highly recommended. Liming to a pH of 6.0-6.5 and providing adequate levels of potassium and phosphorus are necessary to ensure a productive food plot. See your local county extension office for soil sampling assistance. In the absence of a soil test, apply 400 lbs. /acre 10-10-10 (10 lbs. /1000 sq. ft.) or equivalent fertilizer and 1 ton/acre ag lime (50 lbs./1000 sq. ft.). Apply fertilizer just prior to seeding. If practical, apply lime a minimum of 3 months before planting.
Management:
Fertilizer: To boost forage production, apply a second application of 400 lbs. /acre 10-10-10 (10 lbs. /1000 sq. ft.) or equivalent fertilizer in late winter just prior to the spring growth flush of the small grains. Or, if a soil test from the plot area indicates soil potassium and phosphorus levels are adequate, a sidedress application of 34-0-0 at 125 - 150 lbs. /acre (3 – 3.5 lbs. /1000 sq. ft.) or an equivalent nitrogen fertilizer product is sufficient.
Tips for Successful Food Plots:
- Every successful food plot begins with a soil test. Most woodland soils have low pH and low fertility. A soil test will tell you how much fertilizer and lime is needed. Information on taking a soil test can be obtained from your local county extension office.
- Spend the extra time necessary to properly prepare the soil by plowing, smoothing and firming the ground. Planting on a weed-free, smooth and firm seedbed that allows good seed-soil contact is essential for a thick, productive forage stand.
- Plant seed at the proper seeding depth. Planting too shallow or too deep can result in stand failure. Seed mixes containing small-seeded legumes and forbs should not be seeded deeper than 1/4 inch. Use a cultipacker, log or a light drag to firm the soil after planting.
- When selecting a wildlife food plot site, choose an area that is long and narrow with curves or bends in it. This provides a sense of comfort and safety for wildlife. When developing food plots, a good rule of thumb is to plant 2.5 to 7 acres of food plots for every 100 acres of habitat.
- Avoid droughty sites such as eroded hillsides or shallow, rocky soils. Southwest facing slopes are hotter in the summer and tend to dry out faster than bottom land.
- A minimum of 50% full sunshine is essential for a healthy and productive food plot. Morning sun is better than afternoon sun for summer game food plots. The reverse is generally true in the winter.
