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Food Plots Red clover plot ???

mr.big

mr.big

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2001
Messages
32,703
Location
Copper Head Road
The last few years I have worked this spot up ever late summer and sowed in winter wheat with great results. Deer just stay in it all the time. Last year I mixed in some clover and it's still looking good and deer are still wearing it out,, I kinda hate to disc it up but really want some wheat there for this winter , I can see this spot off the porch about 325 yards away.
Would you disc it up and plant wheat or , hook turn plow up and make another spot beside it for the wheat?? I've never let clover go over a year but it looks good right now.
Pics from today.
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Exactly what JCDEERMAN said, but I would 1) go heavier than 50 lbs/acre (more like 75-100), and 2) not do so until closer to fall. Wheat planted in August will grow too tall and "stemy" by November. Personally, I would broadcast the wheat seed sometime in mid to late September, and then mow the clover a bit to produce mulch that covers the seed. I would NOT mow the clover down tight to the ground, but about 6" high.
 
megalomaniac said:
agree with JC. Dont kill the clover out, deer prefer it over wheat anyways!
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Agreed. While still available, the deer I watch on trail-cam video feeding in my plots are always hitting the clover over the wheat. Most of the heavy wheat usage is after the clover has been depleted or during the coldest part of the winter.
 
BSK said:
Exactly what JCDEERMAN said, but I would 1) go heavier than 50 lbs/acre (more like 75-100), and 2) not do so until closer to fall. Wheat planted in August will grow too tall and "stemy" by November. Personally, I would broadcast the wheat seed sometime in mid to late September, and then mow the clover a bit to produce mulch that covers the seed. I would NOT mow the clover down tight to the ground, but about 6" high.
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How far into winter will the clover last by itself?? I've got the equipment and enough room there to do a winter wheat plot right beside the clover.
 
I sowed it Sept 16 last year and this pic was Sept 30. They absolutely hammered that wheat all winter and the clover came in strong this spring

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mr.big said:
How far into winter will the clover last by itself?? I've got the equipment and enough room there to do a winter wheat plot right beside the clover.
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The big problem is that it's Red Clover. Red Clover is nowhere near the "cold season" clover that species like Crimson Clover are.

Absolutely no problem planting a separate wheat plot if you have the space.
 
BSK said:
The big problem is that it's Red Clover. Red Clover is nowhere near the "cold season" clover that species like Crimson Clover are.

Absolutely no problem planting a separate wheat plot if you have the space.
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ok ill overseed the red clover with wheat,,think ill still work up another spot beside it,,would you put that in wheat or the crimson clover or a mix,,ive tried turnip greens and the deer here arent interested ,
 
I've had really good luck by either mowing the clover (or what usually happens is the deer graze the clover short), then just drilling my fall mix (wheat, brassicas, more clover) right into the standing clover. Be great if you could source a drill for a couple hours
 
megalomaniac said:
I've had really good luck by either mowing the clover (or what usually happens is the deer graze the clover short), then just drilling my fall mix (wheat, brassicas, more clover) right into the standing clover. Be great if you could source a drill for a couple hours
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Agree completely. A drill not only ensures better germination, you don't need as much seed.

But if all else fails, just overseed with wheat at 50% above drilled poundage/acre. If I were broadcast wheat alone into blank plot, I would use 150 lbs/acre. If I were broadcasting into standing clover, 100 lbs/acre. If I were broadcasting into a blank plot, 15 lbs Crimson Clover and 100 lbs wheat per acre.
 
BSK said:
The big problem is that it's Red Clover. Red Clover is nowhere near the "cold season" clover that species like Crimson Clover are.

Absolutely no problem planting a separate wheat plot if you have the space.
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Once it goes dormant this fall/ winter, it'll come back late spring & go into summer. Red is more heat & dry weather tolerant than most others except for maybe Durana.
 
BSK said:
Agree completely. A drill not only ensures better germination, you don't need as much seed.

But if all else fails, just overseed with wheat at 50% above drilled poundage/acre. If I were broadcast wheat alone into blank plot, I would use 150 lbs/acre. If I were broadcasting into standing clover, 100 lbs/acre. If I were broadcasting into a blank plot, 15 lbs Crimson Clover and 100 lbs wheat per acre.
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that spots about 4 tenths acre,,i put 100 lbs wheat and 10 pounds red clover,150 lbs 19-19-19 and 300 pounds pellet lime on it
i disced the lime and triple 19 in then broadcast the wheat and very lightly disced it in then broadcast the clover on top and packed it down with my 4 wheeler,,
 
I've started adding more Red & Durana to my mix the last couple of years because of the hot & dry weather. Will be seeding more this fall as well, even planting some chicory which I have never done. So over these summers 🥵
 
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tellico4x4 said:
Once it goes dormant this fall/ winter, it'll come back late spring & go into summer. Red is more heat & dry weather tolerant than most others except for maybe Durana.
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Absolutely true. But I'm not sure I want a plant that goes dormant in winter as a fall-season plot.
 
tellico4x4 said:
I've started adding more Red & Durana to my mix the last couple of years because of the hot & dry weather. Will be seeding more this fall as well, even planting some chicory which I have never done. So over these summers 🥵
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I can't remember the last time we had a "normal" summer. Four years ago? Five?
 

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