Got the new plot done....

[growalot]

All around the goat barn....I disced/dragged then spread 7 bags of lime and disced/dragged again...Hog radish, turnips and rye ...his will take couple of years to get the ground smoothed out and the rocks under some control....I will beat all this uneven ankle breaking land...lol...so now all but one small middle section(that collects water) has been renovated and planted...the power plant(what a mistake that is) on one end the untouched middle the Bracc/ our sweet corn and pumpkin/squash planting in the front and now the whole paddock area for braccs...They will have plenty of later winter eats this year...for I'm thinking this may be a deep snow year...we'll see

[Pav2704]

How is the draw of winter rye during oct and November? Is it more of a late winter food source?

[Pygmy]

Did you broadcast the seed, Growie ? I'm planting to do a similar plot with radishes, turnips and rape.. I have just under an acre...

It is limed, plowed, fertilized and dragged, but I need to drag it over a couple more times

How much of each seed would you recommend ?

I have another acre left that I plan to plant to clover/rye in a couple more weeks.

[SplitG2]

How is the draw of winter rye during oct and November? Is it more of a late winter food source?

 

depending on what food you have available it will be a draw October-spring green up.

[Pav2704]

Thanks split... I've got clover that's doing really well and a small 1/4 acre plot of corn that I planted late June. Last I checked, mid July, it was only about a foot tall. Not sure how it will end up? I was actually thinking about cutting it and tilling sept 1 and planting oats? Any thoughts??

[growalot]

I hand broad cast...that is with a hand held crank spreader...I get better coverage..on really small areas I just use just the hand toss method...Gosh guys to say poundage is difficult for me because I really don't measure...see If I am planting early enough then as soon as the field greens just a tad...I go in and check for bare spots and over seed...some times I wait until the plants get a fair size and then go in and over seed ...this way I will have lots of little bulbs late in the season...last year I had them until March...if I've planted late with the braccs...I will go in and over seed the bare spots with a winter grain....I plant like I cook....a pinch here a dash there...I rarely measure any thing unless baking...and that's a science

 

Now I'm not real fond of rape ...because I had a reseeding problem a few years ago...and round up would not kill it...but the deer like it...... remember with a mix like that...rape has no bulb...radish a narrow bulb that will start rotting once real cold weather hits and the turnips have a nice round firm bulb that last well in to winter..All have about the same broad leaf cover...rapes a tad more up right

When deciding on % of each in the mix you have to think well on what your looking for the plants to do...quick green up...leaf and a early -mid bulb...plus great soil building or greens and later season attraction and feed through the bulb???? Also over crowding means smaller bulbs and a need for more fertilizer once up and growing

 

Also the rape and HR will reseed if planted a bit early...mine did in spots and it worked out well...for I have them filling in among the power plant...

Damn bad storm hitting...well timings every thing..lol...hope above helped...

Edited August 2, 2013 by growalot

[SplitG2]

Thanks split... I've got clover that's doing really well and a small 1/4 acre plot of corn that I planted late June. Last I checked, mid July, it was only about a foot tall. Not sure how it will end up? I was actually thinking about cutting it and tilling sept 1 and planting oats? Any thoughts??

 

 

If you plan on planting it back in corn next May I would plant winter rye.  WR will give you some free Nitrogen which corn needs.

[growalot]

Well that was nasty but a quick storm...sunny and muggy....good short drenching to get that plot growing fast...I get freaked out by lightening...had a couple of close calls and the house gets hit every few years...last bad hit blew up the answering machine...now every thing is on special outlets...3 adults and a large german shepherd all squeezing down the basement stairs at once...lol surprised that didn't kill one of us...haha....

 

(sp)

Edited August 2, 2013 by growalot

[SplitG2]

grow, does your house have a ground rod?

[Pav2704]

If you plan on planting it back in corn next May I would plant winter rye. WR will give you some free Nitrogen which corn needs.

Thanks for the info!!

[growalot]

No Split..probably should When I say we get hit its the overhead telephone and old cable line that's the problem ...but you'd think with all the much taller trees around the house we wouldn't have a problem.....we do loose a lot of trees here to strikes...and we've gotten the "ball " lightening twice...now that is some scary "sheet" to say the least..lots of ground strikes.

I liken the storms to all the Mylar balloons and lately wire and crape paper "hot air" balloons I have to pick up all over....they flow nicely starting out West and North of us...then stall and fall right at our hill...lol

 

Pav...I couldn't add to SplitG2's answer other than I find that the deer will eat the braccs earlier and better when I mix winter grains in with them...they come to eat the grains but nibble the braccs getting use to them....

[GreeneHunter]

A little off topic but .... I just found a leftover Cabelas $50.00 gift card and went online to Cabelas and bought 2 bags of " throw and grow "  ! I currently do not have any food plots and clearly have no idea where to begin !  Is this stuff any good ?

[growalot]

Depends on the % of rye seed in the mix...rye seed not grain is pretty persistent...they will eat it but not a favored seed...rye grain is though along with other grain seeds...you also want to check % fescue in those mixes...not something I would want...