My honeyhole plot 2010 edition...

[erussell]

I must have looked like I was having seizures swatting at the mosquitoes while I was planting there must have been 10 on me at all times. At least the ticks aren't as bad as they have been.

[erussell]

after 3 days the plot is starting to grow already.

[burmjohn]

Nice!

[WNYBuckHunter]

Yeah mine too, I went over on Friday and put the trail cam up and the whole plot was green and about 2 or 3 inches high already. Ill go check the cam in a couple more days and post pics if there are any.

[erussell]

So the rain has been pretty sparse since I put my plot in so I wasn't sure how the plot was going to look when I went to check on it but it looks like its coming along pretty well. This was the 1st time a plot had gone in this spot so I over seeded a little in case there was a failure to grow. Might need to go in and thin it a little when it gets bigger if the deer don't eat it right away. They don't seem to be interested in it right now. Hope that changes when it frosts. The blank areas are going to be filled in with winter rye in September.

[burmjohn]

Wow real nice, congrats.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Nice, mine looks pretty similar so far. Ill take a pic next time I check the trail cam.

[erussell]

Alot of the bare spots have plants growing in them their just starting to sprout. Not sure why they took so long to sprout and the other areas took right off. Might be because we havent had a good soaking rain till today, so some of the areas got more moisture than others.

[erussell]

Here's a question. I have read that turnips and brassicas in general may need a 2nd fertilizing because they grow so fast, so once they get to a certain size they might start turning yellow. My question is how do you fertilize the plants without burning them. its not like I can just fill up the spreader and go to town without running over my plants and if I just throw it on by hand it might burn the plants wont it?

[erussell]

plots really filling in nice

[burmjohn]

Wow, congrats man, looks awesome.  Any sign of nibbling?

[erussell]

Didn't notice any, and I hope they don't become interested in it till after the frost hits it and I'm in the woods with my bow. It isn't really all that big and they will be able to clean it out rather quickly when and if they take a likeing to it. I didn't really go all out on it this yr and only planted turnips and rape in the center to see what would happen since this is my 1st yr doing a plot on this land. Will put some kind of cereal grain in the rest of it come Sept. to fill in the rest of it. Its still rather hot and I really don't start to see deer alot on the property till gun season starts or when the rut kicks in so hopefully it wont be 1 day its there and the next its gone but that is what I expect will happen. That is if they take a liking to the turnip and rape this yr. I have read where it will sometime take up to 3 yrs for deer to relize they like it.

[WNYBuckHunter]

I have no pictures of deer eating any of the chickory or brassicas in my plot yet, just the fallen apples and Ive seen nibbling on the rye grass and clover.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Well, the deer have demolished the center part of my plot already. The center of it is the shadiest part and with the lack of sunlight, the deer nipped it all off early and its not coming back like other areas. Im gonna try over seeding with clover just to see if it comes in before season.

[erussell]

1st frost will knock out the clover wont it? Might be better to throw down some winter rye down thick.

[WNYBuckHunter]

True, Thanks.

[erussell]

Brassicas looking good, deer are starting to nibble them. Planted 30 lbs of winter rye in the open spots. Hope we get a little rain soon to get them going.

[burmjohn]

WOW!, they look just amazing. 

[erussell]

I messed up though, my Turnips are getting good leaves but the bulbs are not forming. I planted it a little thick and crowded it with the canola. Oh well live and learn next yr I will do it a little different, I honestly didn't think it would do as good as it has. It has def. brought in the deer. There are trails coming into the area that were not there before. Hope the Rye comes in good, Deer will massacre the brassicas if it doesn't. Though I think they just might once they learn they like it anyhow 

[VenaticOutdoors]

In the future, you'll want me to careful about overseeding annuals.  With perennials, go ahead!

[erussell]

Rye is coming in good, but the deer are mowing it over as fast as it comes up. Might have to go and get another 15 lbs to fill in the bald spots. There is an area to the left of the pic that is already mowed down to dirt.

[burmjohn]

Nice!

[VenaticOutdoors]

Careful about planting rye this late - I would talk to some local farmers and get their opinion before you spend money on additional seed.  If you have it, it may be better to hold onto it until next year.

[erussell]

doesn't matter, it frosted on the turnips and rape twice and the deer mowed them right down to the dirt and are now working on killing off every last pc of rye. : Bastages, so much for a late season plot

[NYBuckHunter87]

very nice plots, hopefully next year i can get something like that going, good luck this season.