Red vs white clover

[corydd7]

Seems white clover is more popular with food plotters. My question is why. Is it more compatible with other food sources used in mixes? Is it just a better draw? Better for the land? Last longer?

It seems my red clover grows extremely quickly and goes to seed quickly, as my white clover stays pretty low. 

[moog5050]

Red is not as favored by deer but they eat it too.   It definitely grows quicker and makes for a lush plot though.   A mix is always good.   

[phade]

White clover has less lignen, is generally more tolerant of wet soil from time to time (IE hunting plots tend to be in spots where farms dont actually plant), and in the north white is considered more perennial in the traditional sense, despite reds being in that classification. Reds are more often looked as annual production for some reason.. 

I've personally had positive experiences with red clover...if you're doing a clover plot, IMO that is one case where you should really blend to allow it to do its job across the calendar and weather conditions as much as possible.

Alice / Medium Red / Ladino is a pretty nice combo IMO.

[corydd7]

All of this makes sense thanks guys. 

[stubborn1VT]

Mixes are good.  Red will establish MUCH faster than white, but white can last for years and years with minimal maintenance.  I will be seeding a little strip with Ladino, medium Red and Balansa clovers with Winter Wheat as a nurse crop.  

Pretty much what Phade said.

[LET EM GROW]

White clovers are more preferred in the North here.. But a clover blend of several whites and a red will beat out a monoculture white clover planting every time. Especially in summer droughts, white clovers will go dormant and dry up and brown up until moisture is present. Where the Red clover in this blend will stay greener longer due to its tap root system. ITs also best to use Chicory in clover planting for the same reason. This keeps your plot attractive more often than not, especially in drought when nothing in the area will be preferred. We must remember also that the majority of deer's water intake comes through plants, so if you can keep green plants growing when the rest are dried up.. your feeding and watering your wildlife at the same time still, even in droughts..  

Medium Red Clover is also usually only good for a 2-3 years, where White perennial clovers will last double that or more if maintained. 

Also remember that there are other Red clovers and whites that are annuals. 

Seed Diversity over monoculture plantings, every time..  

[Robhuntandfish]

is there a brand of clover seed that anyone recommends? looking for anything that is periennial as possible.  

considering this....https://www.outsidepride.com/seed/clover-seed/renovation-white-clover-seeds.html

Edited July 30, 2021 by Robhuntandfish

[Cabin Fever]

This past spring, I seeded the back half of my yard with Imperial Whitetail Fusion (clover/chicory mix). No ground prep at all, just broadcasted it into the existing lawn, hoping it would grow to have a decent plot. I’m amazed how well it took off and really took over the grass that was back there! I mow it with my lawn tractor, that has a max height cut of 4”. Every week when I mow, it’s 10-12” tall!




I wanted to get another bag to seed spots that have holes in the clover plot. I saw that Whitetail Institute has a special going on now, where you buy a bag of Imperial Fusion and you get a bag of Imperial Clover for free, with free shipping.

https://whitetailinstitute.com/buyonegetone/


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[LET EM GROW]

3 hours ago, Cabin Fever said:

This past spring, I seeded the back half of my yard with Imperial Whitetail Fusion (clover/chicory mix). No ground prep at all, just broadcasted it into the existing lawn, hoping it would grow to have a decent plot. I’m amazed how well it took off and really took over the grass that was back there! I mow it with my lawn tractor, that has a max height cut of 4”. Every week when I mow, it’s 10-12” tall!




I wanted to get another bag to seed spots that have holes in the clover plot. I saw that Whitetail Institute has a special going on now, where you buy a bag of Imperial Fusion and you get a bag of Imperial Clover for free, with free shipping.

https://whitetailinstitute.com/buyonegetone/


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ITs that simple! lol

If you order the deal, let us know what test date is on the seed label. Im interested anyways . 

[LET EM GROW]

4 hours ago, Robhuntandfish said:

is there a brand of clover seed that anyone recommends? looking for anything that is periennial as possible.  

considering this....https://www.outsidepride.com/seed/clover-seed/renovation-white-clover-seeds.html

I highly recomend Grandpa Rays outdoors..

Either the Gold,  Mass Builder or Overseed Blend  for Perennial plots, use an oat or wheat for a nurse crop

OR 

3way for a killer annual, cold tolerant clover blend, That you can frost seed one of the perennials right into for a killer perennial Plot come SPring!!

[Cabin Fever]

1 hour ago, LET EM GROW said:

ITs that simple! lol

If you order the deal, let us know what test date is on the seed label. Im interested anyways . 

I never expected to take off like it did! LOL At my old camp, I tried a couple of times to grow clover plots by doing it by the book (ie. plowing, discing, soil testing, fertilizing, applying lime, seeding, mowing, etc...), but I never had a thicker-better-looking-weed-free-clover/chicory-plot as I have in my backyard now, by just broadcasting seed into my lawn! Crazy! Maybe the different brand of seed made a difference, I dunno, but I'm thrilled with the results! It probably helped by NOT plowing and stirring up those dormant weed seeds.

My order is suppose to arrive tomorrow. I'll check the test date and let you know.

[Cabin Fever]

On 7/30/2021 at 12:39 PM, LET EM GROW said:

ITs that simple! lol

If you order the deal, let us know what test date is on the seed label. Im interested anyways . 

Imperial Whitetail Fusion Test Date - Jan. 2021

Imperial Whitetail Clover Test Date - Apr. 2021

Edited July 31, 2021 by Cabin Fever

[LET EM GROW]

On 7/30/2021 at 2:35 PM, Cabin Fever said:

I never expected to take off like it did! LOL At my old camp, I tried a couple of times to grow clover plots by doing it by the book (ie. plowing, discing, soil testing, fertilizing, applying lime, seeding, mowing, etc...), but I never had a thicker-better-looking-weed-free-clover/chicory-plot as I have in my backyard now, by just broadcasting seed into my lawn! Crazy! Maybe the different brand of seed made a difference, I dunno, but I'm thrilled with the results! It probably helped by NOT plowing and stirring up those dormant weed seeds.

My order is suppose to arrive tomorrow. I'll check the test date and let you know.

When you scratch the soil(plowing, tilling, disking etc..) You are releasing millions of weed weeds that lay dormant in the soil. They get moved by a disk, then hit with moisture and sun and you are now growing weeds with your seeds. No till, when done properly. Acts as a weed barrier, soil moisture saver, and it acts as slow release fertilizer. as it breaks' down. adding Organic matter as well. Which is better than any chemical fertilizer you'll add to it.. 

Also, we are planting tiny tiny seeds, there's no reason to bottom plow, or disk really. Tiny Brassica and clover seeds, just need to lay on soil someway somehow, a roller to gently press seed into soil slightly will help the rain pop that seed. but not always necessary. 

Just curious why theyd offer a free bag of seed. Unless they marked the first bag up a bunch. 

[Cabin Fever]

When you scratch the soil(plowing, tilling, disking etc..) You are releasing millions of weed weeds that lay dormant in the soil. They get moved by a disk, then hit with moisture and sun and you are now growing weeds with your seeds. No till, when done properly. Acts as a weed barrier, soil moisture saver, and it acts as slow release fertilizer. as it breaks' down. adding Organic matter as well. Which is better than any chemical fertilizer you'll add to it.. 
Also, we are planting tiny tiny seeds, there's no reason to bottom plow, or disk really. Tiny Brassica and clover seeds, just need to lay on soil someway somehow, a roller to gently press seed into soil slightly will help the rain pop that seed. but not always necessary. 
Just curious why theyd offer a free bag of seed. Unless they marked the first bag up a bunch. 

Believe it or not the first bag (Fusion) was marked what the going rate is on the site. ($35)


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