Food Plots vs. Time of Year

[VABoy"88]

Question! I planted two food plots this spring using a mixture of brassicas and clover. The brassicas came in very well, while the clover was over taken by the brassicas. However, now the brassicas seem to be dying in the field, would anyone happen to have an idea why, and will the clover take off if I were to bush-hog the field?

Good Hunting.

[whitetailfreak55]

You'll have to plant again guessing that it was a spring seed you'll have to plant Your fall plots pretty quick if You want them up For hunting season.
Tyler

[redkneck]

Was the seed inoculated?

[Mathews XT Man]

Can you see any clover in your plot at all? Was the seed premixed or did you make your own mix?
Did you take soil samples , lime & fertilyze for the crop grown?
What steps did you take to prepare the plot prior to planting?
What has the weather been like since planting?

[wtnhunt]

Welcome to the forums.

Brassicas would probably be better for a fall planting, they are an annual the plants may be done. Dunno about your clover, what kind of clover is in the mix? Some clovers are also annuals.

[VABoy"88]

I do appreciate the input. The plots were lymed (400lbs) and fertilized (150) each. There is clover (white, crimson) coming up in the plots. There has been a sufficeint amount of rainfall, though the weather has been hot. I think going forward I'll probably replant. I guess the only other question is whether I should replant with brassicas, considering how this will be a fall planting. Would you all have any suggestions for a fall plot. The plots are both 1/2 acre killing plots.
Thanks Again

Good Hunting

[Mathews XT Man]

Depends where you are located and when first frost will be..
here in Northern Wis.it is only 6 weeks to frost..about all I'd plant is winterwheat this late.

[MUDRUNNER]

In my experience brassicas grow very quickly compared to clovers. It's quite possible that the brassicas grew quickly and shaded the clover and robbed the nutrients. With brassicas being an annual, they just grow, mature, and die. That's probably why they are starting to die off. I'm with William also, in that brassicas are better suited for fall plantings.

Like XT Man said, when to plant depends on your location. I've planted brassicas anywhere from the middle of August to the middle of September here in Illinois, and never had a bad plot yet.

[wtnhunt]

I think going forward I'll probably replant. I guess the only other question is whether I should replant with brassicas, considering how this will be a fall planting. Would you all have any suggestions for a fall plot. The plots are both 1/2 acre killing plots.
Thanks Again

Good Hunting

You could possibly get away with planting brassicas again now, BUT brassicas are not supposed to be planted on the same ground year after year due to potential for disease, better to rotate year to year. Don't know how that would work out with 2 plantings of the same crop inside the same year. Don't know if going with sugar beets or radishes might be an option, but might be worth checking into. Like rye grain for fall plantings here, can be used with clovers.