plot/plant info??

[waterweasle]

hey guys, I've been lurking and reading with interest for a few months now, I was hoping some might give me advice, we were hoping to plant some plots at my cousins property, its grassy overgrowm fields, that we can clear easy enough, and we plan on buying a small disk to help till the soil. I've tested some of the soil for PH and its around 6.5. my main question is, would beets be a good crop to start with?? I'm planning on several acres and would like the most bang for my buck, so to speak. the area is centrat NY about 45minutes SW of albany, any info would be great, thanks

actually I found a picture of the area, the one place for a plot is at my feet, so you cant see it reaaly well, then the next place is at the far end of the picture in the left hand corner of this field

[Mathews XT Man]

Id start with a clover plot..anyone can grow that..then go for other crops later. Id also take out those pines across the way to enlarge your area..Looks like you have a couple acres to work if you do that.

[waterweasle]

the areas I'm looking at are fairly large, the pic doesent show it well, 6-8 acreas total I would guess, plus a smaller, 2.5 acre plot up on the hill that I dont have pics of, I was thinking beets or turnips as they look like the would provide a greater tonnage of forage for the area, and for a longer time, well into winter as the deer dig up the root

[ousoonerfan22]

Looks like a good place for food plots.
Are there any agriculture fields near there?
What's the main food source?
You could plant beets and turnips but I would also want something to bring them in during the summer.
Will soybeans grow there?

[waterweasle]

its old ag fields, on the down hill side of the property, not in pic, they grow hay, the farm is run for horses, so I have lots of fertilizer but they dont do anything in this area of the farm except let the goats graze there(penned in) and if I plant it they wont let the goats there. otherwise its typical NE hardwords and pine mixed woods. not sure if soy beans would grow, I dont see why not. I wish I could do the whole field, but theres areas that are wet and rocky, so I just plan on some smaller plots, withing the natural plants there

[LETMGROW]

You have some liming to do to get the soil in condition for a good clover crop the first year. Get in contact with your local Cooperative Extension Service. They will be really helpful. They will give you suggestions on lime application for year 1, 2, 3, etc.
Clover is great if you plan to maintain it. I mean cutting it 2-3 times a summer season. If you plan to plant clover tell your Extension service. They will also fire out some fertilizer requirements to you as well.
You are not that far away from me. If I were you I would put in a clover chicory mix and maintain it.
I would also leave those pines. Good natural cover is not all that easy to come by. If you plant to hunt the area you will thank yourself for the additional cover.
Plant brassicas if you like on a couple small plots. The PH requirements are similar to clover. Remember two years of brassicas in the same plots should be the limit.

[waterweasle]

I"ve read your posts letmegrow, where in NY are you?? I can mow it a couple times a year no problem, but was still thinking of beets or turnips, thoughts on those??

[LETMGROW]

I will be honest with you. I have no idea how beets would perform! Darn good question. I do know beets are a short lived plant which I don't really think would be a great attractant. However I may be wrong. I will PM dogdoc and ask his opinion. The brassica, I have had quite a lot of experience with. Late season attractant only. The deer won't touch the bitter leaves until we have had a couple three really hard frosts. Then they gorge themselves on the leaves. The biggest problem I have found here is when the deer take a liking to it they destroy it in a couple days. You had better be there or it's GONE! Later on the deer come back for the turnip "bulbs " usually in January or February. Long after deer season has passed.I consider this my contribution to winter survival for the deer.

[waterweasle]

ahhh I gotcha, so you think they would mow it down quickly, and then come back when the season is over, which is kinda good because it still leaves a food source for the winter months, something to think about, though I think I would like something that would last longer since we hunt the area through bowseason and rifle.

[ousoonerfan22]

Are there any oaks on the property?

[waterweasle]

some oak, maple, ash, hickory, cedar................

[Born2Hunt]

If you plant the Brassica plant it in late July or early August to keep the plants tender when the deer are ready to consume them. If you plant them in May you will have a plant 5 foot tall with stems 1 1/2 inches in diameter. We have had the most luck with clover when it comes to drawing in and holding deer.

[ousoonerfan22]

The deer here really like the lablab and soybeans during the summer.

[wtnhunt]

Welcome to the forums.

Looks like a lot of potential there. Clovers work well here planted in the fall. If you are insistent on beets and turnips, would suggest checking with Oneida man and asking him about his hamann farms winter mix. I planted it this fall here and have been very pleased with it.

[waterweasle]

not that I'm that persistant for planting beets/turnips, I just figured that they would produce the most mass crop for the given area, thats why I'mhere to hopefully learn more