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| What to Plant??; 2014 Planning | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 5 2014, 04:23 PM (721 Views) | |
Bocephus_86
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Mar 5 2014, 04:23 PM Post #1 |
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If winter ever releases its death grip on us, and the deer, we will be able to get out and get planting! Based on this winter I am seriously contemplating what to plant this year to try and provide forage for the deer in the winter months as the native browse has been severely depleted. I have 3 clover plots that need some maintenance and i am thinking about trying to incorporate oats into those plots?? What is everyone's thoughts on that? I also have two other plots that were planted in turnips and chicory in mid-August last year that didn't fair out to well (mainly my fault as I didn't do a soil test). I am thinking to try replanting this with some sort of mix including turnips but not sure what to go with....any suggestions?? |
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| Renegade | Mar 5 2014, 04:34 PM Post #2 |
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Atikokan, Ontario
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Oats are a bear magnet for me. I am thinking about what I can do to create better winter habitat for the long term. I think I am on the right track but it will take many years to get conifer stands going. I have a small area of winter wheat planted, hope it comes up really early this spring. I might be looking at more winter wheat and winter rye and doing some hinge cutting in some areas for bedding. We plan to replenish some alfalfa fields as well. |
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Bocephus_86
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Mar 6 2014, 08:41 AM Post #3 |
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When do you plat the wheat Rene? September? I may try and do a clover,wheat, rye mix for a forage plot in the fall but also in the spring when the snow comes off. Bears aren't much of an issue for us on this property, there is a dump nearby that keeps them occupied
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| Friggs | Mar 6 2014, 10:23 AM Post #4 |
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I would utilize the built up nitrogen in your old clover plots and plant a high nitrogen using crop such as brassica, corn or Milo for winter feed. That being said, brassica shouldn't be a problem to grow if you get good rain when planted in July, but corn and Milo are fussing if you get lack of rain and your soil isn't right but worth a try with a soil test. Any winter forage would have been a problem with the depth of snow this winter but corn and some brassica would be sticking out or near the surface. But most deer browse on local trees and shrubs depending on your browse-line and if you have good winter thermal cover and your deer numbers. If you want to plant something for winter food then I think a plot of brassica mixture of turnips, radishes and rape would be good. Also a plot of either winter wheat or winter rye with oats and clover planted late summer would feed deer from September till Spring, brassica included. I agree with Renegade about hinge cutting this will provide bedding/cover and feed through the winter. The buds and small branches from hinged maple and white cedar trees are great winter food and preferred by deer. That's what most of my deer eat during winter. Lastly, also, make sure you have good winter thermal cover and where your deer yard up during the winter. If they are yarding up miles away and not near by your winter plots that could be a waste of time. Friggs |
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Bocephus_86
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Mar 6 2014, 03:59 PM Post #5 |
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I never thought of flipping the clover plots into a brassica mixture, would be a great idea. My thinking is, the two plots that I planted last summer in turnips and chicory I would work up or just over seed with clover early and then disc it up around mid-august and plant a oat/wheat mixture? What is the seeding rate for oats and wheat. |
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bigr
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Mar 6 2014, 09:03 PM Post #6 |
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If you want to help deer in the winter, plant cedar and lots of it. |
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| Friggs | Mar 6 2014, 09:38 PM Post #7 |
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Usually 50 lbs/ac of each. You should add some clover with your wheat and oats. Have you ever tried planting winter rye instead of wheat. Rye has a larger root mass and more surface biomass and is better for your soil. And grows in lower PH then wheat and trives in lower fertility sandy soil then wheat. It will be my third year this fall planting rye, oats and clover and next year I'm splitting the plot in half and planting a brassica mixture in July. I did a soil test on this plot before starting in 2012 and will do another test this spring and see the difference. I've noticed a big difference in growth from the previous year. Friggs |
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Bocephus_86
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Mar 7 2014, 08:39 AM Post #8 |
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Yeah I did try rye and worked out alright. I could mix that in there instead. Wheat has to be drilled in anyhow no? |
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| Friggs | Mar 7 2014, 04:58 PM Post #9 |
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No, rye and wheat can both be broadcasted, some people mix both together along with oats and clover. Next fall I'm going to mix in some Hairy Vetch with my rye, oats, clover, apparently vetch produces lots of nitrogen. Friggs |
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Bocephus_86
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Mar 10 2014, 08:15 AM Post #10 |
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Hey Friggs....I sent you a PM |
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| Friggs | Mar 11 2014, 09:59 AM Post #11 |
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Thanks Bocephus for letting me know about the PM, I don't use it enough. Just got home yesterday from hospital with a new hip replacement so I'll be laid up for a few weeks. Friggs |
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| Friggs | Mar 14 2014, 12:34 PM Post #12 |
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Hey Bocephus, I finally sent you a PM Friggs |
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| coolhcarol | May 7 2014, 01:05 AM Post #13 |
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New member
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I think instead of straight away planting you should plan a bit. Have your soil tested well and then you should go for bedding or landscaping maybe. It's a vital thing before planting because will keep your landscape healthy by providing necessary levels of fertilizer and nutrients. While gardening north shore to my house I realized that if you manage to put balanced amount of nutrients in the soil while is done after soil test, your gardens will produce healthy crops. You can also go for Coloraturas or Hire any gardener and get a trellis and the you can also grow vines! |
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2:31 PM Jul 11