Clover Food Plot Seeding Rate

Mix the soil in a small bucket and place a sample in a kit bag.

Clover food plot seeding rate. To determine the appropriate seeding rate of the material in this bag multiply the percentage of pure seed contained in the bag 48 73 percent by the germination rate of the seed 80 percent. I went heavier than the recommended rate for ladino clover and i went light on the radish seeding rate. Seeding just after medium to heavy snowfall and prior to snowmelt will ensure the seed is worked into the soil as it continues to thaw freeze and repeat throughout the remainder of winter. Clover food plot seed white and red clover seed varieties are used in both cool season and warm season food plots for deer turkey quail and other wildlife.

Durana is the premier white clover on the market for whitetail deer management. The timing is geared to let mother nature use her freeze thaw cycle to work the clover seed into the ground and give us the necessary soil to seed contact for germination without working the ground. With favorable weather and proper management durana can persist 3 5 years or longer. Planting rate for oats and clover food plots by growingdeer 06 23 2010.

Seed should be lightly dragged or cultipacked after planting to ensure a planting depth of no more than 1 4 inch. Ask grant food plots grant s answers ask grant. Clover is a high protein legume that will provide essential nutrients and energy for wildlife during the harsh winter months. Step 5 final tilling and planting august the last week of august i planted my perennial plot ladino clover along with a companion nurse plot of daikon radishes.

Before planting your clover food plot seed take a few small shovels of dirt soil from various points around the plot site. A common problem when planting ladino or other clovers is to cover them too. Frost seeding works very well too. Don t expect to see a lush clover plot after planting.

Soil tests are simple and easy to do. Seeding rates of ladino clover can vary from 1 to 5 lbs acre depending on whether it is drilled or broadcast drilling allows for lighter seeding rates. Grant i plan on establishing clover in some of my smaller plots less than an acre and along logging roads. Over seeding clover in food plots for deer can be done early spring or late fall.

Winter is a hard pill to swallow for those of us who love turning dirt over. Once you account for coatings and germination rate you would need to plant 64 lbs acre of the seed in this bag to equal the recommended seeding rate of 25 lbs acre for crimson clover. Soil sample kits can be obtained from a local co op or seed supply stores. Follow the instructions on the kit.

While it is a great food source be careful where you plant it. It is a perennial legume that withstands heavy grazing pressure tolerates acid soils and competes aggressively with weeds and grasses as commonly seen in food plot situations. It is nutrient dense with protein levels of 25 or more. It does not do well in sandy soil.