Should I plant clover, rye, and turnips in the same plot?

By Grant Woods,

  Filed under: ,

← Grant's Answers — Food Plots
Question
Hey Grant I was wondering when the latest time would be to plant clover, rye, and turnips. I am planting these around Lebanon missouri. Also I would like your input on combining these three or if I should just combine the rye and clover and just the clover and turnips. One plot would be in a power line cut on the side of a hill and the other one is in a creek bottom. I was thinking about putting the turnips in the creek bottom due to better and deeper soil.
I was also wondering what you thought on burning a section of woods that is really thick but deer use for a bedding area. There is a section of woods about 3 to 4 acres that’s so thick that you cant hunt it. I was thinking about burning it to let some sun reach the ground and also so we can see in to it but I’m worried about spooking the deer from the area.

Jeff,

I’m not a big fan of rye (especially ryegrass).  Most varieties of rye mature much quicker than wheat which means it provides quality forage for deer for a shorter period of time.  In addition rye usually cost more than wheat.

I like the idea of mixing wheat and clover.  The clover won’t produce much forage this fall and the wheat will serve as a cover crop and attract/feed deer.  As the  wheat begins to mature next spring the clover should come on strong and dominate the stand.  

Turnips can shade out the clover and make it difficult to control weeds next year.  I suggest planting the turnips by themselves or with wheat.

Prescribed fire can be a great tool!  Like all tools, it should be used for a specific mission.  I assume you wish to use fire to set back the cover because it’s maturing (getting to tall) to work well for deer?  If that’s the case, then using prescribed fire may be a great action.  It’s currently very wet near Lebanon.  I doubt you will be able to conduct a successful burn till next year.

Be careful and enjoy creation,

grant