Huntress Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 I want to attempt to do more than just adjust my buck-doe ratio this year. Every year I take multiple does and sometimes no buck. This year I would like to plant a food plot or feed a supplement, etc... The Problem: I don't have any equipment! Is it possible for me to lay out a small food plot with old fashioned gardening tools? I know it will be hard work. I had in a mind a (not pretty) very small square of some sort of food plot (Biologic or whatever) and then feed a couple mineral blocks with some sort of supplement feeder in different locations on the property. What do you guys think? Any tips or suggestions are welcome! Marijane Ps...please don't suggest I by a 4-wheeler or tractor. I don't have the funds to do any more than by the actual products. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 Re: Food plot help... Food plots can be done by hand, but it is a lot of work. I am not a fan of biologics blends personally. Have had my best luck with pennington and hamann farms seed blends. Keep in mind, the success of a plot will be determined by how you prep the plot. There is more to a successful plot than just planting the seed. Proper fertilization, and soil prep are pretty critical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 Re: Food plot help... yep--my first food plot was done all by hand. I took my back pack sprayer and sprayed about 1/4 acre with round up to kill all vegetations. Two weeks later I then used a weed eater to knock down all the dead vegetation. I then used a rake to roughen up the ground--broadcasted the seed and fertilizer and then used the rake again to mix the seed and the dead vegetation to help with soil contact. The next day i received a good rain and two weeks later I had a nice plot. So yes it can be done but it is a lot of hard work. good luck to ya todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Re: Food plot help... a roto-tiller can save you alot of work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Re: Food plot help... It certainly can be done all by hand tools like Dogdoc said but any power tools you can beg or borrow would lighten the load.[ Note, I did not say steal ]. Do the soil sample, add a little lime if required and a little fertilizer on your prepped soil and you will be good to go. Your local Cooperative Extension will help you determine how much lime and fert. you will need. A quarter acre plot won't break anyone to do properly. Ignoring lime and fert. requirements just might result in such a poor growth you might become discouraged and not try again. Better to do less well than more poorly. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born2Hunt Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Re: Food plot help... Do not skip over the lime and fertilizer! This is as important as the seed itself. 1) Mow it. 2) spray the plot w/ round up. 3) wait a week and weed wack it to the dirt. 4)clear the debris w/ a rake. 5)spread fert and lime and work it into the soil with the rake. 6) broadcast the seed just before a nice rain and roll it in if at all possible. ( I think you would have the best results with a no-till type seed) Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntress Posted April 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Re: Food plot help... How do I test the soil to see if it needs lime? Where can I buy lime? Thanks for the advice guys! Just so happened, I was watching NExt Generation last night and they focused on a outfitters in NY that tested foodplots for 16 years. He showed how to do an "afterschool plot" with a weadeater and rake. I am pumped! I am going to put several in both for help with hunting and just overall nutrition of my deer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckNrut Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Re: Food plot help... Last year I planted a 100sq' patch of Extreme from Whitetail Institute. I took two deer off that plot during the archery season. So yes, small plots work, and YOU can do this Huntress! Regarding tools and a larger (1/4 - acre) plot, consider investing $10 in a seed/fertilizer hand-held spreader. I like the one from Scott's because it has a brace that supports your forearm making the job much easier. Good luck! Harvesting a deer over/near a plot you created is very rewarding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Re: Food plot help... Soil samples are easy to take. You will want to get multiple samples from your planned site from different areas in that site, 4-6 should be plenty for one 1/4 acre to 1/2 acre plot. Remove the grass from the top of the dirt, then get your soil from about 6 inches deep, ok to have roots in the sample, but you do not want grass if at all possible. Put the 4 or however many samples together in a bucket or heavy duty garbage bag, then mix it together thoroughly. You will need to send a portion of the mixed the soil off for analysis. Check with your local ag extension for more information on getting your sample sent off. Here they have small boxes you put your dirt in to send out. The analysis will tell you how much lime, and what type of and how much fertilizer. Here you check certain number codes for the type of plots you plan to plant on your paperwork and send that with your sample. The basic test here costs $6. There are other labs that also do tests, but your state should work just as well, and probably would be a little cheaper. When you get the results back, you can lime according to what they tell you. Pelletized lime can be found about anywhere. Wal mart and lowes here have it. Good luck, and take some pics if you can, before planting and prepping, and progress along the way if you can. Most of us here who utilize plots enjoy looking at others plots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Re: Food plot help... Looks like you are getting some good advice here. I bought a video produced by Antler King Seed co. titled " Planting Food Plots From A to Z " I bought mine from Gander Mountain for $ 9.95 $ tax. For someone just starting out this would be a very worthwhile investment. The video really explains things in terms anybody can understand. I have a library of food plot Dvd's but of all I would recommend for a beginner this is the one I would pick out. Good Luck, keep us posted on your progress. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntress Posted April 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 Re: Food plot help... I just couldn't wait so I put in a very small plot with generic veggies...big leaf, heat resistant lettuce, sweet corn, and turnips. I don't know how productive it will be but I am excited! I will sample the soil when I put in the others. It was sure a lot of work: I cut the grass and weeds out, raked everything away and worked up the soil real well. I put everything in rows and covered them well. It's been raining since I got done so that will be good. Thanks for the advice guys! Marijane Ps...what brand/type seeds to you like the best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 11, 2007 Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 Re: Food plot help... [ QUOTE ] Ps...what brand/type seeds to you like the best? [/ QUOTE ] Pennington or hamann farms seed blends are my first choice for clovers and for some annuals as well. For summer time annuals, really like the tecomate lablab plus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhtr1 Posted April 11, 2007 Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 Re: Food plot help... I have had good results with all of the name brand seed company's including Biologic. Just beware of the seed store mix. Some will give you mostly cheap seeds in the mix and charge you premium price. Something to think about if you have the area to do it would be to spray the area you want a plot with weedkiller. After it dies use a hand tiller if you have one and till the ouline of the plot. Then burn it off on a windless day. This will save you some time, pain and put nuitrients back in the soil. If you dont have a hand tiller then you can rake around the edges. The small plots you are talking about would make this easy to do. I had a buddy do 4 small plots that made one large plot doing this and it works great. He did have the best looking plot that year. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerslayer79 Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Re: Food plot help... I think many brands of seed work really well,have heard some negative things about biomaxx though.contact your local extension office about soil test,they will be very helpful.Don't be down about your lack of equipment.I have loads of equipment and stuff to use,and although it makes it easier,I some times would rather use the good ole back breakin stuff,I have gotten as good or better results using a hand seedr and a rake compared to a 60hp tractor and a no-till drill,**** if it works for you rock on and once you shoot that big booner buck you won't even pay attention to those callused hands you got from all that rakin you done to draw him in and make him fat..Good luck to ya!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoybeanMan Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Re: Food plot help... deerslayer, what negative things about Biomaxx? Low germ, poor stand, or wrong ration of corn to soybean? I am trying to get them to put my Roundup Ready forage soybean in that blend. It is much growthier and later maturing than what they have in it now. I will be conducting some corn/soybean mix studies this summer and I will let you know how it turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerslayer79 Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Re: Food plot help... friend of mine planted about 3 acres of it last year and year,soybeans did well but the corn came up very sporadicly and didn't germinate well.It is a awesome idea but it isn't a product just to go out and plant it and see what results you get,it would be a good idea to seperate the corn from the beans and if you can plant each in its own row for example take a four row planter and run two hoppers corn and two hoppers beans and go from there,but that is going to be time consuming and pricey but should work great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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