Best crop for SANDY soil food plot

[fried1765]

I would like to have some ideas for food plot seed varieties for very sandy soil in Southern New England.
The soil is thin sandy loam on the surface, and pure sand 16" below.
I would like to plant a 2+ acre food plot, with a crop that will produce a developed seed head, not be over 2 feet tall at maturity, is as weed tolerant as possible, and will mature in September/October.
The lack of moisture is an issue. There will be some rain, but because of the very sandy soil, moisture retention is very poor.
Weeds, wild grass, vines, and bushes, do seem to grow well enough though.
I am thinking maybe buckwheat,.... but I don't know.
Am looking for other ideas.

 

[mbergeon]

Why no just put in clover? It'll grow well and if you mow it once or twice a year weeds won't take over, plus it comes up year after year. Deer love it around here.

 

[fried1765]

Why no just put in clover? It'll grow well and if you mow it once or twice a year weeds won't take over, plus it comes up year after year. Deer love it around here.

I am sure the deer will love clover, but the deer can find plenty of other stuff around my area.
I need to find a grain/seed sort of crop that pheasant, quail, and turkey will eat.

 

[SandburRanch]

Consider contacting the extension service in that area and ask if Millet will do well enough there. It is grown in some harsh conditions world wide but it may not meet your height consideration of 2 feet or less. Sparsely seeded may help overcome being a little too tall. Quail love it.

 

[airbiscuit]

RYE ...

 

[fried1765]

Consider contacting the extension service in that area and ask if Millet will do well enough there. It is grown in some harsh conditions world wide but it may not meet your height consideration of 2 feet or less. Sparsely seeded may help overcome being a little too tall. Quail love it.

Millet seed information that I have seen describes the height potential as 3' - 8'
I could live with 3' or 4' , but not 8'.

 

[SandburRanch]

After maturity maybe roto beating ( flail mowing ) to a desired height would be a solution. Wildlife would still be in there for the seed and you could walk it.

 

[fried1765]

After maturity maybe roto beating ( flail mowing ) to a desired height would be a solution. Wildlife would still be in there for the seed and you could walk it.

Flail mowing is a thought, but ..... I do not have a flail mower,..... and I really would prefer to leave the crop standing.

For seed, I suppose I could dump it in my cement mixer, and make a rye/millett mix, maybe throw in some buckwheat too.
Then, just hope that something would grow!

A lot will depend on summer rain interval. That very sandy topsoil gets dry quickly.

 

[mbergeon]

Our local Pheasants forever chapter has seed mix for different soil types.

 

[fried1765]

Our local Pheasants forever chapter has seed mix for different soil types.

Where would that "local Pheasants forever chapter" be?

 

[Fossil Farm]

At 2 plus acres, you could plant strips of various crops to create more of an edge effect. Clover is great for pheasant. A good hiding place and the young pheasants like to eat the insects that invade the area. Some wheat, oats or buckwheat in an adjacent strip would make an edge and provide different cover and different feeding for wildlife. A soil test would be helpful to see how well and what crops would work well with your conditions. Pheasants and quail do not like a thick heavy stand anyway. Heavy dews in a thick stand can affect the young by getting their down too wet. Probably be good to look around and see what crops are currently grown and plant something opposite to attract them. Good luck.

 

[GAFarmer2]

I am going to say buckwheat will probably be a no go unless varieties have improved. I know it used to be a 70-90 day crop down here, and it didn't tolerate dry too well. It also had a bad tendency to lodge (fall over), because it was very spindley.

I agree with the others, a variety of millet of some nature may be your best bet. You may could try grain sorghum (not a bird resistant variety, mind you), but if you don't have enough moisture...

Is there any irrigation available?

 

[olPete]

My reply would be "lots of clover", white will cover the ground quickly enough in warm soil, and will help conserve moisture for other species. Lupins grow wild around our beaches. Plantain is good in the dry. Chicory maybe.. Sunflowers maybe..especially dwarf varieties.

 

[Egon]

Just items to consider:

Deep rooted plants as it is dry. Check for type of fertilizer and do not go heavy on nitrogen. Growth may exceed moisture.
Look at dry area native grasses. Some will be very hardy. Pricey to but they are perennial and should reseed. ( short grass & tall grass prairie types ), Timothy, Brome and some clovers may work well.

And also look at quinola and amaranth. These may have copious seed heads.

When choosing domestic seeds try and choose those that are as close to native as possible and are self regenerating. Ie; do not require fertilizer to survive. Many modern seed types require substantial fertilizer to survive. This may apply to most grain types today.

Please note there is no accredited education behind my observation's!

As as an aside there may be markets for some of the native plant seed?




Clovers,

 

[fried1765]

Just items to consider:

Deep rooted plants as it is dry. Check for type of fertilizer and do not go heavy on nitrogen. Growth may exceed moisture.
Look at dry area native grasses. Some will be very hardy. Pricey to but they are perennial and should reseed. ( short grass & tall grass prairie types ), Timothy, Brome and some clovers may work well.

And also look at quinola and amaranth. These may have copious seed heads.

When choosing domestic seeds try and choose those that are as close to native as possible and are self regenerating. Ie; do not require fertilizer to survive. Many modern seed types require substantial fertilizer to survive. This may apply to most grain types today.

Please note there is no accredited education behind my observation's!

As as an aside there may be markets for some of the native plant seed?




Clovers,

Thanks!
I see the lack of moisture as my primary concern.
I will check with the county extension service to see if they may have a recommendation.
Another problem that I have is, that there is no local crop reference for comparison.
I have a 12 acre piece of property (mostly covered with damx locust trees), and it is the only piece of undeveloped acreage around.
It is basically a beach & retirement community.
No one else grows anything, but driveways, and poor quality lawn (very sandy loam soil).
Irrigation of any sort would not be an option for me.
Success or failure, will be purely in the hands of mother nature.

 

[jeff9366]

Hancock Seed Co., Dade City, Florida, has many food plot mixes. I buy Buckwheat, Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer deer seed from them. Using a Disc Harrow to mix end-of-season food plot residue into soil has improved soil organic content over several years.

Avoid any mix with SESBANIA, a non-native invasive plant. Hancock has removed Sesbania from most of their game mixes.

Hancock Farm & Seed Company - Lawn, Pasture and Turf Grass Seed

Also consider Florida Hard Pear Trees and Florida Persimmon Trees. Consider Dunstan (blight resistant) Chestnut Trees.

 

[CADplans]

I get such HIGH germination out of the dropped "wild bird seed mix",,,
that I may try planting a bag of it.

The cost is only 10% of commercial "wildlife" seed,,,
AND it comes premixed in a nice variety,,,, :thumbsup:

Heck, it is so cheap, I might get three bags,, and see what happens,,,

 

[GAFarmer2]

I get such HIGH germination out of the dropped "wild bird seed mix",,,
that I may try planting a bag of it.

The cost is only 10% of commercial "wildlife" seed,,,
AND it comes premixed in a nice variety,,,,

Heck, it is so cheap, I might get three bags,, and see what happens,,,

I have seen it done before. Keep us updated. I'd love to see some pics!