LabLab Fail

EddieWalker · Nov 21, 2013

We tried Tecamonte LabLab this year in half the food plot. It came up incredibly fast and thick. Then we had deer and hog tracks all through it, so by the time deer season started, we where excited. We never saw anything in it and the second week of the season, temps dropped down to 27 degrees for a couple hours one morning. The LabLab died.

Never again with LabLab.

Eddie

Lou66 · Nov 21, 2013

Eddie I thought the Lablab was a warm weather plant.. I had a friend that planted it and had all good things to say about it.. but we live along the gulf and don't see to much cold weather.. Lou

creekbend · Nov 22, 2013

It's obvious that it isn't tolerant to low temperatures. BTW, did the planting instructions mentioned low temperature tolerance levels? Best wishes.

Scott85 · Nov 22, 2013

Lablab is for spring.

EddieWalker · Nov 23, 2013

I didn't realize it was a warm weather plant. They just put it out on the shelf at Academy with all sorts of other brands and types of food plots when I bought it. I should have read up on it, but I do remember reading somewhere deer loved LabLab and it was great to hunt over. I'm not sure why they would have written that unless it was just for an area that doesn't get cold weather. Oh well, back to the drawing board to find something that they really like that will grow in my area.

Eddie

Scott85 · Nov 23, 2013

Outfitters blend and deer radish for the fall and you could plant Lablab in the spring.

Lou66 · Nov 23, 2013

Eddie that friend of mine that planted it.. He planted it way in the back of his land about a mile from the main house,, trying to pull up hogs,, he had several hogs traps.. plus he uses the hogs to train his or other dogs.. But the funny part was someone flew over saw the nice green plants called the DEA,, they got a warrant,, searched his place.. said they were sorry it wouldn't happen again.. so now he can plant anything he wants.

:laughing:. Lou

Bud Soda · Dec 11, 2013

I plant it here in NC in May. Deer are on it all summer and on the pods in oct and Nov. But RR beans word just as good and I can spray them for grass.

EddieWalker · Dec 11, 2013

Thanks. I went back to the store and sure enough, there is more sitting on the shelf. It also says warm season on the front of the bag, which I either ignored, or overlooked. Epic fail, but maybe something to try in the spring.

Eddie

Bud Soda · Jan 2, 2014

Plant them in April/May. If you want something for late winter plant austrian winter peas in Sept. BTW my dog is your FB friend. Tucker Wells

Bill 55 · Jan 2, 2014

Eddie we get some fairly cold weather here in S E Ohio, a who friend does a lot of food plots likes something with a lot of rape in it for late year plots. The deer usually don't even start hitting it until it gets frozen. Seems that freezing concentrates the sugars in it and the deer will eat it right down to the dirt. He also mixes in purple top turnips and some brassica. He leases a couple of hundred acres to a group of doctors from N. Carolina who like to come up and bow hunt the late season. Our bow season last until Feb. 2 this year
Bill

EddieWalker · Jan 3, 2014

Bud,

I just liked his comment on there. I figured you where from here, but didn't realize Tucker was the dogs name. LOL

Bill,

Thanks. I've tried turnips with fair results. Same thing with them and the cold. Once it freezes out, the deer will start to eat them, but it's never been something that they seem to really go after. I'll see a few tracks and watch a doe stop and eat a few bites as she passes through the plot. I'm not sure if they like them, or it's just another thing to eat along with all the native plants.

Eddie

Scott85 · Jan 6, 2014

When planting a foodplot with something new it might take a year or two for deer to figure out what it is and if they like it. Think back to when you was a kid and your mom put something new on the table, it might take a couple times of her fixing it to figure out if you like it or not.

/pine · Jan 6, 2014

You might look at Kale (very cold tolerant) and other types of Brassica...

Western · Jan 13, 2014

TP&W did test in East Texas, I believe somewhere around Henderson, but any way, biologist said a blend of Oats,wheat, arrowleaf clover and Austrian winter peas. Oats and Wheat being the primary.

You can by fancy bags all day long, but most of it wasn't developed for Texas weather. Even mixing small and large seed is not optimal, but people pay millions every year "hopin". Even Lablab is marketed any where some one will pay for it. The bean strain comes from Africa and is mostly grown in the tropics for graze, does good in South Texas too. I have grown it and it went crazy, deer hardly touched it for me. At that price, I can by allot of Oat seed.

Have not found anything easier/ better than oats, wheat in 20 years. Deer always eat oats as long as it doesn't get tough, then just shred off a couple inches.

foreman Etexas · Jan 13, 2014

East Texas seed(right at home for you) has a wildlife mix,most feed stores will carry it but I mix 100lbs that/50rye/50cow peas/100lbs triple 13 and my plots turn out great. I put it out with big 3pt broadcaster where have good seed cover on ground. The extra 50lbs rye to fill it in and give it the full look and hold the dirt down. I have also done the bow blend and for another guy and it turned out great also. I would suggest doing a summer and fall plot in that red clay and help keep the deer staying on your place. Go bigger on your plot if you can,that whole area in picture. You need any help or equipment let me know..http://www.easttexasseedcompany.com/buttons/rackkingfallbig.gif