Low effort, high heat food plot?

[paulsharvey]

I've got a maybe 60x120 lf area of disturbed soil, that would make a good location for a food plot. The catch is it's not my property, and although I have access, I dont specifically have rights to bring equipment of any sort in. The disturbed area is an ancient low area, but not wetlands, and is currently pretty well torn up by atvs and equipment. Would be a hand broadcast, or possibly push spreader, but can't be tilled or disced in. What would yall throw on top of that? I'm sure I can kinda work it around, but really trying not to push the permission boundaries. Was kinda thinking about something like Sorgrum or maybe Tricale (spelling? the new rye-barley-wheat cross breed). It's got to be hardi enough to survive FLa summers, deer hitting it randomly.

 

[70chevellegsp]

If it were me, I would broadcast some buckwheat (very soon) and rake it in, then drive over with atv for good seed/soil contact. IT grows easily and fast to keep weeds at bay. Then in September, broadcast some winter/cereal rye into the standing buckwheat and cut/mow the buckwheat after. That's my process in PA, you will have to research how buckwheat and rye do in FL. You can add some perennial clover with the rye also. Good Luck!

 

[paulsharvey]

If it were me, I would broadcast some buckwheat (very soon) and rake it in, then drive over with atv for good seed/soil contact. IT grows easily and fast to keep weeds at bay. Then in September, broadcast some winter/cereal rye into the standing buckwheat and cut/mow the buckwheat after. That's my process in PA, you will have to research how buckwheat and rye do in FL. You can add some perennial clover with the rye also. Good Luck!

IFAS says to plant in spring or fall in N FLa and winter in S FLa, so probably 2-3 months late; but maybe I can get in around Feb-March and do some buckwheat.

 

[70chevellegsp]

Buckwheat will grow at any time and grow fast. The benefit (one of many) is that it grows so fast it shades out weeds so you have bare soil below. Even if the buckwheat doesn't get to maturity, it will still do what you need it to do, which is keep the plot clean to accept what you want to plant in 2 or so months. Last year I planted BW in the spring and had great results. It matured before I intended to do my next planting (chicory/clover) so I mowed it and let it decompose for a 2-3 weeks before planting. I got another bumper crop of BW from the volunteers before I planted my next plot. I planted in the second BW plot and then mowed it again with good success. Something to think about.

 

[paulsharvey]

Just ordered 5# of buckwheat seed from Johnny Seed this morning. I had never even heard of it until watching Survival Russia, and he eats it all the time.

 

[paulsharvey]

Hand broadcast the buckwheat this morning, and then quickly drug over it with an old mattress spring to turn them in somewhat. Hopefully we get some rain over next 3 or 4 days, and we will see.