How late is too late?

In a strange twist this year I was going to plant early due to all the summertime rain. Thank God I did not because the last rain I had was a week before the dove opener. So, now I find myself checking the weather app every five minutes in hopes of rain. I like to plant the day before there is a 100% of rain and it sure don’t look like that is going to happen in September.

In yall’s experience what is too late to plant and still have good plots for hunting season?

I was caught in a similar situation a couple years back during the drought, I had to leave to go Elk hunting and returned around the 15th of Oct before I was able to plant. I doubled my seed rate and planted the day after I got back, didn't rain much for 3-4 more days, but I eventually had a good plot by the opener, really filled in by week 2. Oats and wheat don't take much to germ and grow pretty fast.

I wouldn't want to do this every year without question, but it worked enough to pull deer in.

I tend to not worry too much as to whether the plots are available for me to watch on opening morning but rather that they are healthy for the deer over the long run. That is what corn is for. I would normally plant this week but I'm not, I need to see the daytime highs not above the mid-80s and nighttime temperatures in the 60s.

When in doubt you can also call the seed supplier if you are using food plot blends. I use Whitetail Institute's products and if you call they will look at your local conditions and make a recommendation. I did that in that I'm using two blends that I haven't worked with before and they said that it would probably be two weeks given my current weather.

Ranch, what new blends are you using this year?

Prue Attraction and No Plow. The No Plow is going to be seeded into a completely prepped plot. A fellow asked me if I wouldn't mind doing that so he could see how it compared to the bare minimum work. Extreme is also going into the plots that run the length of my various senderos; this is perennial.

I don't want to derail the thread too much but I am waiting to put in whitetail institutes edge, double cross, and extreme in three different plots with a nurse crop of their whitetail oats in all three.

I was also asked to do a no till trial, probably by the same Person, so I picked up a bag of oats/wheat/clover/turnip/rape/peas at the local feed store which I will use for the no till trial.

Have the plots dirt ready, sprayed the no till and will take a drag harrow over them before I throw seed. Will do before and after pics of the plots and show progress of the growth as the season progresses.

Buckeye; how many acres of food plot are you doing?

I will end up with right around 2.5 acres total give or take a few hundred sq ft. I don't know the exact area of the two no till plots I sprayed, but guessed each to be around 1/4 acre. I have formal food plot sizes of 1 acre, just over 1/2 acre, and just over 1/3 acre, then about another 1/2 acre in the two no till options. Next time I go it I will make a post detailing it all and telling the steps I used. I haven't done this yet since my last plot area I tolled this weekend got finished in the dark so no good pictures of the finished product.

Got a touch of rain last night up there, need a little more.

Nice! Where is your place at?

It's in Oklahoma, close to Ardmore, straight up 35 about 1:45.

So weather is close but it is a little different from around here

Let's see. On the front end, as long as the ground is warm enough for the seeds to germinate, you should be fine. That could be well into late November or even early December. The back end seems to be the biggest consideration. That is, having enough time before the season closes so that you'll have something up and growing for them to eat.

the food plots will last all the way into march, so the back end is really a long time away. The front end says too warm, not enough water yet, and there are bugs that could get to the plants if done too early....The native forms will stay green for a while yet, so the plots will have plenty of time to get established prior to getting hammered later in the season.

Different perspective of the same problems.

We werent supposed to get any rain this month so I planted before the hurricane, using left over seed from last year, didnt do great but okay after no rain in 2 weeks. Saw there was a 30% chance this morning so went and broadcasted seed. Its been raining for 2 hours now.

No rain and/or ground moisture South of Bowie. Unless I get some good sub soil moisture before 10/15, I'll probably skip it.

That's some good stuff rickym! If this weather keeps up I'll just have to water the plots myself. My brother has a striping / pressure washing company so I have access to large water tanks, pumps and their is a two acre pond on my property. The idea of watering approximately 3 acres of food plots, sounds like a lot of work.

x2. I planted early (n.texas); deer have been hitting it already, but getting dry now.
I broke down and bought 700ft of hose to reach the plot (from a spigot ). Looks great now . . .

My plan has always been to plant this coming weekend - 9/23-24, but with lack of rain was starting to consider waiting a bit, even though all is ready and seed purchased. Today I checked the 10 day forecast and it shows at least a 30% everyday next week, so guess I am going to stick with Plan A unless something changes. I have several hundred pounds of seed just waiting including Lynx Peas, Rye, and Nora Oats.

One part of process will be a first for me this year. Peas are not pre-innoculated so I purchased innoculant and will try to coat seeds in advance before broadcasting. My plan is to pre-mix in buckets and hope they get good coating. Anyone ever done this? Tips?

where have you been checking for halfway reliable forecasting of long term rain possibilities?

I guess I'm a "glass half empty" guy. 30% means there is a 70% chance that you won't get rain.


I've had to inoculate seeds in the past, lablab, the seed outfit told me to mix the innoculate powder with condensed (canned) milk so I did. It was easy to do and dried quickly.

Thanks - I may try that method. And my forecast comes from WeatheBug - not sure if it is any more or less accurate that any other long range forecast. I checked again today and now showing as high as 60% forecast for mid-week. It will be a game time decision for me, but leaning toward planting - unless the forecast changes as we get closer.

I am looking at 80-90% on Tuesday and 90% Wednesday, spread over the two days from morning to evening, so I will be planting Monday for sure. Temps over the next week after are all in the 70's. Only thing I am hesitant about is the lack of a solid rain chance about a week later. Would love to see another system come in and give another rain chance about a week or so later after germination.

I'm right there with you. I will be out Monday morning doing my thing!!!!!

Got 3 acres of mixed peas, oats, and rye in today. Poured peas into 5 galllon bucket, then poured innoculant mixed with water over them, and went ahead and poured in broadcaster. No problem at all with clumps. Went really heavy with all since broadcasting. Beddedthe seeds this afternoon - when I could no longer watch TRU manhandle my Pokes. Now praying for good rain!

3/10" last night on my fields, with thunderstorm chances everyday this week. Fingers crossed!

My plots received just shy of 2" over last week. It came in really good amounts of 2 or 3/10th a day, with the exception of Wednesday when we got almost an inch. Just need good consistent rain over the coming weeks and I believe my plots will thrive. Fingers remain crossed.

November 4th is to late

Neighbor up the road just planted his yesterday, getter done

sounds similar to mine over in Burnet county ... not sure about those in Limestone or Washington counties

I still haven't planted, don't like the heat. I'm glad I didn't, my plots have started to grow bahia and redroot pigweed since the rain earlier this week andI would have lost my plots. A couple of months ago I bought a Kubota B2650 to mow the 9 acres of "yard" around my ranch house, I used it to spray, and it worked very well. My plots are still damp from the rain, and it is 2 tons lighter than my M8540 which I would not have put on the field. Also, my boom sprayer has a 20' print, and the B2650 can make a 180° turn within the confines of the next pass which the larger tractor cannot so it saved quite a bit of time in the long run.

Really like that little tractor.

Your post is why the original question is kind of “it depends” because isnit too late depends on where you live and what your conditions are. Texas is way too big for everyone to do everything the same. We all know that.

I was fortunate. My plots seem to have come up well. Dealing with a little heat here and there but it looks to be colling off up here in the next week so the weather may end up perfect for my plots. Once I get out there I plan to update my thread and get some pics going.

Peas , oats, and rye coming in. Small observation plot near barn looks best, but largest plot also turning green, but grass growing in again. I was hoping for more rain with this front, but just got a trace overnight. Really hope we get some moisture, but nothing in forecast.w