I have heard about taking soil samples and sending them in to be tested.I was just curious if someone in east Texas(Polk-Tyler county area) has done this already.What I would like to know is...generally speaking,what would be the best thing to plant in the late spring or early summer that would grow well, and last into or even thru hunting season. Was thinking about just going with clover! Thoughts or opinions appreciated.

Iron & Clay Cowpeas work great for me. First freeze will kill them but deer will continue to eat them till the stalks are at ground level. Like has been said here before plant them as thick as your pocket book will allow.

is this the first time you plan on planting this plot? if so I have not found anything good to plant in the spring early summer. to many weeds!!!!!!

now if you can work the ground between now and then you might be lucky. I don't have a green thumb, just waited a lot of time, money and effort on first time spring plots.

I have had some luck on first time spring plots if and only if you do this.

1) plow your plot under in the next few weeks
2) wait until the first growth of new grass weeds ect get about 2 inches tall, spray the crap out of it with roundup
3) waits as directed 2 or 3 weeks, plow the plot under a second time
4) repeat 1, 2 and 3, at least 3 or 4 time before your first planting

If I was you I would plant something CHEAP the first time and be prepared for weeds, then plow it under and plant something late summer August/September. After this you should be ok, but the first year you will fight weeds like none other!!!!

think of how hard it is to keep weeds out of your yard, now add in the factor of when you plow the ground, your bring dormant seed to the surfaces, they will grow like wild fire, add in the fact the new seeds will blow in from the surrounding area.

it can be done just take lots of time and work the first year.

Deer eat weeds. I wouldn't use roundup, waste of money IMO and bad for the environment. Plant AMONGST the weeds.

Cow peas and millet/corn

Catch 22 IMO. Weeds/grass suck the moister out of the ground and compete with your plot for sun/moisture that is available. You get less tonnage from what you plant if tonnage was your goal with the plot. In general 1 acre of weeds will not have the same tonnage 1 acre of food plot can produce. But your cost of the weeds vs the planted plot is the winning hand in the mix. Sometimes just lightly tilling soil at the right time can produce weeds at a minimal cost. Before I do it I would make sure the LO is on board with plowing up some grass to produce weeds.

We just disc, chisel plow, spread seed then lightly drag with 3 tires tied together. Our plots look awesome with few weeds.

Can I plant cow peas and clover at the same time...say late august.Would they both come in or is this to late for either?

I would plant the cowpeas in the spring and then oats with clover in the fall. You can't cover the clover to deep though. The peas will grow better when the day length is getting longer and warmer days/nights. Oats or wheat are cool season grains. You can get clovers that will be cool season also.

Thank you sir, that was what I was looking for. Good info on here!

Is it too late to plant oats or wheat?

I have seen wheat planted very late this time of the year west of San Antonio(but not normally done that late). If it were me I would wait and plant a spring food plot of cowpeas or soybeans or something that will grow till fall if we get the rains.

Thank you, sir.

If you want to plant clover (make sure it is one that will grow in your area), check to make sure when that cultivar is best planted. Some clovers do best planted in fall, will grow some, but will take off in the following Spring. Some clovers do better planted early Spring.

Most of the clovers that grow where I am, do best planted as STX said, in the fall with a nurse/cover crop.

Tip: When planting a crop that had a big seed difference, plant your biggest seed 1st, those will need to be buried 3/4 to 1". small azz seed like clovers and alfalfa need to be 1/4" or less. After you have the large seed in, either by covering with very very light discing, broadcast your small seed and use a light drag to cover those. Like Erath, I have used 5 tires wired together for 8 years know, but an old light gate, hog panel drags work too. Most plantings fail to germinate because the planting depth is wrong.

Also, do yourself a favor and get a soil sample. Cheap and easy and you wont be wasting money on incorrect fertilizer ratios.

+1 on cowpeas. If you can burn the area you are going to plant before it starts to green up, then disc and plant.

Anyone try Cow peas in South Texas?

Yes, Red Rippers, Chinese Reds and Iron & Clay. Red Rippers are more viney and a bit more drought tolerant than the others.

How much fertilizer to the acre should I put out when planting cow peas

Without a soil sample, most will recommend 200-300#'s an acre of 13-13-13

Soil sample from A&M is less than $30 including shipping, that could save you $ by letting you know darn close what your soil actually needs.

I have to agree, 13-13-13 and at least 100lbs per acre, more if you can afford it.

Don't need nitrogen in the fertilizer for legumes, go with high phosphorus and potash first number should be 0.

Thank you guys for the information, My wheat was somewhat lacking this year and I dont want a repeat this spring.

They wont produce N until their root system is up and running and that's is assuming you have the soil bacteria to convert the N in the air to food the plant can use. Makes it better if you use an inoculant on the seed. 13-13-13 will give the young plant a boost until it can produce it's own.