[CowDawg]

That is my question.

Guys, this is the 3rd. year for my Clover and Chicory plot.
Almost 1/4 acre in size.

This year I had it all in my plans to kill off this plot and replant this August with Brassica and Red Top Turnip that I purchased from HillTop Seed. Got 5 lb. worth.

But..., after looking at my plot after it resprouted this Spring, I am having second thoughts! I swear this is the best I've seen it grow in the past 2 years. It's gotta be in it's prime and I haven't even Limed or Fertilized it yet this year.

All winter long I had my cameras set up in it, only to see minimal deer track passing through and it was rare that they stop and dig and eat.
Now this Spring, totally different story, 5 regulars in it, 3 are buck.

The Clover is very lush, the Chicory is good too but not as abundant as last year.

I'm really having second thought on doing this and keeping it.


Soooo... follow through with my original plans and kill it and replant in August with the Brassica and Turnip.

OR

Keep it and reseed with More Clover and Chicory and Lime and Fertilize and hope for the best. and spray with Poast too.

Suggestions Please.....

 

[Mike Barcaskey]

looks real nice, keep it

 

[Shady]

thats a keeper. what about clearing an area for a winter plot and put in your turnips there? thats going to be money come early bow season then you can draw them over to your turnips right about halloween time.

 

[Guest]

I'd probably keep it and like was suggested, try to find another area for the brassicas.

If the plot was bigger, I'd suggest killing half off and using that for the brassicas, but, it's kinda shady there and they like lots of sun.

I used to have my main plot in all clover, then killed half off and put it in brassicas. This allows me to rotate my crops. This will be the 4th year in clover on the one half and next year, it'll be killed off and become my brassica plot. The part that is now brassicas, will be seeded with winter wheat and clover this fall.

BTW, have you been using Poast on that plot since it was created? It looks pretty grass free. I have not had great luck with Poast as it needs to be timed right. Just sprayed my plot last weekend with Poast and Butyrac, and look forward to seeing the results next weekend.

 

[CowDawg]

Dutch,

The first year all I did was lime and fertilize.

2nd year, lime and fertilize and sprayed with Poast. Well, it is actually Penn State Seed's brand of Poast...
It says (formally Poast) on the back of the bottles. But on the front is has different name. I forget the name off hand.

After spraying last year around the end of May I didn't really see any drastic changes. I didn't see any browning of dead weeds but I didn't see any new ones growing afterward.
It did not kill my Clover or did not kill my Chicory at that time.

3rd. year. photos above, didn't do anything to it, yet.....

As for the shady trees.

The trees in the back are Cherry, so I do not want to cut them.
The trees in the front are pretty much junk but they are shade trees for my cabin which is right there too.

But. I did trim a lot of branches last year and this year. many big limbs I cut.

So there is a lot more sunlight coming through than last year. Kinda happy with that for now.

 

[Guest]

Poast only works to kill grass and not broadleaf weeds.

Hey, seems whatever yer doing, it sure is working. Sometimes, at least with clover, to much sun is a bad thing due to it's shallow roots. It can get too hot and dry for clover, depending on location.

My plot is on a slope. The upper part, where the clover is, is much drier than the bottom and the clover has not seemed to do as well up there since I put it in. The plot is also facing south and in the summer, gets hammered by sun almost all day.

The brassica have been on the lower half the last few years, and sometimes, it gets too wet for them, like last September.

Next year, it'll be swapped around tho.

 

[CowDawg]

yeah, I wish I had a field just a little bit larger so I can alternate my planting.

 

[Q2XL12]

looks good, I vote to keep it.

 

[Guest]

I think most of us are jealous of Dawg's plot. LOL

 

[CowDawg]

Okay guys, you talked me into it and made my decision...

I'm keeping it!!!

No kill this year.. It's growing too well and looks too good to change crops.

On vacation this week, so I'm waiting for a good day, no rain or wind, loading up the ATV, tank sprayer full of Poast, Lime and fertilizer and going to work on it for the day.

Thanks all, for all your input!

 

[CowDawg]

Just an update:

Last Sunday 5-16-10
Mowed the Clover plot at my tractor's highest setting(which isn't very high). Clover was a foot high already so it wasn't an easy mowing.

Put down 2 bags of 19-19-19. 100lbs. It only recommended 80 lbs. but I wasn't saving 20 lbs. so it's down.

Sprayed with Monterey Grass Getter (formally Poast) Penn State Seed's product.

Now to watch it regrow!

 

[RB]

Clover seems to be a sleeper in that your investments one year don't show up til the next...weeds don't look bad let it ride Dawg!!

Weeds are my big problem, I spot spray to kill off the real trouble areas, and mow 2-3 times a summer. I am a fan of the brassicas, but man when you got clover doing that you play that hand.

What about that trail we talked about in years prior, Candidate for a lb or so of that brassica?

Looking good Dawg, I have been wondering, thanks for the report!!

 

[CowDawg]

Clover seems to be a sleeper in that your investments one year don't show up til the next...weeds don't look bad let it ride Dawg!!

Weeds are my big problem, I spot spray to kill off the real trouble areas, and mow 2-3 times a summer. I am a fan of the brassicas, but man when you got clover doing that you play that hand.

What about that trail we talked about in years prior, Candidate for a lb or so of that brassica?

Looking good Dawg, I have been wondering, thanks for the report!!

Oh yes I am thinking about that trail through the woods again.
I had sprayed it last year and killed off every living green plant on it. Ran the chain harrow up and down a few times, even some lime and fert. too.
I then planted some throw and grow seeds that never really took off. The only thing that grew was this tall green grassy plant, I don't even know what to identify it as.??? But it was very sparse.

So it's safe to say, Nothing Grew last year so I feel like a pocket full of cash went up into the air!

But don't worry RB, those evil thoughts are back again this year and I am uncovering the chain harrow out of the back of the garage for another drag with the atv in the next few weeks to come and I be tossing that Brassica around for another try at it.
Something has to grow on this road (or certain parts of it anyway) as I used to mow it often with the grass that used to grow on it.

But the main Clover plot is in it's prime now, I must say... and I'm proud of that. I did something right to it!!

The Chicory is fading away, though it is now 3 years from the original planting.

I do have another Clover and Chicory package on the way from our HPA Sponsor and I'll toss some fresh seed around.

This hobby never ends!

 

[CowDawg]

Update: SECOND mowing done yesterday the 8th.....

Geez. this stuff is growing like wildfire! I just mowed it not even 2 weeks ago when I limed, fertilized and sprayed it.
It was a foot high at least again. The clover has grown a good 8 inches since then and had flowered, so I mowed it for some more free seed and to keep things tender.

Here a couple photos and 2 short videos of the frequent visitors I am getting.
Also have videos of Rabbits hopping around Crows and a Bobcat passing through.