Ask Big Jon

by Jon Cooner

Q:  We have a hunting club in South Georgia and are going to plant Imperial Whitetail Clover next fall.  Should we add a cover crop? 

A:  Some people occasionally do, but it’s usually unnecessary.  That’s because we already have plants in the Imperial Whitetail Clover blend that serve the function of a cover crop.  These “Golden Jumpstart” plants establish quickly, making the field attractive and also helping to protect the perennials in the blend from early overgrazing while they establish.

As you may know, the perennial clovers in Imperial Whitetail Clover are unique in the world in that they were bred over many years from clovers we gathered worldwide for the specific purpose of breeding the best possible year-around forage plants for whitetail food plots.  The results were Advantage and Insight ladino clovers, the only clovers ever bred specifically for whitetail food plots. 

One of the characteristics we sought in breeding Advantage and Insight was to keep them as high in nutrients and energy as possible all year long.  Whenever a plant has to create seeds, it robs the plant of nutrients and energy.  Accordingly, we bred Advantage and Insight to grow from their root systems, and not rely on re-seeding.  In order to do that, they have to create a comparatively extensive root system underground, and they do that before they appear in force above ground.  That’s why we put the annual clovers into the blend – to get your plot up and going quickly while the perennials establish underground.  Once the perennials start coming up well, the continued presence of the annual clovers in the plot is largely irrelevant. 

Q:   Once I plant Imperial Whitetail Clover, how can I tell if what I see coming up are the annual Golden Jumpstart plants or the perennial plants in the blend? 

A:  With Imperial Whitetail Clover, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference by looking at the plants.  Generally (and provided Imperial Clover is planted according to directions and Mother Nature cooperates), you’ll start seeing the Golden Jumpstart plants coming up in only a week or two.  Often this appears as a broad-coverage stand of clover, but a bit thin.  Once the perennial clovers in the blend establish their root systems, which is usually only a week or two after the Golden Jumpstart plants break ground, the plot simply thickens up.  Since all the plants in the Imperial Whitetail Clover blend are clovers, the transition is not as obvious.  However, with our other perennial blends, you may be able to tell.  This is especially true of Extreme, since the Persist forb and WINA-100 Brand Perennial Forage Chicory that comprise the perennial component of Extreme don’t look like clovers.