CONSIDER STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF TWO-SEASON PLANTINGS

BY CHARLES J. ALSHEIMER

            There is no end to the information being streamed to hunters and landowners nowadays. It seems like not a day passes in which a new “must-do” or “must-have” is pitched to food-plot practitioners. One concept that is getting a lot of press is the concept of two-season plantings.

         Actually, the idea of offering two-season plantings has been around for a long time. Having grown up on a potato farm, I can vouch that my dad and granddad practiced this every year. However, in our family’s case, it was from a cash-crop standpoint rather than one to benefit wildlife.

         For those who think in terms of planting food plots and forages for wildlife, the thought of two plantings at the same food-plot location each year can have merit — but only if conditions are right. Determining if two-season plantings are right for you requires careful analysis.

What is It?

         Without going into great detail, two-season plantings is nothing more than offering wildlife two crops at the same food plot in a year. Two-season plantings require a spring planting of forage that grows fast and provides deer with high nutrition for a brief period before being plowed under in late summer to allow for a late-summer/early-fall planting. Though two-season plantings can work, it requires proper forage selection and growing conditions.

Strengths of Two-Season Plantings

            Variety: One of the big benefits of two-season plantings is the ability to offer whitetails a greater variety of forages that can provide high nutrition when deer need it most.

         For example, a product such as Whitetail Institute’s Imperial Power Plant (an annual) can be used by whitetails within three weeks of planting. The peas, beans, lab-lab and sorghum in the blend offer bucks and does a high level of nutrition during the antler-growing and lactating months. Because this blend is an annual, it grows quickly and can produce a significant tonnage of plant material in its first two months of growth.

After the hot days of summer arrive and plants become stressed, the spring planting can be replaced by a fall planting, such as Whitetail Institute’s Pure Attraction (an annual), which does extremely well when planted in late July to early August. The oats, winter peas and brassica seeds in this blend sprout quickly and offer forages required by deer from late summer into winter.

            Clean the table: Another benefit of a two-season planting is the ability to clean the table at a food plot. If the proper preparation steps are followed, spraying the plot with a weed killer like Roundup kills any weeds that might compete with the blend being planted.

            Drought insurance: Summer is a very stressful time for whitetails and their habitat. Heat and drought can wreak havoc on animals and plants. In areas that commonly have dry conditions during July and early August, two-season plantings can be very beneficial. In such locations, timing is critical. It’s important to get the first crop planted early enough to provide maximum nutrition and tonnage before the drought period arrives and stresses the plants. After the dry time arrives, it's time to prep the plot and plant the second crop so that when moisture returns, the new crop is ready to grow. In these kinds of situations, a two-season planting is like having drought insurance for food plots.

Weaknesses of Two Season Plantings

            Dead space: One of the greatest weaknesses of a two-season planting is there's a period when the food plot simply has no plants for deer to feed on. Even during the best-case scenario, there will be at least 30 days (15 in spring and 15 in fall) when the planted seeds are germinating and tying to grow, offering nothing for deer to eat. Usually this lapse is much more than 30 days.

         Fifteen days might not seem like much time, but with a spring planting, it's critical that deer have lush new growth as soon as spring green-up arrives. Unfortunately, when a crop has to be planted each spring at green-up time, there is a period when the plot has nothing to offer.

         So, not having usable forage in a food plot for deer to use for 30-plus days can be a huge issue, especially north of the 40th latitude, where the growing season is much briefer than southern locations.

            Overgrazing: Another weakness of a two-season planting is the danger of the food plot’s forage being overgrazed by whitetails. When plants first burst from the ground, they are very vulnerable, trying to grow and survive. It's a critical period for the plant.

Most two-season forages are annuals, which grow for a season before dying. Annuals grow more plant and less root system than perennials, so they can be more susceptible to stress when they are overgrazed. Couple that with the fact that deer prefer new growth (a hallmark of annuals), and you have an accident waiting to happen when there are too many deer feeding in a food plot with tender new sprouts. Perennial food plots, such as Imperial Whitetail Clover, can develop an extensive root system, so it tends to be much more graze-tolerant than annual forages.

            Cost: This can be a biggie, especially if you have to hire someone to plant your food plots. On average, I’ve found it costs me $125 to $250 per acre to do my food plots, and that doesn’t include the cost of equipment — just seed, fertilizer, lime and fuel. Planting food plots isn’t cheap, and it can get downright expensive if you factor in your time and the cost of equipment.

         Consequently, if you are thinking of doing two-season plantings, look long and hard at the cost factor. In most cases, it will be more than double the cost of perennial plantings.

A Better Idea

         The biggest bang for your buck — and the health of your deer — is derived by offering a continual, highly nutritious variety of forages. The best way to ensure that is by having most food-plot offerings planted in perennials, which last more than one year. When perennials make up most of your food-plot offerings, there is never a time during months without snow when deer won't have the food they need.

         On properties where more than six or seven acres of food plots can be planted, I recommend planting 75 percent perennials and 25 percent annuals. If that is too large, the bulk of the food plots — 80 percent or more — should be planted into perennials, with the balance being annuals. This mix of perennials to annuals ensures a continuous offering of forages whitetails require for antler growth and physical health.

Because perennials can often last two to five years, they are far more cost effective than annuals. Of course, their longevity depends on proper food-plot maintenance from year to year.

The Best of the Best

            Through continuing research at my whitetail research facility (see my article “The Cat’s Out of the Bag,” in Whitetail News, Vol. 14, No. 1) our deer have shown what they prefer for forages during months without snow.

Perennials

            Imperial Clover: When it comes to preferred deer food, nothing trumps Imperial Clover. If you have the proper soil and adequate growing conditions, whitetails will prefer it over other forages 75 percent of the time. During the prime growing season, protein levels of 30 percent or more can be expected from Imperial Clover. For best results, the pH levels of the soil should be more than 6.0.

            Imperial Chicory Plus: This blend of Imperial Clover and chicory is a high-octane forage. Chicory has been referred to as “clover on steroids.” The chicory seed in this blend gives whitetails an extra kick for meeting their nutritional needs because chicory plants can transfer minerals from the soil much more efficiently than many forages. For best results, the pH levels of the soil should be 6.2 to 7. If these soil needs can be met, protein levels of 30 percent or more can be expected during the prime growing season.

            Imperial Alfa-Rack: Alfalfa is tough to beat as a preferred deer forage. For Alfa-Rack to shine, soils should be well drained and have a pH level exceeding 6.5. If these conditions can be met, protein levels of more than 25 percent can be expected.

            Imperial Alfa-Rack Plus: This blended formula of Imperial Clover, chicory and alfalfa is very popular throughout the whitetail’s range. The extensive root structure of this blend lets you grow this high-protein forage in areas that might otherwise be inhospitable to the foods deer like best. Designed for well-drained soils, this blend can provide protein levels up to 30 percent.

            Imperial Extreme: Many refer to Extreme as a magical blend because it will thrive in soils with pH levels as low as 5.4. In addition, it provides protein levels that exceed 35 percent and will grow in country that receives as little as 15 inches of rainfall a year.

Annuals

            Imperial Winter-Greens: Winter-Greens is one of the most effective late-season food plot forages you can plant. This annual grows more than 15 inches tall; is broad-leafed, so it provides great tonnage; and provides protein levels exceeding 30 percent. Because the plants don’t reach the levels deer prefer most until November and December, this blend is a great choice if you want to ensure your deer have adequate nutrition when warm-season forages have been depleted.

            Imperial PowerPlant: When it comes to a warm-season annual, PowerPlant is tough to beat. With proper planting, it comes up rapidly, and its blend of peas, beans, lab-lab and sorghum offer whitetails a variety of forages with protein levels exceeding 25 percent. For best results, soil pH levels should be 6.0 or better.

            Pure Attraction: This is a great fall annual. Its custom blend of oats, winter peas and brassica make it a popular choice for feeding and hunting food plots. The deer hammer the oats and peas in the early season and pound the brassicas in the late season. It’s a great one-two punch.  It offers tonnage as well as 25 percent or more protein levels. As with most other blends, Pure Attraction performs best when soil pH levels exceed 6.0.

What Matters Most

         When it comes to food-plot decisions, it’s always important to put the whitetail’s needs first. Always strive to ensure your deer have a continual stream of highly nutritious food so all their food requirements are met all the time. Though two-season plantings are popular and can work, they generally fall short when compared to a well-thought-out perennial program.