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Common Ground News

How much rain does a food plot need?

Author

David Ramirez

Updated on March 13, 2026

How much rain does a food plot need?

The safest bet is to wait until your area has received a good soaking rain, and there is a favorable chance for additional rains. As dry as we are now, that first ½ inch shower will not provide adequate moisture for establishment, if it is followed by an extended period without additional rain.

Herein, can you plant food plots in the rain?

You need to take advantage of the rain, and that means getting in spring food plots for deer while there is water. Broadcasting clover or other small seeded species in rain, on your bare or already planted food plot will allow for good seed activation.

Beside above, how much seed do I need for a food plot? Once planting begins, make sure the seeds are 1 to 1½ inches in depth. If broadcasting, do so at a rate of approximately 100 pounds per acre. If drilling, approximately 75 pounds per acre should do. If you broadcasted the seeds, use a cultipacker to pack the ground after seeding.

Then, how long can food plot seed go without rain?

As long as the seed is covered and temperatures continue to moderate you will get good germination at the next rainfall. My foodplots all went in 9/4/10. It was 3 weeks in the baking sun before we got the last rain. Everything came up fine.

What food plot grows best in wet soil?

When the soil is dry enough to support my ATV, I broadcast oats, turnips and chicory directly on the wet soil and have had great success. No lime, soil prep or fertizer. Just broadcast the seed a little heavy and you will be fine. Put your seed out just before a rain.

How often should I fertilize my food plot?

After you've planted and the seeds have germinated—and throughout the growing season—you will need to keep fertilizing the plots, so they remain vigorous and attractive to deer. We recommend applying 150 pounds of 33-0-0 or 34-0-0 per acre every four to six weeks throughout the growing season.

How long is food plot seed good for?

Some seeds will germinate and grow for up to 5 years after the date they came from the field. And, at the price of quality food plot seed, it's worth a second look. It depends upon what kind of seed it is, how it was cared for, and how it was stored.

What is the best no till food plot seed?

Option One: Plant a No-Brainer Brassica Plot

This means that if you don't have time to plant buckwheat this season, you can go ahead and broadcast brassica, clover, chicory, or tillage radish, as well as rye, wheat, or oats right away and have a good plot by fall.

Can you plant seeds before it rains?

Plant Seeds Before It Rains

The best time to get seeds in the ground is when the soil is relatively dry, but right before a good soaking rain. Dry soil is easier to work with than wet soil and seeds are less likely to rot in soil that doesn't stay soggy for prolonged periods.

Can you overseed a clover food plot?

You might only need 1-3 lbs of clover seed per acre every year to overseed. You might have a clover plot last 10-15 years if you continuously do all you can to keep a plot thick. Then work the ground and you might need to roll the soil before broadcasting the seed. Then rolling a second time.

How long can a seed stay alive underground?

Many species of plants have seeds that delay germination for many months or years, and some seeds can remain in the soil seed bank for more than 50 years before germination.

How do I plant a food plot seed?

Your seeds should be planted in a seedbed that has a soil pH between 6.5 to 7.5. The only way to be absolutely sure that the soil pH of your seedbed is within this optimum range is to perform a laboratory soil test.

Will Morning Dew germinate grass seed?

Fall is the absolute best time to seed or re-seed your lawn! The hot, dry summer is over and the insects and weeds are less prevalent. Moisture from morning dew keeps the seed bed moist and the less intense sun rays slow the rate of evaporation.

What is Brassica seed?

Food Plot Seed for Wildlife Brassica Seed Blend is a 100% brassica blend that is easy to establish and highly preferred by deer during the winter months. USES: To attract and provide nutrition for deer. In a mixture with winter annual grasses and clover to speed food plot establishment and enhance deer attraction.

How does seed germinate?

When a seed is exposed to the proper conditions, water and oxygen are taken in through the seed coat. The embryo's cells start to enlarge. Then the seed coat breaks open and a root or radicle emerges first, followed by the shoot or plumule that contains the leaves and stem. Many things can cause poor germination.

Are small food plots worth it?

Yes, if nothing else it will bring them closer to your stand rather than wonder the 20 acres of alfalfa. You already have the land cleared so why not. Especially of there isn't much ag around, small food plots are almost always worth it (if you ask me).

Are food plots worth it?

Sometimes called “kill plots,” these fields are definitely proven to work for any whitetail hunter that has access to a large chunk of whitetail habitat, and an undying desire to take a mature bucks. A well-thought-out food plot plan will help you attract mature bucks, drawing them from surrounding properties.

How big should I make my food plot?

In general, a minimum plot size of a 1/4 acre should typically be used wherever food is needed, even on the smallest of parcels. As parcel size approaches 40 acres within a coverless agricultural region, 2-3% of your total acreage in food plots is a good, rough estimate without overdoing it.

Can you put too much seed on a food plot?

Before laying down any seed, be sure to measure the plot. If you put down too much seed, not only are you throwing away money, you're drastically reducing the amount of potential your plot has. There is only so much space and nutrient content in the soil. Overcrowded plants are stunted.

Is a food plot considered baiting?

Food plots — Naturally occurring foods, standing agricultural crops, or food placed as a result of using normal agricultural practices are not considered to be bait or feed. Constructing or maintaining any food plot or any artificial garden to attract wildlife on public land is prohibited.

How much seed do I need for a 1 acre food plot?

The recommended seeding rate (broadcast, not drilled) for crimson clover is about 25 pounds of PLS per acre if planting a pure stand.

How much does a food plot cost?

The average food plot from scratch costs about $200 per acre. However, ever hunter should have the chance to benefit from food plots where they hunt. The poor man's food plot is extremely effective at attracting big bucks during the season and is the best way to plant food plots on a budget.

Are deer food plots worth it?

One of the newest trends in hunting and outdoor stewardship is the planting of what we call “food plots.” Planting food plots for hunting can increase a hunter's odds of success and provide important nutrients to wildlife during critical times of the year.

What deer food plot grows in wet soil?

The best results have been with wheat oats and rye planted right around Labor Day . I have also planted RR soybeans in July then later broadcasted some turnips and the annual cereal seeds with great results also.

Will clover grow in wet soil?

Ball clover is best suited to heavy soils, but is surprisingly well adapted to fairly dry sites as well. This clover does not reseed well due to a low level of hard seed production. Unlike most commonly grown annual clovers, berseem clover is quite tolerant of wet soils and also alkaline soils.

Do oats grow well in wet soil?

Oats makes a good choice for cool-season planting,” says Fisher. “Oats is a quick starter. In the short term, cover crops reclaim wet ground by the moisture they consume, using as much as 7 inches of soil water in one season. Longer-term reclamation comes from improved soil health.

What is the best late season food plot?

Here are nine late-season whitetail foods that can get you on a post-rut buck.
  • Acorns. Acorns.
  • Newly Seeded Alfalfa.
  • Apples.
  • Soybeans.
  • Brassicas.
  • Corn.
  • Hard/Woody Browse.
  • Shrub/Brushy Browse.

What grows good in sandy soil?

Great for: Shrubs and bulbs such as Tulips, Tree mallow, Sun roses, Hibiscus. Vegetable root crops like carrots, parsnips and potatoes favour sandy soils. Lettuce, strawberries, peppers, corn, squash, zucchini, collard greens and tomatoes are grown commercially in sandy soils.

Will turnips grow in wet soil?

Turnips will tolerate damp soil.