Putting in a small food plot

[CP]

I like the apple tree suggestion.  Anyone have any recommendations as to what type would be best here?  It's at 2600 ft and gets a lot of snow most years.

I added some lime to soil just before a good rain so hopefully that helps.  I've ordered some Whitetail Institute Extreme - they claim to grow best in extreme conditions.  We'll see.

I'm obviously running behind schedule - too much to do and too little time to do it. 

 

[Special T]

I think an apple tree is gona be rough. Id shoot for wild rose or other semi natural bushes that seem to attract late season.
 Bucking up the wood and getting plants in the ground is what you really need.

[fishnfur]

I think the apples will be just fine, but you have to protect them for 3 - 4 years, and they need probably 6 - 8 hours of full sunlight per day.  Semi-dwarf should get big enough to get the majority of the limbs above the browse line.  Full size apple trees take many years before they start to fruit.   Deer seem to like the green varieties better than the reds.  I'd find a variety that ripens in late October.  Google it.

Another idea is a persimmon, which can grow over 30 feet tall, which allows them to get more sun than a lower growing apple tree.  Whitetail property owners in the mid-west and south often combine plantings of persimmon, apple and a hybrid chestnut.

http://www.chestnuthilloutdoors.com/store/c/19-Deer-Candy-Persimmon-Tree-Collection.aspx

[JimmyHoffa]

I like the apple tree suggestion.  Anyone have any recommendations as to what type would be best here?  It's at 2600 ft and gets a lot of snow most years.

I added some lime to soil just before a good rain so hopefully that helps.  I've ordered some Whitetail Institute Extreme - they claim to grow best in extreme conditions.  We'll see.

I'm obviously running behind schedule - too much to do and too little time to do it.

The small crab apples are good for high elevation/extreme climate swings.  I would try to match the fruit drop with the season you plan to hunt.  Best would be multiple varieties so you start getting apples as early as Sep and go even as late as early Nov, but that might be too many trees.  You would probably need multiple trees for pollination to actually get enough crop, or you can get one good rootstock for the conditions of your area and graft multiple branches to a single tree to get all the pollination and different fruiting times.

[CP]

Made some progress - 2 apple trees planted - a Pristine and a Honeycrisp:

[CP]

About half of the plot is now planted in Whitetail Institute Extreme.   

Fertilized with 16-16-16 then dragged it in using a section of chain link behind the ATV.

Broadcast the seed then cultipacked by running over it with the ATV.

[CP]

My bad, I forgot one very important aspect to those apple trees.   

[CP]

Try eating them now  :

[fishnfur]

Perhaps some constantina wire around it too.   

I think the elk may still push into the fence to get at that tree.  Don't forget to give it water every time you're out there.  It could be a long dry summer.

[CP]

Perhaps some constantina wire around it too.   

I think the elk may still push into the fence to get at that tree.  Don't forget to give it water every time you're out there.  It could be a long dry summer.

Thanks.  I'll beef that up with some more posts next time I'm out there.  I can ATV in a trailer full of water as needed.  If these take I'll put some more in next spring.

[Rainier10]

What elevation are you at?  I am thinking of doing some apple trees at 3,800 feet.

[CP]

What elevation are you at?  I am thinking of doing some apple trees at 3,800 feet.

I'm at 2,700 -

[bearpaw]

awesome, hope it all grows 

[Rainier10]

What elevation are you at?  I am thinking of doing some apple trees at 3,800 feet.

I'm at 2,700 -

I will be watching to see how it does.

[Kit Carson]

Really cool man! Nice