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Author Topic: Putting in a small food plot  (Read 33216 times)

Online CP

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #45 on: May 17, 2016, 08:40:28 AM »
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. 

 

« Last Edit: May 17, 2016, 09:00:31 AM by CP »

Offline Special T

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #46 on: May 17, 2016, 09:57:19 AM »
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.
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Offline fishnfur

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #47 on: May 17, 2016, 11:37:02 PM »
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
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Offline JimmyHoffa

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #48 on: May 19, 2016, 08:16:26 AM »
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.

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #49 on: May 22, 2016, 01:41:28 PM »
Made some progress - 2 apple trees planted - a Pristine and a Honeycrisp:


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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #50 on: May 22, 2016, 01:43:32 PM »
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.

« Last Edit: May 22, 2016, 02:03:50 PM by CP »

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #51 on: June 06, 2016, 06:59:42 AM »
My bad, I forgot one very important aspect to those apple trees.   :bash:


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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #52 on: June 06, 2016, 07:00:53 AM »
Try eating them now  >:(:


Offline fishnfur

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #53 on: June 06, 2016, 01:48:55 PM »
Perhaps some constantina wire around it too.  :chuckle: 

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.
“When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.”  - Will Rogers

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #54 on: June 06, 2016, 02:37:20 PM »
Perhaps some constantina wire around it too.  :chuckle: 

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.


Offline Rainier10

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #55 on: June 06, 2016, 03:17:26 PM »
What elevation are you at?  I am thinking of doing some apple trees at 3,800 feet.
Pain is temporary, achieving the goal is worth it.

I didn't say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.

Every father should remember that one day his children will follow his example instead of his advice.


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HuntWa or the site owner.

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #56 on: June 06, 2016, 03:19:02 PM »
What elevation are you at?  I am thinking of doing some apple trees at 3,800 feet.

I'm at 2,700 -

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #57 on: June 06, 2016, 04:15:27 PM »
awesome, hope it all grows  :tup:
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Offline Rainier10

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #58 on: June 06, 2016, 04:25:47 PM »
What elevation are you at?  I am thinking of doing some apple trees at 3,800 feet.

I'm at 2,700 -
:tup: I will be watching to see how it does.
Pain is temporary, achieving the goal is worth it.

I didn't say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.

Every father should remember that one day his children will follow his example instead of his advice.


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HuntWa or the site owner.

Offline Kit Carson

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Re: Putting in a small food plot
« Reply #59 on: June 06, 2016, 08:50:15 PM »
Really cool man! Nice  :tup:

 


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