Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="SLE" data-source="post: 294420" data-attributes="member: 3889">So, I'm looking for some help from you guys that have had success with food plots and specifically sweet corn. I have 300' x 30' across the back of my property that I've used on and off to plant sweet corn. The family picks what we want, then I let whoever wants to come pick, have at it; and the deer and wildlife get the rest. I've had spotty success on and off doing this. Some years it's been great, others it's been terrible.For planting, I use a 2 row John Deer 71 Flex corn planter and prep the area with a 3-point tiller behind the tractor. I've also prepped it with the cultivator and harrow but after buying the tiller which sure leaves a nice seed bed, the cultivator hasn't been used as much.So to start, I seem to run into two issues, first is the seed. It hasn't been about taste as much as germination. I've probably tried 5 different varieties over the years and they've all been good. I bought two different varieties in 5lb bags from a local supplier (peaches & cream and bodacious) thinking I would give both varieties a try (2-years ago). It was absolutely terrible as far as what germinated and came up. Because I had bought an abundance of seed, I vacuum sealed the left over and kept in a drawer in the garage refrigerator to be used the next year. Well after such a poor experience on the first go around, the following year I ran a little house test and planted a couple egg cartons full and put them in the green house to see if the see if the seed was any good. I literally had only had a handful that germinated. Don't know if it was from trying to save the seed until the next year or if it was just that bad since the year before it was poor also? Also, I've found when I try to buy seed, when you look for the amount I need, most places just have it for the ordinary gardener, and to get enough to run through the planter about breaks the bank. So with that said, I'll take any seed recommendations you guys have, I'm in the Minot area if that matters.Secondly is the weeds. I now know why farmers are putting down the chemical they do, holy shit, it's been eye opening trying to control noxious weeds and grass. I've tried a few various sprays early in the season just after sprout to knock down the weeds and get the corn up and above it which worked OK until 2-years ago when we had a massive infestation of some type of wild grass. I have no idea where it came from but it grew as tall as the corn and the broad leaf spray I had used did nothing to it, as expected. The grass got so bad that I couldn't hardly get through it  with a rear tine 18" cub cadet tiller that we use on the main garden In order to get things under control, last year we didn't plant anything. I tilled it several times through the summer and hit it with round-up a couple of times also. Going into this year, I figure it'll get a treatment of round-up a few days before planting but once sprouted, not sure what to use if I have a lot of competing weeds/grass. Can't say I've found any round up ready sweet corn but I'm sure it's out there and maybe I don't know where to look for it. Of course, the less chemical the better but I'm not completely anti-herbiside either.  Keep in mind, there's no chemical license here, so I'm a little limited what I can use. suggesting atrazine isn't going to help unless you want to come apply it, lol. This rookie will take any advise he can get, let'r rip.Thanks</blockquote>

Verification: What is the most common fish caught on this site?

Reply to thread

Recent Posts

Friends of NDA