How to Harvest and Preserve Red Clover For the best taste and highest possible level of potency, it is recommended to harvest the flowerheads of red clover about 7 to 14 days after blooms first appear. I have always used a mix of white clover on our food plots with good success. Alsike white clover is a short-lived perennial clover that tolerates wet and acidic soils much better than alfalfa and slightly better than red clover. In fact, many of the seed mixes designed specifically to attract deer include other plants. Deer are attracted to red clover, but the white clover does have more appeal. It is an upright plant which can yield up to 30% more than white clover. White clover in Arrowleaf or Yuchi. As with annuals, there are two main types of perennial clover— white and red . Nonetheless, white clover has earned its spot in the world of food plots. In recent trials, Kopu II has easily beaten its competition. clover produces yellow-white flowered seed heads that look similar to white clove and has long, branched stems. Unlike red or white clovers, it has no warm season value to deer. This mix is great for soils low on nutrients, as both the peas and clover will help increase the nitrogen content. I bring you the best buying guides to help you to choose which tactical gear is the best for you as well as offering you a professional and fast service. Still, there are several different species of clover, each with its own countless number of varieties. Amigain red clover can be sown in early autumn or spring at 4-6 kg/ha (Superstrike®) in permanent pasture mixes with white clover, ryegrass, tall fescue or cocksfoot. As a legume, it does well in wetter climates, yet thrives in areas that many other species wouldn’t. Successful food plots start with the right vegetation. Clover lawns do have some disadvantages: It stains clothing more easily than grass. Disadvantages of Clover. If you have less than this and can’t irrigate your field somehow, you definitely want to look into one of the more drought resistant varieties of white clover. In terms of soil types, alsike clover is more tolerant of poorly drained soils than red clover. Copyright © 2012 Bowsite.com. Crimson is the clover commonly seen blooming in March or April on the interstate medians in the South. Still, deer also like to eat a lot of other things as well, but it’s not only this fact that makes clover such an excellent crop, as it also provides a number of major benefits to the deer, soil and any grasses, grains or other crops you plant alongside it. Amigain red clover can be sown in early autumn or spring at 4-6 kg/ha (Superstrike®) in permanent pasture mixes with white clover, ryegrass, tall fescue or cocksfoot. This is obviously the best idea if you have the time to put into doing all the research, but since most of us don’t, here are some of the best products currently out there. A New Zealand white clover that has become known as one of the most aggressive white clovers on the market. This is at a time when deer are in need of nutritious food. Both varieties do have some reseeding potential, but they may take a bit of help to get good results. Benefits of Using Clover for Deer Food Plots, The Dirty Gardener Deer and Elk Wild Game Mix, Selecting the Best Skinning Knife For Hunting, Stay Comfortable with the Best Turkey Vest, What’s the Best M4 Scope? This clover gets its name from the brilliant crimson flowers it produces in the spring (it’s easy to confuse it by name with “red” clover, which is a perennial, and has flowers that are more pink than red). Until Imperial Clover was developed, no single planting was known to us that would stay green and productive 12 months a year throughout the Country and perform well from Canada to Florida. White clover, in comparison, grows relatively short, and spreads using stolons (horizontal above-ground stems). Nonetheless, it’s important to at least know a bit about each type to get the best results for your specific piece of land. Red clover has a life cycle of 2-3 years, by which time you may want to rotate your crops anyway. As a legume, it does well in wetter climates, yet thrives in areas that many other species wouldn’t. But it doesn’t have to be—at least, not if you plant white clover. The Top 5 Rated Optics Reviewed. Micro clover is basically a dwarf version of white clover, and doesn’t reach higher than 6 inches, even if you never mow it . The white dutch and other whites can be very drought tolerant, where the crimson and certain strawberry clovers cannot do well in drought climates. Always conduct a soil test prior to planting. The ladinos are highest producers, alsike covers low pH and wet ground better and the white dutch works well for wheel traffic areas, logging trails, and as a percentage of clover mixes. In recent trials, Kopu II has easily beaten its competition. These are all perennials. Feeding alsike clover in the form of either hay or pasture has been an issue due to potential toxicity for horses and it is not easy to tell the difference between red clover and alsike clover with the naked eye. A smaller company, the Dirty Gardener offers up this interesting mix, which although it only contains around 15-percent clover seed (a mix of red and white), also contains other well growing deer favorites chicory (35%) and peas (50%). White clover is best suited to soils which have good moisture holding ability. It is nutrient dense with protein levels of 25% or more. On clay soil, this clover should reseed itself with mowing in August without disking for several years. 16% FF 9615 Red Clover: Medium red clover variety developed by US Dairy Forage Research Center. All it will do is benefit the weeds. It has not let me down as a good fall food plot, not even during the 2011 drought. However, it is still important to consider the type of soil and your location, as again, these will be most important in determining what will grow best for you. Ball Clover is a cool season clover that is sometimes mistaken for white clover, but the blooms are smaller and more rounded. A New Zealand white clover that has become known as one of the most aggressive white clovers on the market. As the result of years of painstaking efforts, Imperial Clover is the first clover product developed specifically for Whitetail deer and wild turkey. Kopu II has a very high stolon density, great persistence under grazing, very high yields, and a large leaf size. This perennial is a grassland and meadow species. If it is mowed occasionally, it will reach about 4 inches high. White clover tolerates poorly drained soils and lower soil fertility than red clover, but is not drought tolerant and is more likely to cause bloat if fed as a large part of an animal's diet. But you can keep clovers going for many many years. Due to climate, those living in the more southern parts of the country, including south Texas and the Deep South, will likely need to replant every year as most varieties are only annual in these areas. Secondly, weeds and grasses can choke clover out relatively easily so weed control is very important. The white dutch and other whites can be very drought tolerant, where the crimson and certain strawberry clovers cannot do well in drought climates. As mentioned, Patriot white clover is a close relative of Durana with better first year production but possibly somewhat less persistence. When planting clover, one of the most important things is to either buy inoculated seeds or inoculate the seeds yourself, as this ensures the plants will contain the bacteria that allows them to take up nitrogen from the air. I have been having great success adding berseem clover to my white clover spring plantings or with oats for a plow down later in the summer. Red clover has a deeper root system and "can" tolerate a lot more heat and drought than crimson and white clover. White clovers include: white dutch, alsike and ladino clovers. Although there are a few different species of clover, they can generally be divided into annuals and perennials, or those that grow for only one year compared to those that will regrow for two years or more. It has good forage yield and quality. I have been told that red clover does not last very long and may only be good for one season. Unlike red or white clovers, it has no warm season value to deer. Just toss it out and let it grow. For someone like me who only has a 1/2+ acre clover plot, Imperial Whitetail Clover has been totally worth it. Honey bees and other pollinator species are especially attracted to its white flowers for the nectar and pollen. The seeding rate for Ball clover is 2-3 lbs per acre broadcast. White clover is an excellent companion plant for red clover when growing it in a field for easy foraging. If you want to only plant clover, you’re best to use several different varieties that mature at different times to ensure food throughout the year. However, deer do like it as long as it is kept in a growing stage and not allowed to mature. We want to put in a low maintenance "fire break" between the house and the rest of the hill that is covered with plants and grasses that grow up to 4 feet tall, (including fighting to mow and de-seed Blackberry, Tansy Ragwort, and Mammoth Red Clover). I have deer in a clover hay field above my house most of the summer. The Red Clover will do ok in the fall as an attractant. Meanwhile, Pinwheel commented that deer were using his Red Clover during Summer. White clovers prefer soil within pH levels of 5.8-7.0. Ball Clover is a prolific seed producer even under high stocking rates, and a high percentage of the seed are hard seed. Red clover does not last as many years as white. However, you also have the choice of planting a blend containing either various types of clover mixed together or one or more types of clover mixed with other food plot crops. Crimson is the earliest maturing type of clover, while arrowleaf is one of the latest. 23% Crusade White Clover: Vigorous, large leafed and winter active white clover. Allowing your red clover to flower and seed should give you a decent amount of cover for the next year, if you so choose. It’s also important to remember not to plant the seeds too deep, as they should only be planted about 1/4 inch deep. Until Imperial Clover was developed, no single planting was known to us that would stay green and productive 12 months a year throughout the Country and perform well from Canada to Florida. 2) It is not a perennial clover. But it doesn’t have to be—at least, not if you plant white clover. Both are very good, and not as as expensive as Whietail Institute. Most red clovers are biennials, but this variety will grow three years. Crimson clover is another type of clover that people grow in the Southern States. White clover produces an average of 130 lb of nitrogen per … All white clover varieties are generally very leafy, but the plants can grow to different heights depending on the variety. It looks like I should be able to use the red clover in a pinch and then frost seed with white later. It is generally considered a biannual. Buy some today from Frigid Forage! I have been having great success adding berseem clover to my white clover spring plantings or with oats for a plow down later in the summer. Most clovers are either 2 or 3 year clovers. As with annuals, there are two main types of perennial clover— white and red . This high-protein seed option requires less maintenance than most varieties, too. The key to planting a successful food plot is finding a crop that both works well in your location and actually attracts deer . The first question you obviously want to ask yourself about anything you are considering planting in a food plot is whether or not the deer will eat. 100% clover mix by Frigid Forage ideal for deer food plots from early Spring all the way to hunting season. Some posts may contain affiliate links. There isn’t one product or formula that could be considered the best fertilizer for clover food plots, as it all depends on what nutrients are already in your soil. 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