Fall is the time of the year that all deer hunters look forward to. The bucks you have been watching throughout summer are looking magnificent, and you’re already dreaming of adding a set of huge antlers to your collection. But they may not be as enthusiastic about that idea as you are, so your chance of a successful hunt is greatly improved by creating a food plot. By knowing how long a food plot takes to grow, you may still have time to establish a delectable food plot in your area.
A food plot needs a minimum of 45 days to grow before the first frost. Clover is the fastest growing crop when the weather is warm. Oats and rye are the best crops to plant in the cooler months if you need a fast-growing crop that will attract deer through winter.
Temperature and the seed you plant will ultimately determine how long a food plot will take to grow. When planning a food plot, one needs to plan carefully to ensure that the animals will be in peak condition and continue visiting your food plot when hunting season rolls around. If you plant too soon, the crop may be dying back or already have been decimated by the time you need to use it.
How Long Will A Food Plot Take To Grow?
The length of time that it will take each crop to reach maturity to be browsed by deer in your area depends on the season and what you have selected to grow. Spring and summer food plots usually thrive quickly, but one needs to plan carefully to reap good rewards from your food plot in the colder months.
Most seed producers provide recommendations regarding the best planting dates. Those dates are an estimation based on the average date of the first frost in your area. You may find the term DUFF, an acronym for ‘days until the first frost’ on seed bags. Weather is a crucial factor determining how fast your food plot will grow, so you must select crops that will still thrive when weather conditions are not optimal.
Whether you select a single type of crop or choose a food plot mix, let’s look at how long it will take to grow an attractive crop on your food plot.
How Long Will It Take To Grow A Food Plot In Spring?
After a long winter, the food sources for the whitetails in your area may be scarce, so you may be wanting something quick and easy to establish. During this time, you want to provide good nutrition that will support good health and antler development, and of course, encourage the local deer always to visit your property first!
The three quickest options that won’t require tons of work and will yield fast results in spring are:
| Crop | How long will it take to grow during spring? |
|---|---|
| Clover | During warm spring conditions, clover will germinate in 7-15 days. |
| Oats | Oats germinate in less than 14 days, and deer will be able to forage on the plot immediately. |
| Rye | If the weather is favorable, rye will germinate in less than 10 days. |
| Alfalfa | To become established, alfalfa will need around 40 – 50 days. |
How Long Will It Take To Grow A Food Plot In Summer?
During summer, the world is your oyster when it comes to growing your food plot. Summer is the best time to get crops in, and if possible, stagger planting times so that plants reach maturity at different times. That way, you will keep the deer coming back for more throughout fall and into winter.
Whatever crop you decide to plant should thrive provided there is enough moisture available. The following crops will germinate quickly and are good choices for quick results during the hot summer months.
- Lablab – The seeds germinate in around 7 days. It will take three weeks to grow two or three sets of leaves.
- Soybeans – Soybeans are not frost tolerant, so make sure you get them in as early as possible in the season. The plants will take at least 45 days to mature, but you will need to secure your food plot area before you want to use it because deer find this crop irresistible and will feast on it as soon as the plants emerge from the ground.
- Chicory – This is a good option for drier regions with sandy soil. The long taproot helps it find moisture deep below the soil surface. The plant’s leaves mature in around 40 days, and the root will continue to grow for up to 120 days.
- Alfalfa – Once established, alfalfa will continue to appear in your feed plot, year after year. The plant grows quickly in warm conditions, and after 40 days, you will start having a good supply of high-quality forage. Try to get your crop planted either early in the summer or during the last weeks before autumn so the plants can establish before when daytime temperatures are less extreme.
- Brassicas – These plants take at least 2-3 months to be impressive on a food plot, so if you are looking forward to hunting during the rut, planting a crop of brassicas like turnips, kale, and canola in summer will be a recipe for success.
How Long Will It Take To Grow A Food Plot In Fall?
Fall food plots are a great idea, and there are plenty of high-energy food plants that you can plant that will attract deer to your property. If you are concerned about running out of time before the first hard frost hits your area, select a crop that grows quickly and will stay green in the icy winter weather.
| Crop | How long will it take to grow during fall? |
|---|---|
| Oats | If you are running out of time and winter is fast approaching, oats is the go-to crop for your food plot. Oats germinate in less than 14 days, and deer will be able to forage on the plot immediately. The plants will need some time to develop sturdy roots to ensure the longevity of the crop. Oats is a high quantity producer, and it is very palatable to deer. It is a good option for late fall and winter grazing. |
| Winter forage peas | Deer will begin to forage on the plants soon after germination. This crop takes around 30 days to germinate if the soil temperature is cool, but deer can’t resist them, so the wait is worth it. |
| Brassicas | Brassicas include turnips, rapeseed, radishes, canola, and kale. These high-energy plants take around 60 – 90 days to reach maturity, so should only be planted very early in the fall. They are an excellent option to keep your herd coming back through winter as deer can still find a nutritious meal even if there is snow on the ground. |
| Winter Wheat | Plant before mid-October. It should grow at least 2-5 inches before winter before becoming dormant and thriving again in spring. |
| Alfalfa | Plant 40 – 50 days before the first frost |
| Soybeans | Not a recommended crop to plant in the fall. The plants take at least 45 days to mature, and they are not resilient against significant fluctuations in the temperature. |
| Rye | Rye will It will germinate and grow at temperatures as low as 33°, but growth will be slow at that temperature. In ideal conditions, rye seeds will germinate in 7-10 days. It must be planted at least 60 days before the first hard frost to get the best result. |
| Clover | In warm conditions, clover seeds will germinate in 7-15 days. Clover will need at least six weeks before the first freeze to become established, so it is not recommended as an option in the cooler regions as an early icy snap could put a sudden end to your food plot hopes. |
If you opt to use a Seed mix for your fall food plot, Autumn Quick Plot by Frozen Forage can be planted from mid-August to mid-September in areas that receive at least 4 hours of sunlight each day. The mix includes winter peas, wheat, and brassicas, so it will stay green and continue to draw deer into your area, even late in the season.
Merit Seed has an outstanding and inexpensive wheat and pea mix specially formulated for fall conditions. It can be planted right through until the end of October and costs $11 for a 10lb bag. The forage content of this product will germinate quickly to attract deer to your plot.
How Long Will It Take To Grow A Food Plot In Winter?
Crops planted during the winter months need to germinate quickly and be cold tolerant. Select seed mixes that have been tested and proven to grow in harsh conditions.
When winter arrives, it might be too late in some northern areas for seeds to germinate. However, if you still have a few weeks before the extreme cold sets in, there are winter seed mixes for food plots available that will yield edible plants within two weeks of planting. Products like Lights Out Forage Oats and Kale by Antler King can be planted before the first frost and will continue to attract deer to your plot throughout winter.
What Is Frost Seeding?
If you have missed the opportunity to plant before the onset of hard winter in your area, you will probably have to be patient and sit it out until spring. But you can get a head start on next season and even save yourself some work by taking advantage of the freeze-thaw cycle during the last icy blast of winter.
Frost seeding only works with extremely tiny seeds like alfalfa and clover. If you scatter the seeds over your food plot during the last few weeks of winter, they will fall into the crevices and small cracks in the soil during the thaw-freeze cycle. This method saves a ton of effort plowing the ground in spring, and your food plot will look magnificent at the first hint of warmer weather.
We wrote an entire article covering frost seeding you can check out here.
Wrapping Up
Establishing a highly productive food plot will significantly improve your chance of hunting success. The type of crop you select and the season will determine how long a food crop will grow. Some plants are more resistant to cool weather planting conditions and will remain attractive to passing deer even during the coldest part of the year. If you know what to plant at the correct time, your food plot will be the deer destination of choice this hunting season.
Kevin is the owner of Land Lawn & Garden. In addition to taking a lot of pride in his lawn at home, he also helps manage the family land. You can find more about him here.