Help, what to plant in sandy soil?
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: Inshart
03-Jul-23
On my food plot I have an area that is mostly sand. Last year my plot turned out pretty good except an area of sandy soil. What can I plant? Thanks, Bob
From: Jed Gitchel
03-Jul-23
Bob, if you find a good patch of sandy soil : always best to grab a drink plant your behind and wait for deer season.
From: Buckdeer
03-Jul-23
Where are you located
From: Kydeer1
03-Jul-23
I'd say you can plant about anything if you have some implements and resources for lime/fertilizer. They may not be the best plots but you can prob still get most stuff to grow. Without any more info I'd say clover, cereal rye and buckwheat are pretty darn solid options to get something to grow if you are struggling.
From: t-roy
03-Jul-23
Unless you have adequate moisture, you will struggle to grow almost anything that will amount to very much. I haven’t grown it, but milo is said to be very drought tolerant. Might give that a try.
From: craigmcalvey
03-Jul-23
Rye grows on my sand
From: grizzly63
03-Jul-23
An irrigation point?
From: Zbone
04-Jul-23
Fresh out of high school worked for a reclaim outfit, rye will grow about on anything, seen it even grow in pickup beds and is the crop used first after reclamation...
From: grape
04-Jul-23
Winter rye
From: Franzen
04-Jul-23
I've got roughly a 23 acre "plot" of milo. They do claim it can do well in drought, but it sure does look a lot better after our recent rains...
From: Inshart
04-Jul-23
I'm located about 3 hours north of the Twin Cities. No water source close.
I'll lime and fertilize it and try some rye.
Thanks
From: Lewis
04-Jul-23
If you are into turkey hunting go with chufa if not you have plenty of options good luck Lewis
From: t-roy
05-Jul-23
I’d bet rye would be your best option, Bob. You could try planting some brassicas there, in 2-3 weeks. If it turns off relatively wet, they might do ok. If not, you would still have time to put the rye in around September 1st.
From: Thornton
05-Jul-23
We grow everything here in Kansas on sand. Not sure what their secret is, because most of our sandy soil starts west of Wichita and I am east.
From: Smtn10PT
05-Jul-23
Smtn10PT's Link
check out growing deer tv
From: Castle Oak
05-Jul-23
I've had good luck with rye together with crimson clover. Crimson is an annual clover and very tolerant of sandy conditions if pH is good. Plus, if the initial stand produces well, simply lightly disc it in late summer/early fall to have a secondary stand.
From: Buckdeer
05-Jul-23
clover is real hard to grow on sand.I have I would say 7 out of 10 on sand in some of my plots. It may be that in the summer plots you may just have to get lucky.In fall plots you can plant wheat,oats or rye.Milo will grow if it rains but is favored during certain stages of grow and it heavily eaten by birds and even coons so it's like corn need to plant a bit to have some left.Where your temps should be cooler I would try spring plots maybe even beans but buckwheat is good also.All depends on rain and heat with sand
From: Fuzzy
10-Jul-23
true sand has trouble holding water and nutrients, building organic material in the topsoil helps but takes time and/or money input, if you check your USDA soil map you can tell more about what your actual soil profile is and there will be some general recommendations for crops, as well as soils limitations, there should be an Ag Extension agency with a soil scientist / agronomist who can help as well.
From: Medicinemann
10-Jul-23
If you enjoy turkey hunting, Lewis had an interesting suggestion.....chufa.
From: Inshart
10-Jul-23
Thanks everyone, appreciate the information.
From: MDW
13-Jul-23
New landowner that I'm doing some work for has dumped a lot of money this spring in basicly a 3 acre sand pile. He insisted on planting some drought tolerant clover, then thinks it can be watered with a 3/4" hose. I told him from experience that nothing will grow there in mid-summer. Wait till first of September, plant winter wheat, at first sign of moisture, it will sprout and be good all fall !
From: Hawken
22-Jul-23
Turnips
From: q d m
22-Jul-23
If it's a small area work some Spagum Moss in it will help to retain water.Works for me.
