Snook384

ok my place is near Ocala. the dirt has a layer of whitish sand about an inch deep. Then the dirt turns dark brown almost black. Is this the kind of dirt you have Bugflipper? I was told from the local feed store that no one plants clover there. They have seen people try but it turns to crap. Something tells me that most people on my lease are just lazy as hell. They can not beleive that I am planting a food plot. My p.h. was real low so I added 3000 pounds of lime to half an acre. I was told on here that it should be around a 6 or maybe higher but the feed store said it will maybe be around 5. I guess I will have to test it again and see but it seems for anything to grow around my place you would need to add around 12000 pound of lime an acre. That just doesnt seem possible unless you want to plant in straight lime. So would you suggest mixing Iron clay peas and chicory together?

gregrn43

With your plot being just a half acre, it wont matter what you plant with that many deer it will be overgrazed. I would make my plot much bigger or start shooting a bunch of does.

Bugflipper

Snook, strike what I said about clover. It has to be shaded by the chickory, wont work if they are mowwing it down that fast. Last I heard the Ocala WMA doesn't allow doe harvests. I see from 75-150 deer in my plot East of Ocala NF. No doubt you have the same problem. If you can't make the plot bigger why not make mini plots? Just long strips in the pines. Even trails would work if you plant in the center. There's no problem with the peas and chicory together. You may look into arrow leaf clover and birdsfoot trefoil as well. You could try overseeding in mid October with brasicas in the plot. If you want to improve the soil that old nasty swamp mud will do the trick.
The dirt is the same in Ocala and Sanford. The Ocala place is East of the NF on Lake George, S/W of Seville, probably 20 miles West of Ormond Beach.
Blessings

Snook384

Ok so I am going chicory/ iron clay peas. Question for you guys. I am going up on the 21st (Turkey opening) and will till and disc up my dirt. Here are.

1: Should I go ahead and add more lime?

2: After discing the dirt I will add fertilizer and Peas and disc it in. Then do I pack it down to add the chicory?

3: i am told chicory needs to just barley get mashed into the soil is this true?

4: Is there a better chicory to use than others for where I am?

5: I am I planting to soon in the year for the peas and to late for the chicory?

Thanks again.