Bulk Sunflower Seeds for Planting Food Plots

Are you looking for information about bulk sunflower seeds for planting food plots? If so, here we will inform you about it. Also, we will inform you about the other things that you need to know related to sunflowers and food plots.

What Is a Food Plot?

First, let’s find out what the food plot is. A food plot can be defined as an area which is set aside to act as a supplementary food source for wildlife. Usually, food plot crops consist of legumes, grains or certain wildflowers, but of course it is not limited to these plants. In areas of agriculture, food plots may be planted in fields after the crop has been harvested. Then, it is left standing through the fall, winter and early spring for the use of wildlife.

It is ideal that a food plot is located near a source of cover for animals and it should be small which is around 2 to 4 acres, irregularly shaped and located far from roads.

The existence of food plots is aimed to feed wildlife rather than rebuild the soil, so food plots are different from revegetation. The wildlife carrying capacity of a particular ecosystem can be increased by food plots and it enhances the chances for hunting or wildlife viewing. The target animals are usually moose, bear, rabbit, whitetail deer, deer, woodchuck, grouse, wild turkey and songbirds.

How to Plant Sunflower Seeds For Food Plots?

According to Real Tree, if you want to plant sunflower seeds for food plots, you can start it with a soil test. For your information, it is hard to grow sunflowers without adequate soil nutrients. If you opt out of a soil test, you can spread roughly 200 pounds of 10-10-10 or 13-13-13 per acre. Then, if drilling, you need to spray and bush hog. If broadcasting, you can spray, bush hog and disc. The key is the good seed to soil contact.

When you plant them, you have to make sure that you do not plant too thick. It is because if there are too many plants, they will grow and competition will make them in a lesser plot. It is important for you to know that the seeds of sunflowers can run almost $25 per 10 pounds of seed. If you broadcast them, you can plant about 25 pounds per acre, but if you drill, you are able to plant almost 20 pounds per acre.

You have to plant the seeds and then you need to use a cultipacker. You need to use it to put them at the suitable depth. You need to note that you do not put them too deep. However, if you do not cover them well enough, it will inhibit germination. Besides, it will permit birds and other animals to consume the seeds before they have an opportunity to grow.

This plant can fully mature from 100 to 125 days. So, if you want to plant sunflower seeds, it is better for you to do that between late April and late May. Basically, you have to plant as early as you can without being afraid of frost killing your seedlings.

The species of this plant can grow very well throughout the eastern half of the country. Good sources with the plant can be found in the Midwest and even the western states. When you want to plant them, you have to make sure that you do not plant them in the areas which are shaded since sunflowers need direct sunlight. If sunflowers get enough sunlight, they will grow well. It is recommended for you to plant them in areas which have rich and well-drained soil. If you plant them close to a bedding or staging area, it can enhance the amount of daylight deer activity you see.

The Seeds of Sunflower for Food Plots

You may be curious about the seeds of sunflower that you can use for food plots. You are able to choose Black Peredovik Sunflowers. They grow tall and can produce compact seed heads which can reach diameters in the inches on some varieties. You are able to grow the sunflowers with almost any wildlife food plot. The sunflowers also provide a high quality oil content seed which is needed for the healthy growth of all wildlife species. It is an added advantage for the wildlife such as ducks and the other bigger migrating fowl which expend large reservoirs of calorie energy during migration. The nutrients which are contained in the seeds of sunflowers can help in healthy feather development for the birds.

If you want to plant black peredovik sunflowers, you are able to do that at the rate of 40 lb. per acre 1-1/2 inches deep. They will mature in about 100 days and it will take about 110 days for seed to mature from germination.

Black Peredovik Sunflowers are good for wildlife food plots than the striped sunflowers. They are liked by young and growing deer. Even Black Peredovik Sunflowers are very popular as a food plot for migrating and domestic doves. Why? It is because it has a high oil content and smaller seed size which are more delicious and desirable by wildlife and birds.

The Types of Food Plots Other Than Sunflowers

According to the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, there are some other types of food plots other than sunflowers. The first one is corn. It is the top of wildlife food types because it is interesting for turkeys, deers, songbirds, mammals, and upland game birds. You are able to plant corn with conventional row crop equipment in well prepared soil in late April to mid-May.

The second type is Sorghum, Millet and Milo. These grains can produce BB sized seeds which are used by a variety of birds such as quail, doves, turkeys, waterfowl, songbirds and small mammals. They can grow 2 to 3 feet and usually they stand up well to snow and provide both food and cover for wildlife.

Wheat is another type of food plots. It can make an excellent nurse crop into which legume food plots may be seeded. Also, it provides a good food source both in the vegetative and grain states.