INSTRUCTIONS AND MANAGEMENT FOR OUR FOOD PLOT BLENDS
1. Only plant within the planting times for your state or region.
2. Select an are suited for your particular food plot blend.
3. If your area is grassy and/or weedy, it is a good idea to spray Round-Up, or a similar herbicide and wait the recommended
amount of days before disking.
4. Disk the ground thoroughly to prepare a good weed-free, grass-free seedbed.
5. Use a soil test for alfalfa and clover to determine fertilizer and lime requirements. Be sure the pH of the soil is between 6.2
and 7.5. The optimum level is between 6.5 - 7.5. The Ph level is a very important part of soil preparation. If no soil test is
available, apply about two tons of lime per acre. A good application of lime can help maintain a neutral soil for many years. (Try to
buy the lime in bulk; it is very inexpensive when bought in bulk.) Also, use at least 200 lbs. Of 6-24-24 or equivalent fertilizer per
acre. (Soil samples can be taken to your local state or county agricultural office for analysis).
6. Prepare a flat, firm bed for your seed. If available, use a cultipacker or a heavy lawn roller to smooth and firm up the soil. If
no culti-packer is available, use a weighted fence, weighted bedspring drag, or something similar. It is extremely necessary to
level the ground and fill in any holes or crevasses that will allow the seed to get too deep into the ground.
7. With a good seedbed prepared, broadcast 8 pounds or more of seed per acre. If you’re using a hand spreader, be certain
to adjust the seed opening to about a 1/8 inch.
8. After broadcasting seed, use a cultipacker or some type of heavy roller to roll over field. This presses the seed into the
ground and helps insure better seed to soil contact and good germination. If a cultipacker or some type of roller is not available
then you are finished planting. Do not drag the field after the seeds have been spread. Do not cover the seed more than 1/4 inch.
DO NOT DISK THE SEED INTO THE GROUND.
9. Do not plant during hot/dry weather, especially during drought conditions. PRAY FOR RAIN!
10. After following the directions above, Our Blends are very capable of producing heavy growth. Depending on the wildlife
population and the amount you plant, you should mow, cut the weeds and Our Blend down to about 4-6 inches. Mow anytime
weeds and grasses reach about 10 -12 inches tall. This will promote tender lush Hardy Blend growth, and minimize grasses and
weeds. Do not mow when it is hot and dry, especially during drought conditions. Remove the clippings if at all possible.
11. For best results: Once Our Blend is established, fertilize once a year using a 0-20-20 or similar fertilizer at the rate of at
least 200# per acre. Spring and early fall are the best times to fertilize. Never apply fertilizer when plants are wet.
12. Make sure the nitrogen, or first of the three numbers is zero or as low as possible. Hardy Blend contains clovers that
produce nitrogen. If nitrogen is added it will only promote weeds and grasses.
13. A soil test should be performed every 2-3 years to insure proper pH and fertility. You may have to apply more lime every 2-
3 years.
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS AND MANAGEMENT FOR OUR FOOD PLOT BLENDS
1. Only plant within the planting times for your state or region.
2. Select an are suited for your particular food plot blend.
3. If your area is grassy and/or weedy, it is a good idea to spray Round-Up, or a similar herbicide and wait the recommended
amount of days before disking.
4. Disk the ground thoroughly to prepare a good weed-free, grass-free seedbed.
5. Use a soil test for alfalfa and clover to determine fertilizer and lime requirements. Be sure the pH of the soil is between 6.2
and 7.5. The optimum level is between 6.5 - 7.5. The Ph level is a very important part of soil preparation. If no soil test is
available, apply about two tons of lime per acre. A good application of lime can help maintain a neutral soil for many years. (Try to
buy the lime in bulk; it is very inexpensive when bought in bulk.) Also, use at least 200 lbs. Of 6-24-24 or equivalent fertilizer per
acre. (Soil samples can be taken to your local state or county agricultural office for analysis).
6. Prepare a flat, firm bed for your seed. If available, use a cultipacker or a heavy lawn roller to smooth and firm up the soil. If
no culti-packer is available, use a weighted fence, weighted bedspring drag, or something similar. It is extremely necessary to
level the ground and fill in any holes or crevasses that will allow the seed to get too deep into the ground.
7. With a good seedbed prepared, broadcast 8 pounds or more of seed per acre. If you’re using a hand spreader, be certain
to adjust the seed opening to about a 1/8 inch.
8. After broadcasting seed, use a cultipacker or some type of heavy roller to roll over field. This presses the seed into the
ground and helps insure better seed to soil contact and good germination. If a cultipacker or some type of roller is not available
then you are finished planting. Do not drag the field after the seeds have been spread. Do not cover the seed more than 1/4 inch.
DO NOT DISK THE SEED INTO THE GROUND.
9. Do not plant during hot/dry weather, especially during drought conditions. PRAY FOR RAIN!
10. After following the directions above, Hardy Blend is very capable of producing heavy growth. Depending on the wildlife
population and the amount you plant, you should mow, cut the weeds and the Hardy Blend down to about 4-6 inches. Mow
anytime weeds and grasses reach about 10 -12 inches tall. This will promote tender lush Hardy Blend growth, and minimize
grasses and weeds. Do not mow when it is hot and dry, especially during drought conditions. Remove the clippings if at all
possible.
11. For best results: Once Hardy Blend is established, fertilize once a year using a 0-20-20 or similar fertilizer at the rate of at
least 200# per acre. Spring and early fall are the best times to fertilize. Never apply fertilizer when plants are wet.
12. Make sure the nitrogen, or first of the three numbers is zero or as low as possible. Hardy Blend contains clovers that
produce nitrogen. If nitrogen is added it will only promote weeds and grasses.
13. A soil test should be performed every 2-3 years to insure proper pH and fertility. You may have to apply more lime every 2-
3 years.
APPROXIMATE SPRING PLANT DATES
Michigan, Wisconsin: April 15 - June 15
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey:
March 20 - May 15
Maryland, Delaware: Feb 1 - April 1
Arkansas: Feb 15 - April 1
North Carolina, South Carolina: Feb 1 - March 1
Virginia:
Coastal: Feb 1 - March 1
South Piedmont: Feb 15 - April 1
Mountain Valleys: March 1 - April 15
West Virginia: March 1 - April 15
Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, Utah, Colorado:
April 1 - July 1
Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky:
Feb 1 - April 15
Missouri:
North: March 15 - May 1
South: March 1 - April 15
Minnesota, Maine, New York:
North: April 1 - June 15
South: April 1 - June 1
Iowa, Nebraska: March 1 - May 15
Vermont, Massachusetts, N.H., R.I., Connecticut.
April 1 - May 15
Alaska: June 1 - July 1
Texas, Louisiana, and Florida: Do not plant in spring.
Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Arizona, New
Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota: Use zone
planting instructions. FOR SPRING AND FALL
APPROXIMATE FALL PLATING DATES
Michigan, Wisconsin: Aug 1 - Sept 1
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, W.V. Pennsylvania, NJ: Aug 1 - Sept 15
Coastal: Sept 1 - Oct 15
South Piedmont: Aug 15 - Oct 1
Mountain Valleys: Aug 1 - Sept 15
Maryland, Delaware: Aug 1 - Sept 30
Oklahoma, Kansas: Sept 1 - Nov 1
Arkansas
North: Aug 25 - Oct 15
South: Sept 5 - Oct 30
Texas
North: Aug 25 - Oct 15
Coastal: Sept 5 - Oct 15
South: Sept 20 - Oct 15
North Carolina, South Carolina
Coastal: Sept 15 - Oct 15
Piedmont: Sept 1 - Oct 15
Mountain: Aug 20 - Oct 15
Florida
North: Sept 15 - Nov 15
Central: Sept 25 - Nov 25
South: Oct 3 - Nov 30
Iowa, Nebraska: Aug 1 - Sept 1
Kentucky, Tennessee: Aug 20 - Sept 30
Missouri
North: Aug 1 - Sept 15
South: Aug 15 - Oct 15
Minnesota, Maine, New York
North: July 15 - Aug 20
South: July 20 - Aug 25
Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, RI, and Connecticut:
Aug 1 - Aug 31
Louisiana: Sept 15 - Nov 15
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
North: Aug 25 - Nov 15
Coastal: Sept 5 - Nov 15
South: Sept 20 - Nov 15
Northern Zone
Plantings should be done prior to the onset of autumn rains.
Make sure your food plots are planted at least 30-45 days prior
to the first frost. Spring planting typically should be done
shortly after all snow has melted and before the summer’s, hot
dry weather occurs.
Central Zone
For the Central Zone, the optimal time for planting is early fall.
This allows the plants to establish a better root system to
survive the summer heat. However, our seed will do very well
during an early spring planting, usually 30-40 days before the
last frost in your area.
Southern Zone
For the Southern Zone, Hardy Blend should be planted during
early fall. Hardy Blend can be planted in early spring, but should
no be planted in late spring due to limited root growth before
hot, dry conditions.