carrot food plot..

[jasper]

i would like to know if planting carrots for food plots would be benifical.
and would they grow in a sandy soil.

[ThumbBum]

Ive wondered about that myself, but Ive never seen the idea discussed here.

Im guessing its because they require better soil because theres a big carrot farm and packaging operation in Imlay City right off 53 and they have the blackest dirt I have ever seen.

[mwp]

I'm over the Imlay city way all the time,your not kidding about black dirt.That has got to be the richest darkest most fertile soil around.Theres no way I can grow em for a plot by me,15 miles east of Imlay.All clay soil here.Hyponex plant is 3 miles east of Imlay,I should pick up some good dirt!!:D

[November Sunrise]

All carrot farmers that I know grow their crops on muck land, which is the fertile black soil that's been referred to. However, carrots can be grown on high ground, but I don't know how well they'd do on sand.

It seems to me that the stronger question might be whether carrots would make sense as compared to the more "standard" food plot options.

[wecker20]

I've heard carrots have little nutrional value to deer but I could be wrong. Anyone know?

[plugger]

Could you just frost seed them in oct or nov?

[November Sunrise]

I've heard carrots have little nutrional value to deer but I could be wrong. Anyone know?

That's what I had heard as well. I don't really know how carrots would compare nutritionally to clover, soybeans, etc.

I do know that in July & August a carrot field will be as attractive to deer as anything you'll find. By the time hunting season arrives carrots will have lessened at least somewhat in popularity, although I don't believe there's ever a point throughout the fall where deer will completely stop feeding on them.

[plotmaster]

Jasper,

Based on my experience, I would suggest not planting carrots in sandy soil. I have tried several times without success. However, enough fertilization should help. It all depends on how much you wanted to put into it.

[Backwoods-Savage]

We live on nothing but yellow sand and used to grow plenty of carrots. We haven't recently and my records were destroyed (another story). However, I believe we planted tendercrop. What we found was in early fall the deer came in and ate all the green tops just before we were going to pull. I did leave out some of the carrots for the deer because I had seen lots of people feeding them. My deer have never been told they are good because they never touched them. Think I tried this 3 times then quit.

Have you considered rutabagas or sugar beets? Much better root crop for deer.