For those considering planting (this fall) or have an existing plot of Small Burnet here is an excellent bit of basic information that can help better understand this forb. Page 36 is excellent for helping those trying to decide what pre/post herbicide to use for current stand alone plots. Small Burnet on our sandy soil has been a game changer for over 20yrs. Good luck
Small Burnet Information
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newaygogeorge
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You can improve that also. Take a serious look at Ed Spinnazola's recommendations for building soil. Add the recommended amounts of lime and fertilizers (I think he even recommends about 25% more fert than what the soil test recommends the first year or two) and then keep "double cropping" buckwheat and rye every year. You will eventually get some vegetation to lay on top of the soil - especially if you are no-tilling and not turning the dirt.
You can also take a look at Jeff Sturgis' (Whitetail Habitat Solutions) You Tube video on his "Best Food Plot Mix for 2019". He is doing the exact same thing - planting buckwheat for his cover crop in the spring - broadcasting his fall mix (brassicas on 1/2 of the plot and cereal grains on the other half) and then spraying and/or rolling down the buckwheat for a cover of thatch.
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I hear you on that Steve. I was in the same boat when we first purchased our property. Deer would wipe out my small plots of buckwheat ASAP...and I know you can only shoot so many does. The other option - increase food plot acreage. That is what I have done and now I can finally stay somewhat ahead of the browsing marauders!!
Good luck.
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Newaygogeorge, I've searched Amazon a couple times for the seed and nothing comes up. Would you happen to have a link in your Amazon purchase history that you could share?
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I stand corrected it was not Great Basin but Nature's seed. Parent company still out of Utah. I over paid but i needed it since i lost my local supplier
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D0OWFQ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D0OWFQ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Thanks!
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I gave up on buckwheat also, Now I blow the leaves off my rye plots in late April early May and spread more rye seed. Once you get ph in the 6s I think you will see a big difference
One last comment on Burnett: If you mow after a light rain it will be one of the pleasant mowing experiences you will have.
The smell coming from the cut plants is wonderful. I've had visitors to the barns shortly after a mowing and they unfailingly comment favorably about it.
The smell coming from the cut plants is wonderful. I've had visitors to the barns shortly after a mowing and they unfailingly comment favorably about it.
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Even without cutting it, if you walk thru it you will pick up that “cucumber”smell that it puts out.
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Yep or driving through or near with a side by side. I think this helps it as a deer attractant. If the wind and thermals are right I would wager they could smell it up to a mile away.
Well sorry to say my small burnet plot didn't make it. I believe the lack of rain was it's demise. There was some visible, but very limited. So I spread fertilizer and urea and re-seeded another 5 lbs of burnet and topped it off with some rye. It got a good soaking earlier today and should again later this p.m.
2 out 4 plots succumbed to the lack of rain (only those that receive some shade and had a slighter higher organic composition made it....and then I'd only rate those plots as a C-...hopefully a good dose of fert, urea and rain will bump them up)
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Bumping an old thread.
I am planning my attack on my fall food plot. I have been spreading lime like crazy. My two small plots in the woods are going to get some experimenting this year after planing rye and Hairy Vatch last fall.
The rye doesn’t look great. Close to 2 feet tall and not a very thick stand. Lack of rain didn’t help.
This year I have:
Northwoods Brassica Blend
NW Clover and chicory blend.
Small Burnett
And of course I’m going to spread some rye.
Spring soil test shower PH of 5.1 and OM of 2.9.
Planning to broadcast some seed and 19-19-19 before foot crimping the rye before a rain in early August.
Am I wasting my time/money broadcasting the Brassica, clover chicory and small Burnett with my current soil conditions?
I am planning my attack on my fall food plot. I have been spreading lime like crazy. My two small plots in the woods are going to get some experimenting this year after planing rye and Hairy Vatch last fall.
The rye doesn’t look great. Close to 2 feet tall and not a very thick stand. Lack of rain didn’t help.
This year I have:
Northwoods Brassica Blend
NW Clover and chicory blend.
Small Burnett
And of course I’m going to spread some rye.
Spring soil test shower PH of 5.1 and OM of 2.9.
Planning to broadcast some seed and 19-19-19 before foot crimping the rye before a rain in early August.
Am I wasting my time/money broadcasting the Brassica, clover chicory and small Burnett with my current soil conditions?
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What was your process that failed you on Small Burnett? It it get over browsed? Ive read its slow to get establish.
I love a 'Small Burnett' discussion.
Can only share my own soda-straw view of what worked and didn't work on my deer-dirt.
On good soil...it did great and continues to be a good productive crop 8+ years after seeding. In fact, it gets better with that tactic of not mowing until the seed heads mature ---late July/early August.
It is a fine stand in front of my barns. I'm happy.
I did try it on my poorest soil on the farm and it was not as satisfying.
I planted it last spring --late May 2020-- and we got no rain.
And the Burnett did nothing. For weeks and weeks and weeks.
Late in the summer when we did get moisture it began to get germination.
I have it growing in that spot now, but it is not anywhere near as robust as it is on my better ground.
I have some leftover seed and will 'nourish' that unsatisfying plot with a re-seeding come early August.
BTW....my neighbor, maybe 400yds away, has Burnett in their backyard and the deer mow it down to soil level.....year after year after year.
I am so impressed that it keeps coming back.
That the damn stuff survives that kind of predation.
Can only share my own soda-straw view of what worked and didn't work on my deer-dirt.
On good soil...it did great and continues to be a good productive crop 8+ years after seeding. In fact, it gets better with that tactic of not mowing until the seed heads mature ---late July/early August.
It is a fine stand in front of my barns. I'm happy.
I did try it on my poorest soil on the farm and it was not as satisfying.
I planted it last spring --late May 2020-- and we got no rain.
And the Burnett did nothing. For weeks and weeks and weeks.
Late in the summer when we did get moisture it began to get germination.
I have it growing in that spot now, but it is not anywhere near as robust as it is on my better ground.
I have some leftover seed and will 'nourish' that unsatisfying plot with a re-seeding come early August.
BTW....my neighbor, maybe 400yds away, has Burnett in their backyard and the deer mow it down to soil level.....year after year after year.
I am so impressed that it keeps coming back.
That the damn stuff survives that kind of predation.
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I think it got overbrowsed before established. By the next year, I could find none of it.
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Don't give up on it fellas, plant it aug/sept. with heavy rye as cover. You will not see real results until early next summer and don't cut the tall standing rye let it fall naturally or crimp it in aug. no till more burnet after crimping then use packer to top bed the seed. Burnet takes well to that type of no-till after a stand is established. Finally don't be afraid to add rye every fall to the burnet field to fill in bare spots and add additional cover following spring/summer.
Funny this thread resurfaced, I was just talking with my wife yesterday evening while working on my brinly disc. I told her Small burnet will be our go too foodplot forb at our new property. Those deer up there will go crazy over it especially if we are the only place in town growing it. Good Luck
Funny this thread resurfaced, I was just talking with my wife yesterday evening while working on my brinly disc. I told her Small burnet will be our go too foodplot forb at our new property. Those deer up there will go crazy over it especially if we are the only place in town growing it. Good Luck
There is another Source for Small Burnet ; MAXI-RACK, LLC . . . home of MAXI-RACK premium wildlife food plot seeds!
Been Buying it off and on for a couple years just to add some variety to my plots!
Newaygo1
Been Buying it off and on for a couple years just to add some variety to my plots!
Newaygo1
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I been thinking about growing it with my efence this year. Years past they kept it to short to get it established. Any one grow it with brassicas first year? Or will they shade it out
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