How Many Days for a Deer Food Plot to Sprout?

Crops to Plant

• Picking a deer-preferred crop to plant doesn't mean you'll attract deer in your area. You'll need a seed that's not common in your area -- something deer love but don't get. If you live in an area with abundant soybean fields or corn fields, you won't attract deer by planting more of the same. Crops that deer prefer are corn, soybeans, alfalfa, clover, buckwheat, millet, annual rye, sunflowers and wheat. Mixing clover with other crops will provide a variety for the deer and also give them much-needed nutrients.

Planting Time

• Many of the crops used for food plots can be either spring- or fall-planted. For hunters, fall plantings are often used to attract deer during hunting season. For others, keeping a sustainable food plot throughout the year to keep deer populations healthy. Spring planting is typically April and May, possibly into June or July for some seeds. Fall planting typically requires you to get the seeds in the ground before mid-August (wheat can wait until early October).

Sprouting

• Like most seeds, deer food plots should start showing green signs of life anywhere from a few days to three weeks. This isn't cut-and-dry, however, as many factors affect the seeds' ability to germinate. Cool soil, too much or too little rain and sunshine all play pivotal roles in seed development; your food plot may be adversely affected by things out of your control. Not taking the proper steps in planting can also affect your crop. Examples include improper spacing of your crops, wrong planting times and not amending your soil properly.

Other Species

• Deer food plots also attract many other species of wildlife -- some of which you may or may not be happy to see. Raccoons and squirrels will relish the opportunity to snag your corn. Turkeys enjoy beans, wheat, sorghum, rye and corn. Quail and pheasants may start inhabiting your plots of corn, beans, sorghum or buckwheat. Choose your crops wisely, so as not to encourage unwanted species.