Fall planting food plots: when and what to plant

Last updated 2026-07-26

what is a food plot, exactly

A food plot is a planted patch of forage on hunting land, meant to feed and hold deer (and often turkey, upland birds, or elk) while giving hunters a predictable place to watch or intercept animals. It's more than a garden for wildlife. Most plots run anywhere from a quarter acre pinched into timber to several acres in open ground, and the design changes a lot depending on whether the goal is nutrition, hunting access, or both. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service treats food plots as a wildlife habitat practice (Practice Code 645, Upland Wildlife Habitat Management) when cost-shared through farm bill programs, which tells you something: agencies view them as habitat management, not decoration ^[1]. A good plot fits into a bigger plan that includes cover, water, and timber management, more than a bag of seed thrown on dirt. Fall food plots specifically are planted in late summer or early fall to provide forage through hunting season and often into winter. They differ from spring plots (usually clover, chicory, or warm-season annuals meant for summer nutrition and antler growth) because fall plots need to tolerate cooling soil temps and often a frost or two, and they need to hit peak palatability right when bow season opens. If you want a starting point before you buy seed, a food plot whitetail plan built around your specific acreage and soil type saves a lot of guesswork.

when to plant food plots for deer

Early frost, mid-Sept (northern MN, WI, ME, upper MI)	Mid-June to mid-July	Late July to mid-Aug	Mid-Aug to early Sept
Mid frost, early-mid Oct (IA, southern WI, PA, OH, NY)	Mid-July to early Aug	Mid-Aug to early Sept	Early Sept to late Sept
Late frost, late Oct-early Nov (KY, VA, southern MO, NC)	Early Aug to late Aug	Early Sept to late Sept	Late Sept to mid-Oct
Very late frost, Nov+ (Deep South, TX, GA, FL panhandle)	Late Aug to mid-Sept	Mid-Sept to mid-Oct	Mid-Oct to early Nov	These are planning windows, not guarantees. Local extension frost-date tables (many land-grant universities publish county-level median first frost dates) beat any national chart.

For fall plots, the short answer is: count backward from your first expected frost date. Brassicas (turnips, radishes, rape) want 60 to 90 days of growing time before a hard frost. Cereal grains (oats, wheat, rye) want 45 to 60 days. Clover and other perennials can be planted with as little as 4 to 6 weeks of fall growing season left, since they'll keep growing again next spring. Practically, that means most of the whitetail range plants fall brassica blends between mid-July and late August, and plants cereal grains and clover between late August and early October. The University of Tennessee Extension frames it simply: for fall plantings, aim to have brassicas in the ground roughly 90 days before the first killing frost, and small grains 60 days before. Soil temperature and moisture matter as much as the calendar date. Seed sitting in dry, 90-degree dirt in August germinates poorly no matter what the calendar says. Watch the 10-day forecast for a real rain chance and plant into that window rather than a fixed date on a wall calendar. Here's a rough frost-based planting window by zone (first fall frost dates vary widely even within a state, so check your specific county): | Zone (typical first frost) | Brassicas (90 days out) | Cereal grains (60 days out) | Clover/perennials (30-45 days out) |

when to plant turnips for deer

Plant turnips 80 to 90 days before your area's first killing frost. Turnips need that long runway to bulb out and build sugar content, and deer often ignore the tubers early in the season, hitting the leafy tops first, then switching to the roots after a few hard frosts convert starches to sugars. That frost-triggered sweetness is well documented in extension brassica guidance; cold temperatures shift starch to soluble sugars in the roots, which is exactly why turnip plots often get hammered in December and January rather than October. If you're hunting early bow season, don't count on turnip bulbs pulling deer yet. Pair turnips with an early-maturing grain or clover if you need an October draw. Seeding rate for turnips run alone is typically 4 to 6 pounds per acre, broadcast into a shallow, firm seedbed (Purdue Extension and most land-grant guides recommend a quarter-inch or less of soil coverage, since brassica seed is small) ^[2]. Turnips do best on a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5 and respond hard to nitrogen, so this is one crop where your soil test result actually changes the fertilizer bag you buy, more than the amount.

when to plant oats for deer

Plant oats 45 to 60 days before first frost, which in most of the whitetail range lands somewhere between late August and mid-September. Oats germinate fast (often visible in 5 to 7 days with decent moisture) and green up quickly, which makes them one of the better early-season draw crops for opening weekend of bow season. Oats aren't cold-hardy compared to wheat or cereal rye. A hard freeze in the teens will usually kill oats outright, while wheat and rye keep growing into winter and green back up in spring. That's a real tradeoff: oats taste great to deer early and through moderate frosts, but you'll likely lose the plot to winter kill in northern zones, while wheat or rye persists. A lot of successful fall blends split the difference: oats for early palatability, wheat or rye mixed in for late-season persistence, plus a brassica for the tuber crowd in December. Seeding rate for oats alone runs 60 to 100 pounds per acre drilled, or up to 110 pounds broadcast, per most extension forage guides for the Southeast and Midwest ^[3].

do deer eat sorghum

Yes, deer eat grain sorghum, but it's mostly a late-season and winter food source rather than an early-season draw. Sorghum (milo) matures late, and deer generally use the standing heads after other food sources thin out, particularly in the Midwest and South where sorghum is planted as a summer annual and left standing into fall and winter. Sorghum is more commonly grown as a wildlife food source and cover crop combo than a dedicated hunting plot, because the tall stalks (often 4 to 6 feet) double as screening cover along field edges. It's drought-tolerant, which makes it a solid pick in areas that struggle to keep corn or soybeans alive through a dry summer. For a fall-planted food plot specifically, sorghum is a poor fit in most of the country, since it's a warm-season crop that needs to go in during late spring or early summer to mature before frost. If you're building a fall-only plot rotation, sorghum usually isn't the right species; it belongs in a spring/summer planting plan instead, often as part of a deer food plot seed mix aimed at summer nutrition and screening.

do deer eat clover, and do deer like clover

Yes. Clover is one of the most consistently preferred forages in whitetail diet studies, and it's a staple in food plot mixes for a reason: it's high in protein (often 25 to 30 percent crude protein in vegetative growth), it's palatable across the whole growing season, and it comes back year after year once established. White clover (Ladino types especially) and red clover both show up repeatedly in state wildlife agency and extension plot recommendations as top perennial choices. Mississippi State University Extension publication P2110, "Establishing Wildlife Food Plantings in the Southeast," lists clover among the most reliable perennial forages for deer plots in the Southeast, citing its combination of high protein content and long grazing window from spring through fall ^[4]. The catch with clover in a fall-planting context: it's a perennial, so a fall planting is really an establishment planting, not a quick food source for this season's hunt. Clover seeded in September won't give you much tonnage by opening day; it's building root system through fall and winter and will hit its stride the following spring and summer. If you want clover working hard by November, you should have planted it the previous spring. That said, a fall-seeded clover plot (especially frost-seeded in late winter into a grain stand) is one of the most cost-effective long-term plots you can build, since a good stand can produce for 3 to 5 years before you need to reseed.

what are deer's favorite foods

There's no single food that wins everywhere; deer diet studies consistently show forage preference shifts by season, region, and what's available. That said, a few patterns show up again and again in state deer diet research: acorns rank at or near the top whenever they're on the ground (mast years can pull deer off a food plot entirely), and among planted forages, clover, soybeans, and brassica tops after a frost are consistent favorites. Classic whitetail food habits research, including the long-running work summarized by USDA Forest Service researchers on deer food habits across the Southeast, found that browse (woody plant leaves and stems), acorns, and agricultural crops made up the bulk of whitetail diets depending on season, with soft and hard mast dominating fall intake when available ^[5]. Translation for a food plot owner: your clover plot competes directly with a good acorn crop, and in a heavy mast year, don't be surprised if your plot goes quiet in October and November. Among planted crops, soybeans (in bean form or as forage), clover, and cowpeas rank at the top for palatability during the growing season, while corn, standing soybeans, and brassicas take over as fall and winter staples once other browse dies back.

do deer like honey (and does it matter for plot planning)

Deer don't seek out honey the way that phrase might suggest; there's no established wildlife management use for honey as deer bait or attractant, and it's not a food plot input at all. This question likely comes from confusion with commercial "deer attractant" sprays that sometimes include sweeteners, molasses, or sugar-based scents, which are a separate product category from food plots entirely. Deer do have a documented preference for sugar and high-carbohydrate foods, which is part of why frost-sweetened brassica tubers and standing corn pull deer hard in late season, and why molasses-based mineral licks and attractant products exist commercially. But actual honey isn't a practical or common wildlife food source, and most state wildlife agencies regulate scented attractants and bait under their baiting rules, so check local law before using any commercial attractant product. Baiting rules vary sharply by state: some states allow baiting for deer hunting outright, some restrict it to certain zones or ban it statewide due to Chronic Wasting Disease concerns, and definitions of what counts as "bait" versus a "food plot" differ. A properly planted, rooted food plot is generally treated differently from a pile of corn or a mineral lick under most state statutes, but the line varies. Check your state wildlife agency's current regulations before assuming a plot or supplemental feed is legal in your county.

how do I pick species for a fall plot in my zone

Start with your frost date, then match species maturity to the days you actually have left. If you're reading this in early August in Michigan, you don't have 90 days for turnips before a mid-September frost risk in the far north; you'd lean toward oats, wheat, or a quick brassica blend instead. If you're in central Georgia in September, you've got a much longer runway and more species options. A simple decision framework: - Less than 45 days to frost: winter wheat or cereal rye alone, both of which tolerate late plantings and cold better than oats or brassicas.

• 45 to 60 days: oats, wheat, or a wheat/oat blend, optionally with a light brassica component.
• 60 to 90 days: full brassica blend (turnips, radishes, rape) plus cereal grain, which is the classic fall hunting-plot combo.
• Establishing perennial clover: plant as early in this window as you can, ideally with 60+ days before frost, so roots get established before winter dormancy. Soil pH matters more than most people budget for. Brassicas and clover both want a pH in the 6.0 to 6.5 range for decent nutrient uptake; below that, lime takes months to fully react in the soil, so a fall planting on unlimed acidic ground is starting with one hand tied. If you haven't pulled a soil sample yet, do that before buying seed, not after. Your soil test lab's recommendation on lime and fertilizer rate is the real authority here, not a generic bag-of-seed label.

how much does a fall food plot cost to plant

Costs vary a lot by region, equipment access, and whether you're renting a tractor or already own one, but rough per-acre ranges for a fall plot commonly run $50 to $150 per acre for seed alone, plus lime and fertilizer, which can easily double that if your soil test calls for a full lime application (ag lime often runs $30 to $60 per ton delivered and spread, and a low-pH plot might need 1 to 2 tons per acre). Brassica and cereal grain blends are generally cheaper per acre than premium clover or chicory perennial mixes, since annuals are seeded fresh every year but don't require the same establishment care. A basic oat/wheat blend might run $20 to $35 per acre in seed cost alone, while a name-brand brassica blend or a perennial clover mix can run $40 to $90 per acre in seed cost, before lime, fertilizer, or herbicide. Equipment is the other big variable. A no-till drill gets better seed-to-soil contact and lower seeding rates than broadcasting, but not everyone owns or can rent one. Broadcast-and-cultipack (or broadcast-and-drag) works fine for small grains and brassicas if you can get seed into loose, moist soil and get decent coverage; it just costs you a higher seeding rate to compensate for uneven depth.

putting together a fall plot plan

The fastest way to waste money on a fall plot is buying seed before you know your soil pH, your realistic planting window, and what your specific acreage can support. A five-acre open field and a quarter-acre timber hole need completely different species mixes and completely different equipment approaches. If you want a starting framework instead of building one from scratch, PlotSeason's $99 one-time Custom Food Plot Plan takes your soil test results, location, and equipment on hand, and builds a planting plan around it. It's general planning guidance built from your inputs, not site-specific agronomy from a certified agronomist, and it's not a substitute for what your soil test lab's own lime and fertilizer recommendation says. But it saves the trial-and-error of guessing which blend fits your dirt and your calendar. Whatever you plant, match species to your actual frost date and actual soil test, not to what worked for somebody three states away. A deer food plots overview and a food plot seed guide are good next reads if you're still deciding what to put in the ground this fall.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant fall food plots for deer?

Work backward from your local first frost date. Brassicas need about 90 days before frost, cereal grains need 45 to 60 days, and clover establishment needs at least 30 to 45 days. In most of the whitetail range that puts brassica planting in July-August and grain/clover planting in August-October.

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer eat grain sorghum (milo), mostly as a late-season and winter food once other forage thins out. It's a warm-season crop planted in late spring or early summer, not a fall-planting option, and it's used as much for screening cover as for direct forage.

Do deer eat clover, and do deer like clover?

Yes, clover is one of the most consistently preferred whitetail forages, often 25 to 30 percent crude protein in vegetative growth. It's a perennial though, so a fall-seeded clover plot is really an establishment planting that peaks the following spring and summer, not an instant fall food source.

When to plant food plots for deer in general?

Timing depends on species and your region's first frost date. Spring/summer annuals (soybeans, cowpeas, corn) go in after your last spring frost; fall annuals (brassicas, cereal grains) go in 45 to 90 days before your first fall frost, counting backward by species maturity time.

When to plant turnips for deer?

Plant turnips 80 to 90 days before your area's expected first killing frost. Deer often ignore the tubers until after a few hard frosts convert starches to sugar, so turnip plots typically peak in December or January rather than opening week of bow season.

When to plant oats for deer?

Plant oats 45 to 60 days before first frost, usually late August to mid-September across most of the whitetail range. Oats germinate fast and are highly palatable early, but they're not very cold-hardy and often winterkill in a hard freeze, unlike wheat or cereal rye.

What is a food plot?

A food plot is a planted area of forage on hunting land meant to feed and attract wildlife, most commonly deer, while giving hunters a predictable place to hunt. The USDA treats food plots as a wildlife habitat management practice when used in farm bill conservation programs, more than a decorative planting.

What are deer's favorite foods?

It varies by season and region, but acorns rank at or near the top whenever available, and mast crops can pull deer off food plots entirely in a good acorn year. Among planted forages, clover, soybeans, and frost-sweetened brassica tops are consistently high-preference choices.

Do deer like honey?

There's no established use of honey as deer food or bait; this isn't a real food plot input. The question likely stems from confusion with commercial sugar or molasses-based attractant sprays, which are a separate, sometimes regulated product category from planted food plots.

What's the difference between a fall food plot and a spring food plot?

Fall plots use annuals and perennial establishments (brassicas, cereal grains, fall-seeded clover) timed to be palatable through hunting season and into winter. Spring plots focus on summer nutrition and antler/fawn development, using warm-season species like soybeans, cowpeas, and clover planted after the last frost.

How much seed do I need per acre for a fall plot?

It depends on species and planting method. Turnips run 4 to 6 pounds per acre broadcast, oats run 60 to 100 pounds per acre drilled (up to 110 broadcast), and clover is typically 6 to 10 pounds per acre. Broadcasting generally needs a higher rate than drilling for the same stand density.

Is it too late to plant a fall food plot?

It depends entirely on your remaining days before first frost and which species you're considering. If you're inside 45 days of frost, skip brassicas and go with winter wheat or cereal rye, both of which tolerate later plantings and cold better than oats or turnips.

Do I need to lime before a fall food plot planting?

If your soil test shows pH below 6.0, yes, ideally lime months ahead since it reacts slowly in soil. A fall planting on unlimed acidic ground starts at a real disadvantage for nutrient uptake, particularly for brassicas and clover, which both want pH in the 6.0 to 6.5 range.

Sources

1. USDA NRCS, Conservation Practice Standard 645, Upland Wildlife Habitat Management: food plots are treated as a wildlife habitat management practice under federal conservation programs
2. Purdue University Extension, forage brassica seeding guidance: turnip seeding rate and shallow planting depth recommendations
3. University of Georgia Extension, forage and food plot small grain seeding rates: oat seeding rate ranges for drilled and broadcast plantings
4. Mississippi State University Extension Publication P2111, Establishing Wildlife Food Plantings in the Southeast: clover's protein content and status as a top perennial deer forage choice
5. USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, research on white-tailed deer food habits: seasonal composition of whitetail diets including mast, browse, and agricultural crops