Last updated 2026-07-26
TL;DR
In Tennessee, plant warm-season plots (soybeans, sorghum, cowpeas) from late April through June once soil hits 65°F. Plant cool-season plots (clover, oats, brassicas, wheat) from late August through mid-October, timed 60-90 days before your average first frost, which runs mid-October in the west to late October in the mountains.
When should you plant deer food plots in Tennessee?
Tennessee runs two separate planting windows, and mixing them up wastes a bag of seed and a whole season. Cool-season plots (clover, wheat, oats, brassicas) go in the ground from late August through mid-October. Warm-season plots (soybeans, cowpeas, grain sorghum, corn) go in from late April through June. The state splits into three rough climate bands that matter for timing: West Tennessee (Memphis to Jackson), Middle Tennessee (Nashville basin), and East Tennessee (Knoxville, the Tri-Cities, and the higher elevations of the Cumberland Plateau and Smokies). First frost dates shift by two to three weeks across that span, and that shift changes your planting deadline for fall plots [1]. As a rule of thumb from the University of Tennessee Extension, cool-season food plot seed needs 60 to 90 days of growth before a hard frost shuts it down, so back-planning from your local average first frost date tells you the latest safe planting date [2].
When to plant food plots for deer, by region of Tennessee
| West TN (Memphis/Jackson) | Late Oct-early Nov | Aug 20-Sep 25 | Apr 20-Jun 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle TN (Nashville/Cookeville) | Mid-late Oct | Aug 15-Sep 20 | Apr 25-Jun 10 | |
| East TN valley (Knoxville) | Mid-late Oct | Aug 15-Sep 20 | May 1-Jun 10 | |
| East TN high elevation (Plateau/Smokies) | Early-mid Oct | Aug 1-Sep 5 | May 10-Jun 5 | These windows are general guidance built off NOAA frost data and UT Extension planting guides, not a promise about your specific ridge or bottom [1] [2]. Local microclimate (fog pockets, north slopes, river bottoms) can shift things by a week or two either direction. |
West Tennessee has the longest fall window. Average first frost in the Memphis-Jackson corridor lands around late October to early November, per NOAA Climate Normals data for the region [1]. That gives you until roughly the third week of September to get cool-season plots up with enough growth before frost, though earlier is always safer than later. Middle Tennessee, including the area around Nashville, Columbia, and Cookeville, sees average first frost in mid to late October. Plant cool-season plots there from the last week of August through the third week of September. East Tennessee is trickier because elevation swings hard. The valley floor around Knoxville has a first frost near mid to late October, similar to Middle Tennessee. But up on the Cumberland Plateau or in the higher hollows of the Smokies, frost can arrive by the first week of October. If you hunt high ground, plant two to three weeks earlier than your buddy hunting the valley 30 miles away. | Region | Average first frost | Cool-season plant window | Warm-season plant window |
When to plant oats for deer in Tennessee?
Plant oats between late August and late September, same window as your other cool-season cereal grains. Oats germinate fast, usually within 5 to 10 days in warm late-summer soil, and deer hit young oat shoots hard within a couple weeks of emergence. Oats aren't cold-hardy the way wheat or rye is. A hard freeze in the teens will kill oats outright, so in most of Tennessee you get strong fall and early winter grazing but the plot typically won't carry deer through a cold February the way winter wheat or cereal rye will [2]. If you want food standing into late winter, blend oats with wheat or rye so something survives the cold snaps. Seeding rate for oats alone runs 100 to 120 lbs per acre broadcast, per standard forage extension guidance, with a target planting depth of about 1 inch [3].
When to plant turnips for deer in Tennessee?
Plant turnips (and other brassicas like radish and rape) from mid-July through the end of August in Tennessee, earlier than clover or oats. Brassicas need a longer runway, roughly 90 to 120 days, to bulb out and build the sugar content that makes them attractive to deer later in the season [2]. Here's the thing about turnips: deer often ignore the bulbs and leaves early on and switch hard once a frost or two hits. Cold temperatures convert starches to sugars in the bulb and leaf tissue, and that's when a turnip plot that looked untouched in October suddenly gets hammered in December. If you plant too late and skip that pre-frost growth period, you end up with small bulbs and thin leaf mass that doesn't hold up under grazing pressure. Seeding rate for turnips alone is light, around 4 to 6 lbs per acre broadcast, because the seed is tiny and overseeding leads to overcrowded, undersized bulbs [3].
Do deer eat sorghum?
Yes. Deer eat grain sorghum, both the standing seed heads and the young foliage, and it's a common warm-season plot component in Tennessee, especially in the western part of the state where it handles heat and drier soil better than corn. Sorghum also has value as screening cover and as a late-season standing grain source if you leave it unharvested. Grain sorghum planted for deer is usually seeded from late April through June once soil temps hit around 65°F, at a rate of roughly 6 to 10 lbs per acre if drilled, per land-grant agronomy guidance for forage sorghum [3]. It's more drought-tolerant than corn, which matters in a dry Tennessee July. Sorghum isn't usually a deer's first choice in a food plot with soybeans or clover nearby, but it earns its spot as a stress-tolerant fallback and as cover that keeps deer using the field in daylight.
Do deer eat clover, and do deer like clover?
Yes, deer eat clover readily, and it's one of the most consistently preferred food plot forages across whitetail range, including Tennessee. Clover is a perennial legume, so one planting can produce forage for three to five years with proper mowing and fertility maintenance, which makes the per-year cost lower than annual plots over time. White clover blends (ladino, Durana, other improved varieties) and red clover both perform well in Tennessee soils. Clover also fixes its own nitrogen through root nodule bacteria, cutting your fertilizer bill compared to grasses or brassicas that need heavy N inputs [3]. Plant clover in Tennessee either in early spring (mid-March through April) or in late summer/early fall (late August through mid-September). Fall planting is generally preferred by UT Extension and most food plot agronomists because it avoids competition from summer weeds and lets the clover establish a root system before winter dormancy [2] [3].
What are deer's favorite foods, according to research and food plot experience?
There's no single ranked list backed by hard science, because deer preference shifts by season, region, and what's available nearby. But food plot practitioners and wildlife agencies generally agree on a short list of consistent favorites: soybeans (both foliage and pods), clover, chicory, cowpeas, and standing corn or soybean grain in late season. A widely cited whitetail forage preference study out of Mississippi State and similar deer research programs ranks soybeans and cowpeas among the highest-preference summer forages, with acorns (particularly white oak group) often outranking any planted forage when they're on the ground. That's an important gut check: no food plot beats a heavy white oak acorn drop in a deer's actual preference order. Brassicas (turnips, radish) and cereal grains (oats, wheat) round out fall and winter preference, especially after frost sweetens them up. If you're trying to build a property that holds deer year-round, the honest answer is you need a mix across seasons, not one silver-bullet species.
Do deer like honey, or do they eat honeysuckle and other browse?
If the question is really about honeysuckle, yes, deer browse Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) heavily, and it's one of the most important native browse species across the Southeast, including Tennessee, particularly in winter when it stays semi-evergreen [4]. It's not something you'd plant in a food plot (it's an aggressive invasive vine that state forestry agencies actively try to control), but it matters as natural forage on the edges of your property. If the question is literally about honey (the bee product), there's no research or extension guidance suggesting deer seek out honey as a food source, and it has no role in food plot planning. Deer are browsers and grazers built around plant material, not sugars in that form. What deer do respond to is sugar content in browse and forage after a frost, which is the same mechanism that makes brassicas and turnips more attractive in December than in September.
What is a food plot, exactly?
A food plot is a planted area, usually somewhere between a quarter acre and several acres, seeded with forage crops specifically to attract and feed deer (or other wildlife) on a property. It's different from natural browse or mast (acorns, native plants) because you're choosing the species, prepping the soil, and controlling weeds and fertility the way a farmer manages a field. Food plots serve two overlapping goals: nutrition (helping deer through stress periods like antler growth, lactation, and winter) and hunting access (drawing deer to a specific spot with sightlines and wind options). The two goals don't always point the same direction. A big destination plot planted for nutrition might be too exposed to hunt well, while a small kill-plot tucked in timber might not produce enough tonnage to matter nutritionally. Most state wildlife agencies, including the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, treat food plots as a land management practice separate from baiting, but the line matters legally. Tennessee's baiting rules restrict placing feed to attract deer for hunting purposes within certain distances and conditions; a planted, growing food plot is generally treated differently than a pile of corn, but you should confirm current specifics on TWRA's regulations before hunting over anything you're unsure about [5].
What soil prep and testing should happen before you plant?
Before you plant anything, pull a soil sample. The University of Tennessee Soil, Plant and Pest Center runs soil tests for a modest fee and returns pH along with phosphorus, potassium, and lime recommendations specific to the crop you tell them you're planting. Most Tennessee food plot ground runs acidic, often in the 5.0 to 5.8 pH range, and clover and brassicas both want pH closer to 6.0 to 6.5 to use fertilizer efficiently [2]. Lime takes months to fully react in the soil, so if your test comes back needing lime, get it down as early as possible, ideally the season before you plant, not the week before. If you're planting this fall and haven't limed yet, get it down anyway; partial correction still helps, and you can retest next year. Your soil test lab is the authority here, not a blog post or a bag label. Follow their specific lime and fertilizer rates for your field, because two plots a mile apart can come back with very different recommendations depending on past land use. If you want a planting schedule built around your specific frost dates, acreage, and equipment, PlotSeason's $99 Custom Food Plot Plan puts together a season-specific calendar, but it's general planning guidance layered on top of your soil test results, not a replacement for what your lab tells you about lime and fertilizer.
How do you choose between spring and fall planting?
Ask what you're trying to accomplish. Spring/summer plots (soybeans, cowpeas, sorghum) build tonnage during antler growth and lactation, when does and bucks need the most protein and energy. Fall plots (clover, brassicas, cereal grains) carry deer through hunting season and into the nutritional stress of late winter. A lot of the best Tennessee properties run both: a warm-season plot for summer nutrition and a fall plot for hunting season and winter. If you can only manage one plot rotation, most hunters lean fall, because that's when you're actually in the woods watching it work, and cool-season forages like clover and brassicas tend to be more forgiving of a late or imperfect planting than corn or soybeans are. Check out food plot whitetail strategy and deer food plots basics if you're building your first rotation and need help picking species for each season.
What planting rates and depths should you use for common Tennessee food plot species?
| Species | Plant window (Middle TN) | Seeding rate | Planting depth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soybeans | May 1-Jun 15 | 50-60 lbs/acre drilled | 1-1.5 in | |
| Cowpeas | May 1-Jun 20 | 60-90 lbs/acre | 1-1.5 in | |
| Grain sorghum | Apr 25-Jun 15 | 6-10 lbs/acre drilled | 0.5-1 in | |
| White clover | Aug 15-Sep 20 or Mar 15-Apr 15 | 6-8 lbs/acre | 0.25 in or less | |
| Oats | Aug 20-Sep 25 | 100-120 lbs/acre | 1 in | |
| Winter wheat | Sep 1-Oct 10 | 100-120 lbs/acre | 1-1.5 in | |
| Turnips/brassicas | Jul 15-Aug 25 | 4-6 lbs/acre | 0.25-0.5 in | These rates come from standard land-grant forage seeding guidance and vary some by variety and whether you're broadcasting versus drilling [3]. Broadcast rates generally run 25-50% higher than drilled rates because germination and seed-to-soil contact is less reliable without a drill. If you're deciding between a drill, a cultipacker, or straight broadcast-and-cultipack, that decision affects your rates more than almost anything else on this list. See equipment and methods guidance for gear-specific advice before you buy seed. |
What mistakes cost hunters the most in Tennessee food plot timing?
Planting brassicas too late is the most common one. Miss the mid-August window and push into September, and turnips won't have time to bulb properly before frost, per UT Extension's stated 90 to 120 day maturity guidance [2] [2]. You'll get leafy green growth and small, thin bulbs instead of the big sugar-loaded roots deer really dig for in December. The second mistake is planting clover or wheat without addressing pH first. Sowing quality seed into a 5.2 pH field with no lime is close to wasted money; the plants will emerge but struggle to access phosphorus and potassium even if you spread fertilizer, because nutrient availability drops off hard below pH 6.0 in most soils. The third is ignoring your actual elevation and microclimate. Tennessee's frost date maps are regional averages. If your plot sits in a cold-air drainage bottom or up on a ridge above 2,500 feet, your real first frost can run one to two weeks off the county average, and that's the difference between a strong brassica plot and a frozen-out failure [1].
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant food plots for deer in Tennessee?
Warm-season plots (soybeans, sorghum, cowpeas) go in late April through June once soil warms past roughly 65°F. Cool-season plots (clover, oats, wheat, brassicas) go in late August through mid-October, timed 60-120 days ahead of your local first frost, which ranges from early October at high elevation to early November in West Tennessee.
Do deer eat sorghum?
Yes, deer eat both grain sorghum seed heads and young foliage. It's a common warm-season plot crop in Tennessee, especially in drier western soils, planted late April through June at 6-10 lbs per acre drilled, and it also doubles as screening cover.
Do deer eat clover, and do deer like it?
Yes, clover is one of the most consistently preferred food plot forages for whitetails. It's a perennial legume that can produce forage for three to five years, fixes its own nitrogen, and is best planted in Tennessee from late August through mid-September, or as a secondary option in early spring.
When should I plant oats for deer in Tennessee?
Plant oats from late August through late September. They germinate in 5-10 days and deer hit the young shoots fast, but oats aren't very cold-hardy and often die out in a hard winter, so blend with wheat or rye if you want forage surviving into February.
When should I plant turnips for deer in Tennessee?
Plant turnips from mid-July through late August, earlier than clover or oats, because bulbs need 90-120 days to size up before frost. Deer often ignore turnip plots early and switch hard once frost converts starches to sugars in the bulb and leaves.
What is a food plot?
A food plot is a planted, managed area seeded with forage crops (like clover, brassicas, or soybeans) to feed and attract deer on a property, distinct from natural browse or mast. Plots serve both nutrition goals and hunting-access goals, and those two goals don't always favor the same field design.
What are deer's favorite foods?
There's no single fixed ranking, but soybeans, clover, chicory, and cowpeas rank consistently high in food plot and forage research, and white oak acorns often outrank any planted crop when they're dropping heavily. Brassicas and cereal grains become favorites after frost sweetens them.
Do deer like honey?
No credible research or extension guidance shows deer seeking out honey. If you meant honeysuckle, yes, deer browse Japanese honeysuckle heavily as natural winter forage across Tennessee, though it's an invasive vine, not something planted in food plots.
What soil pH do Tennessee food plots need?
Most food plot species, including clover and brassicas, want pH near 6.0 to 6.5 to use fertilizer efficiently. Much of Tennessee's native soil tests acidic, often 5.0 to 5.8, so lime is frequently needed and should go down months before planting since it reacts slowly.
Can I plant a food plot in early October in Tennessee?
It depends on your region. In West and Middle Tennessee, early October is still workable for fast cereal grains like oats or wheat, though it's late for brassicas. In high-elevation East Tennessee, early October is close to your first frost, so growth time will be limited.
How much does a soil test cost before planting a food plot?
The University of Tennessee Soil, Plant and Pest Center charges a modest per-sample fee, typically in the range of $8 to $15 depending on the test package, and returns pH along with lime and fertilizer recommendations specific to your intended crop.
Is baiting deer legal in Tennessee, and does a food plot count?
Tennessee has specific baiting restrictions enforced by TWRA that govern feed placed to attract deer for hunting. A planted, growing food plot is generally treated differently than a bait pile, but rules and distances can change, so confirm current regulations directly with TWRA before hunting near any plot or feed source.
Should I plant a spring plot or a fall plot first?
If you can only do one, most Tennessee hunters plant fall, since that's hunting season and cool-season forages like clover and brassicas tend to forgive imperfect timing better than warm-season crops. But a spring plot builds summer nutrition for antler growth and lactation, so running both covers more of the year.
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate Normals: Average first frost dates vary by region across Tennessee
- University of Tennessee Extension, Establishing Wildlife Food Plots: Cool-season food plot forages need 60-90 days of growth before hard frost; fall clover planting preferred to avoid weed competition
- University of Tennessee Extension / land-grant forage seeding guidance: Seeding rates and depths for clover, oats, wheat, sorghum, and brassica food plot species
- USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System, Lonicera japonica: Japanese honeysuckle is heavily browsed by white-tailed deer, especially in winter
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Hunting Regulations: TWRA sets baiting restrictions distinct from planted food plot practices