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Your goal in planting a chufa plot is to have a mature crop by the time winter arrives and acorns are becoming tough to find, and to do this you should plant no later than July.
Will chufa grow in Georgia?
The chufa plant can be tricky to grow. However, in most cases, you can plant chufa anywhere corn will adequately grow. That said, it prefers sandy soil — making the Deep South a prime location to grow it. It germinates best in the southern stretches of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and other southern states.
Does chufa come back every year?
REGROWTH: For best production chufa should be replanted each year but it is possible to get a second year’s growth out of it as long as the turkeys do not eat it all. Simply disk plot during normal planting dates to evenly distribute seed.
When should chufa be planted?
The chufa plant typically grows well anywhere that field corn can be grown. You should soil test the area you intend to plant and lime to a pH between 6.0 – 6.5. On most soils this requires 1 ton of lime per acre. Recommended planting dates are April 1st through June 30th in the panhandle area.
How long does it take for chufa to come up?
It may become necessary to use a herbicide to control the weed competition – be sure to ask your local feed and seed expert or county extension agent about specific herbicides for chufa. It will take about 90+ days for the chufa to grow and produce the tubers that turkeys love.
What can I plant in January for turkeys?
1 | Wheat, Oats, or Grain Rye While all three will produce lush green growth during the cool weather of early turkey seasons, oats are the way to go if you desire grain production in the fall for a winter food source. These crops are perfect for small timber openings that aren’t accessible to heavy equipment.
Does chufa need full sun?
Though this plant will grow in a wide variety of conditions, if you want a good crop you will need full sun and moist soil all season long.
What is the best thing to plant for turkeys?
Turkeys prefer thinner vegetation when foraging and strutting. Some of the most popular and well known plants for turkeys include agricultural crops like rye, millet, oats, wheat, soybeans and sorghum. Chufa, a plant which forms small underground tubers, is also a favorite of wild turkeys.
What can I plant to attract turkeys?
In addition to chufa and clover, specialists with Clemson Extension Forestry and Natural Resources recommend field corn, oats, ryegrass and sorghum. Turkeys will forage on field corn from fall into winter; be sure to plant at least an acre to allow enough corn for other wildlife foragers, such as deer.
Is chufa good for deer?
The tubers are high in protein and fat, which makes them especially nutritious for wild turkeys. Chufa can also make an excellent food source for other wildlife including deer and ducks.
What can I plant in spring for Turkey?
Green fields of any type attract turkeys. Alfalfa and clover are prime green field candidates. Many varieties of clover are available to fit your climate, soil type and drainage. Both clover and alfalfa green up early in spring.
How do you maintain chufa?
Spraying a post-emergent will kill unwanted weeds and grasses, allowing your chufa to thrive. For unwanted grasses, spray Poast or Fusilade at 1½ pints per acre. For broadleaf weed control, spray 2,4-DB at 1-2 pints per acre. To maximize effectiveness, add an oil surfactant at one quart per 100 gallons.
Is chufa hard to grow?
Once planted, chufa needs a 100-day growing season. The portion of the plant that comes out of the ground will look much like grass. As it matures, tubers develop underground. Turkeys hit this food source the hardest after the plant dies.
Can chufa be mowed?
You can mow it or leave it standing. If turkeys are normally feeding in the area they will be all over it. This plant makes a great late season dove field as well.
What does Chufa seed look like?
Chufa Seed (Cyperus esculentus) Chufas are a bunch grass with a peanut like an underground nut – used for food plots of deer, turkey, hogs and wild hogs. This legume is very similar to peanuts, if you have ever seen hogs rooting peanuts, they go after chufa the same way. Plant in spring through summer.
What shrubs do turkeys like?
Turkeys will be naturally attracted to trees and shrubs like dogwoods, chokeberries, viburnums, hickories, beech, hawthorns, and more. Oak trees should also be on the top of your list with white oak and red oak trees, in particular, proving to be effective at attracting turkeys.
What can I plant in turkey and deer in the spring?
Common perennial food plot species include clover, alfalfa, or chicory. Annual food plot species only grow for that growing season and are highly attractive. Common annuals include corn, soybeans, turnips, radishes, cereal grains, or peas.
What grasses do turkeys like?
Bluestem, Indiangrass, eastern gamagrass and other native warm season grasses provide great nesting, brood rearing and escape cover for wild turkeys. Native warm season grasses are also an essential part of a healthy prairie grassland ecosystem.
Do turkeys eat nutsedge?
Plants pulled before they have 4 to 5 leaves have not had time to develop tubers. Sativa is a variety of Cyperus esculentus that is most often used to plant for wildlife, and for food crops. Turkeys and waterfowl will eat the nutlets.
Is chufa a legume?
Chufa seed (Cyperus esculentus) is a warm season bunch grass planted in food plots for deer, turkey, ducks, hogs and other wildlife. Chufa is a legume species that produce a tasty under ground nut or tuber that wild turkey scratch up and eat.
