Food plot planning

I'm planning on planting a food plot in the corner of my lot that I'll be building on next year. The lot is about 4.5 acres of field and 4.6 acres of woods. I'm thinking of putting the food plot in the back corner of the field and putting up a stand in this corner. Then planting trees around the plot to build up the wooded portion of my land to about 5.5 acres total. My primary focus will be whitetail and turkey for hunting.

My questions are: 1. How big of a food plot to go with? 2. Do you plant the same thing every year or change it up, I've heard it depends on the farmer's crops in the area. 3. Do you manage a food plot as you would a garden, or let nature take its course once it is planted? 4. Does shape of the plot make that much of a difference? 5. Would a small pond next to the food plot be beneficial? I will probably need fill to build and there is no major water source within about 3 miles.

I probably won't plant the plot this year, but want to get it plowed up so I can plan out where to put the trees since it'd be nice to get those in this summer. I grew up hunting a swamp so we never dealt with food plots, it's all new to me.

Thanks in advance for the input!

Saving a lot of time this year . Half my land has been underwater for about a year now . I still may get a smaller plot in yet .

Frost seeding clover 2 months ago or waiting until August to plant clover with a cover crop of oats peas and rye are your best options.     

Planting clover right now stands for a high risk of 1 month old plants with small roots getting cooked in the july sun and typical drought.    

Thats my opinion if u are trying to establish a perrenial clover only plot.   

So how early is too early to get some clovers going this summer? Getting the itch already and going to be widening some shooting lanes and dragging the new plot this weekend to keep the weed growth down. I'll plant brassicas late summer but would like to get some clovers going and a camera out. As long as I trim the clovers throughout summer I should be able to plant within the next few weeks eh?

BTW if you dont do anything with the rye it will get to about 3 feet tall ry out and die around the 4th of July.    It will be dead but alot of trash to clean up.   

Both of my plot areas are wet . The one is under water  , the other doesn't have standing water  but I wouldn't trust it to a 4 wheeler  ..

BTW - sounds like you planted cereal rye. You can mow it to keep it from going to seed and promote younger growth. If you intend to do another planting of brassicas for fall you may need to terminate it using gly or tilling. Depends on your goals really.

I planted about 1/2 acre last summer with field rye, turnips, and radishes.  This spring the rye has really taken over and is about 8 inches tall.  Will this be a good food plot for the deer this summer and what will I have to do before fall?  Do I need to mow it to promote fresh growth for the deer?

Planted my first food plot this August. Hunted it for the first time last night.

Holy freaking crap.

If you don't currently have a plot, my advice is to get yo self some bib overalls and a straw hat cuz brother it's time to be a farmer.

I had to postpone my organ enlargement surgery so I could afford the lime & seed, but it was worth it.

I planted my brassicas at the end of July. But together a mix from the feed store of forage brassicas, turnups, rape, kale, & sugar beets. 2 of my plots didn't look like they were doing well but on further review of cam video shows the deer are hammering them. On monday I planted a combo of oats, winter wheat, & winter rye next to every brassica plot so the deer got their salad and their grains.

Out of the 14 food plots in four different hunting spots, 2 are under water as we speak.  Usually in fall, these are dry areas, but simply could not absorb the amount of water we have seen.  Both WERE planted in brassicas, but must assume they are drowned out. 

So will go back and replant.  Thinking winter wheat and oats.  Anything else I should be considering?  Hopefully if no rain this week, get in there about next weekend. 

Way too wet for 4 wheeler last weekend . Now I would need a Jon boat . The oats/ wheat on higher ground looked good . Wish I would have planted more .

Yup, Kale there One Shot.

Kale is like the chubby '6' chick at the party.

When all the young bucks are chasing that overpriced Whitetail Institute, Tecomate, Imperial fancy mix, the big racked bullwinkles stroll in, spy that chubby 6 and know that she's the one that's gonna make 'em breakfast in the morning.

I got a half acre of chubby 6's with their aprons on ready to go as soon as the frost comes.

I totally agree with  S.S.ESOX, he knows his food plots!

Agreed skip the brassicas at this point.    Too late to get any real growth.     Cereal grains like winter rye oats peas wheat are your friend now.