LEGUMES

Legumes are high protein deer magnets in many forms but two are of specific interest to deer managers. Grain legumes which include beans, peas and peanuts and forage legumes which include clovers, alfalfa and vetch. All legumes have the ability, through a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, to produce nitrogen. This ability is believed to aid in a higher protein level in the plant and together with their excellent palatability makes them the top planting on virtually any property where sufficient acreage is available. Tecomate Lablab, for example, has the highest level of useable protein of any food plot planting tested and deer consume it with such relish it is important to plant enough to survive the grazing pressure. In addition, Tecomate includes a superb variety of premium legumes in many products, including Ebony Pea, Burgandy Bean (a perennial bean in the south, coming back year after year) and various high protein red and white clovers and vetch.

TIP: Beans and Peas are dicotyledonous legumes which means the growing tip is above ground. If deer nip the tip, the plant dies, Protect young beans and peas with repellent or fence or plant enough to stay ahead of the pressure deer will put on the plot.

TIP: Clovers are planted in the fall and produce in early spring. They provide protein earlier than any plot you can plant and become critical during the early antler growing period for bucks.

TIP: Clovers can be mixed with fall cereal grains and will grow in early spring while grains are still dormant. Remember, clovers are perennial so don’t disk grains planted with clover. Mow instead, and broadcast cereal grains again in fall.

TIP: Beans produce their own nitrogen, often the fertilizer suggested in your soil sample will have a zero as the first number (i.e. 0-10-15). When planting a blend you’ll benefit from choosing a fertilizer than contains at least a small amount of nitrogen to supplement the other plants in the mix.

TIP: Tecomate Buckbeans are exceptionally drought tolerant and contain Burgandy Beans that will come back season after season in the south. This product also survives early grazing pressure making it an excellent choice for growing a legume in a difficult to reach remote plot.

a Guide to Plants | Cereal Grains | Brassicas | Legumes | Blends | Forbs