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Plant chufa during late spring or early summer, after all danger of frost is past and soils are getting warmer. Best dates for planting in Alabama are from May 15 to July 10. Soil Preparation. Soils for chufa plots should be tested well in advance of planting.
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.
Can you plant chufa in the fall?
Along the middle latitudes of the country, plant from early May until the end of June. In most cases, with adequate rainfall, you can plant chufa on into late July, specific seed, rain and temperature depending. Once the plant matures, turkeys will feed on it throughout late fall, winter and into early spring.
What time of year do you plant chufa for turkeys?
Recommended planting dates are April 1st through June 30th in the panhandle area. Earlier plantings will provide higher yields, whereas later plantings typically will provide foraging for wildlife later into the following spring. To maximize use by turkeys into the spring I would recommend looking at planting in June.
How long does it take chufa to grow?
It will take about 90+ days for the chufa to grow and produce the tubers that turkeys love.
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 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.
Do turkeys eat clover?
Clover is a productive food for both deer and turkeys. When the annuals that are planted to hunt over during deer season die off, the clover still will be in that corner of the field where I’ve spread it before hunting season. The clover really comes out strong the following spring and is ideal for turkeys.
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.
Do you fertilize chufa?
Prepare a good, fine seed bed prior to planting and make sure the pH is between 6 and 7. Fertilize at 300 pounds of nitrogen per acre.” The next step is to plant the food plot. “There are a number of ways to plant chufa,” Vance said.
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.
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.
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.
What can you plant in Turkey in Alabama?
Corn, chufa, soybeans, and grain sorghums are planted extensively to supplement fall and winter foods of turkeys. Vetch, rye, wheat, clover, and oats provide winter grazing for turkeys. Seeds of browntop millet and other grain crops are used heavily during summer (Table 1).
What is chufa seed?
Chufa Seed is a warm season bunch grass planted in food plots for deer, turkey, ducks, hogs, and other wildlife. Chufa is a legume species that produces a tasty under ground nut or tuber that wild turkey scratch up and eat.
What can I put out to attract turkeys?
Turkeys love acorns and pecans, as well as dogwoods, huckleberries, blueberries, and other fruits found in the understory. Planting food plots: Follow these tips to establish food plots as a supplement to natural forage. Food plots can also be used to increase turkey sightings and harvest success.
What time of day are turkeys most active?
General Weather Conditions: As a general rule of thumb, turkeys are most active during calm, clear days in morning and early afternoon hours. Turkey activity generally decreases with bad weather conditions including wind and rain.
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.
