Want to plant a Sunflower field this year and was wondering about what the minimum size would be to attract some doves.I can plant as much as I want but this is in conjuction with 7 acres of adjoining summer plots and it will be getting pricey.Sunflowers are also a view amenity for Mom and brownie points never hurt. I can and will e-fence it.

257 and Brotherhood have grown some really nice sunflower fields for dubs. North40 also makes some nice fields but not sure he has done sunflowers. Maybe they will chime in. 7 acres will be plenty by the way.

Edit: reread the post...I would think a minimum of 2 acres would be satisfactory for a couple of guns and needed to have some drawing power. Anything bigger than that would be gravy. I also wouldn't hesitate to start throwing chops everytime you're up at the farm. Disc that under in late August when you start cutting your sunflowers. The one thing I've learned about doves is that the more birds you have, the more birds you will draw. The best shoot we had was when I put out decoys in August when we cut our millet. It sounds foolish, but birds pull birds. Get them coming, keep them happy and you will have a good field.

We've done under and acre and had pretty good luck. 2+ acres is best. 5 would be great.

Thanks guys. I am thinking I might try 2 ac.How many lbs of seed/acre for a good stand and when would be the best time to plant so they would mature at the right time.Never done this before obviously.

257 has it down for sure. I broadcast mine and didn't use a pre emergent. Field needs to be clean when you start mowing them down. He planted his in rows which is better to me but I think both will work as long as you control the weeds and have the clean field come season. 257 is way more knowledgeable than I. Maybe he will chime in. Good luck!

If you plant black oil sun flower seed like you feed birds will it produce seed when fully grown

So two years ago we planted 6 acres of sunflowers(1st time ever) and my cousin planted 3 acres (1st time ever). I am in Butler count and he is in Baldwin county. We both planted the same weekend and had incredible results. Both fields were beautiful. Well move forward a couple of weeks and I went up the camp and my entire field that was yellow and gorgeous was dead. I called my cousin and he said he had the same situation. The flowers did not seed out. Is there something you are supposed to do mid-growth? I am wanting to try again this year, but am a little hesitant to throw time and money towards them again without learning a little more. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Deer ate em. They love them. I've had fields wiped out too. The first year they didn't know what they were, now they do...

270...the plants were still there, but stalk, flower, leaf, everthing was black. It was crazy how fast it happened.

Works up here don't know about there but winter wheat. Then either bush hog some down b 4 season or burn it. Sunflowers get destroyed before season.

Has anyone heard of a cheaper alternative to the herbicide used with Clearfield Sunflowers? Could have swore I read somewhere about a cheaper alternative.

The clearfield system isn't all it's cracked up to be. Use dual/cotoran behind the planter and you'll be way better off.

With plain old peredovik seeds?

Yessir

Well I got up there last week and got the sunflower field broke and ready to plant. Will go with the Peredovik seeds so when should I get them in the ground so they will be right come season.Was also pleasantly surprised by how many dove I have using the place right now. I started doing summer plots last year and the dove and quail are really responding.

Based on a 90 day maturity it looks like I need to get my Perodovik sunflowers in by June 1 so they will be ready a couple of weeks before season.I planned to use a mix of Dual Magnum/Spartan for weed control but they require rain to activate and it really looks like there may not be any and I am limited in when I can get it planted.Should I spray in hope of some control or just plant and let mother nature take her course.Half of the plot is recently plowed dirt that has been in pasture for decades.

I had beautiful sunflowers 3 years ago. Seeded out and had millions of seeds. Had about 2 acres of sunflowers, 1/2 acre of seseme, 1/2 acre of buckwheat and 2 acres of millet that year. AND NO DOVES!

I'll stick with planting millet and Milo in strips from now on. I keep feed out until time to shoot them overseed legally.

Oh man that stinks. Lots of time/money for no fun. I hope if I start planting for them every year more birds will come. Last week there were probably 15 or more birds in the mowed bean and hemp fields every afternoon. I may not even get to hunt it but my goal is in 4 years when I can live up there to have a decent shootable field.