Weather man seems pretty confident that we're in for some rain over the remainder of the week here in North Alabama. Also Predicting more the weekend following. Anyone thinking this is a good time to plant?

I've got an excess of clover seed (for this year anyways) and I've thought about putting some of it out now, to get it started.

Risk is of course that we don't get rain for 3+ weeks afterwards and it goes to waste. Any thoughts?

Still way too early for us. We'll wait a month, at least.

Probably end of September before a good rain for us.

Still too early IMO........

September 1st is in the planting date for north Alabama. Go ahead if you want. I used to plant around labor day every year and mine did fine and my club is in north Talladega. With the temps being lower than normal and with a good rain in the forecast, i'm thinking about it.

You're probably not wrong, but with the rain and the fact that I picked up 15lbs of clover mix from Gander mountain on their last day with 2x 1/4 acre plots to plant... if 50% of takes hold it'd be worth it?

Also I'm looking for a vague reason to get out of the office early.

Are you hoping to bow hunt the fields or no hunting until gun season?

Bow hunting, but I'd like something to be around during gun season. I'd been planning on using Clover mix, BFO, dwarf essex rape with a little chicory thrown in. I figured getting the clover out early wouldn't hurt much and could provide a little cover for the oats and rapeseed. Apparently I also ordered winter peas (now that I've gone and looked at my list) In that small of a plot I imagine they'll get mowed down pretty quick (didn't know that at the time) So they may get held back until literally bow season and I'll just throw them out one afternoon before a hunt.

Obviously if you see something wrong with my plan, or have an alternative idea send it.

It's not about a calendar date, and also where are you in the state? It's way too early for people in 70% of the state. I would say for people north of I20 you would be ok. It's felt like September weather here for 2 weeks now and looking at future forecast, summer's done. Your call, you can wait, or plant now in front of all this rain. If you look at the planting dates for most seed in north Alabama it will say September 1st, so technically you'll be fine.

110% agree on Date, more of a range and a guideline. I am in the far North, Jackson county.

I gambled on the cooler than normal temps and regular rains and did a throw and mow plot this past weekend at a secondary hunting location.

At our club where we have to turn the ground we are waiting until the 2nd or 4th week in Sept depending on rain. Bushhogged them this past weekend.

Just checked, Simpson on WHNT is forcasting 3-4" valley wide starting tomorrow through Saturday. Sure hope that holds up for my throw and mow plot and soil moisture for my other plots. Both locations in NW Lauderdale county.

Everybody gets all giddy this time of year since fall is near but IT'S STILL AUGUST. If you plant this early, we could get hot, dry weather and have to plant again. Even if it does well, by later in the season, the plots could be overly mature and not as attractive to deer. Patience grasshopper!

I'm so having to fight the urge. I was off today and it would have been perfect. I ended up taking the wife to Sellwood for some sporting clays.

I’m looking at my 10 day forecast and it shows a possible cold front coming through a week from now knocking lows down close to 60 degrees with highs in the low 80’s…..If that front pans out and the long range still looks the same……then I might go ahead and plant on the next rain that comes through after that front. That ought to put me at around mid Sept which is only a couple weeks earlier than I normally plant. I like to plant into moist soil with rain on the way if possible. Rat now my soil is getting pretty dry. C'mon rain!

It's been coming a real slow rain here on and off since last night. It hasn't added up to much yet but it's still coming down out there. This is looking like it should set up nicely for planting if we don't turn bone dry the latter half of Sept.

I made the decision to roll out and plant clover/chicory. I threw out the red ripper peas I had (2 lbs) on a whim. Likely, they'll be mowed down sometime between now October.

I went up and began raking the leaves/dead plants off the plot. The dirt was good and black and damp, no doubt the mulch-like water retention of the leaf litter. Time was not on my side, so the entirety of the plot did not get raked clean. I did a 4-5 foot edge all the way around the plot, along with probably 1/4 of the plot(South East Corner). A backpack blower and rake will help clear the remainder of the plot in mid-September. I sowed the seed pretty thick, and dragged the rake across it on the way out. The rain last night and today should provide what is needed for germination.

I didn't think to provide additional fertilizer at the time, nor would I have had the time to do so, my 9 yo and I walked out at near dusk. I have considered going back Saturday morning to put out 50lbs of triple 13. Our current weatherman prognostication is suggesting a scattering of rain on Saturday AM followed by more that evening, which should be enough to set the fertilize loose and not burn the seeded stuff.

I also found that my initial roundup application (which I was concerned was a little light, but applied Saturday) was having only a mild effect on the remaining growth. I filled my sprayer with water and brought it along on the same whim that saw the red rippers come out. I dumped slightly less than 1 20 oz water bottle of 41% gly into the sprayer (4 gallons) and really laid it on thick.

Plan A:
Add dwarf essex rape sometime mid september with half the BFO and half the Winter peas timed with a rain incoming in the last weekish of September/first of october. The second half of winter peas and BFO will go out with a rain sometime after bow opener. Even if they get mauled I've got 5lbs of the peas and it might as well feed the deer, vs. go bad or never get used. Lesson learned one way or the other.

Plan B: I have an additional clover mix + some chicory that I planned on using it as needed. I can spread it with the Dwarf essex if needed in Mid/late September

Worst case plan: Everything is terrible, nothing comes up. winter rye gets thrown out during bow season with a rain incoming. It'll grow and be green. Better than nothing.

additional notes: I've never seen the woods so... green. There's more low level green forbs, brush, etc than the owner says he's seen in a long time. American Beauty Berry is literally everywhere. Then there are these sometimes 4 feet tall, green, soft stemmed boogers with leaves that are a foot across are everywhere as well. So maybe there will be enough green on the mountain for the deer that my food plot will be left alone until later in the season. I'll have to put a camera on the plot to verify.

On the subject of camera. I have several browning strike force cameras and they have a 'time lapse' feature so I may do something dumb like set up 2, one with a time lapse and 1 on just regular camera mode. I'll take suggestions on that.

Time Lapse + mode on the Browning takes motion detection photos in addition to time lapse. So 2 cameras would be unnecessary.

Brilliant.

How did you do on station 1 shooting out from way up above you? The rabbits are fun aren't they?

I'm approaching 2 inches of rain now this morning. Fingers crossed, I think we're gonna have a much different planting season this year than last.