I'm thinking about planting sunflowers for dove season and I'm trying to find the best seeds to plant. What are you guys using? It'll be in Brazos county.

Perodovic - get it from Producers

Know that once you plant them they will always be there.

Peredovik, which are just the black oil sunflower seeds you will find in bird seed at Tractor Supply, etc.

If you want to be able to spray weeds in them you'll need to look at something like Clearfield Sunflowers. Significantly more expensive, but they can be sprayed to deal with weeds without harming the plant. More details here.

One other thing you'll have to spray for at some point is Mexican head worm/moth. When I grew them for production a few years ago, seed guy told me even though sunflowers have never been grown in this area, the moth will show up. Have no idea what they do to the plant because we always sprayed before the flowers started pollinating.

I'm not a farmer and I'm a long ways from Brazos County. But I know that weeds and dove go together. I hunt them in "weeds" all the time. Some of them are even sunflowers.

Are you growing them just for dove hunting or are you going to cut them? How much ground are we talking about?

tlh3842 said:

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I'm thinking about planting sunflowers for dove season and I'm trying to find the best seeds to plant. What are you guys using? It'll be in Brazos county.

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Planter's version-- $1.99 on the end cap at Buc-ees

If you can plant the big ones that the commercial farmers grow. They hold their seed longer so make sure you plant early enough so they ripen a month before season opens.

That said, milo is even better and even a small stand will last for months. Whitewings like to sit on the head to feed.

https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/1589929

Good information on this subject from Rick Bredesen
Wildlife Management Biologist
James A. Reed MWA

We used to just plow up a wheat field and let it go fallow. Croton usually came up volunteer. I'd also consider other feed sources like Millet, etc.

wheelz said:

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If you can plant the big ones that the commercial farmers grow. They hold their seed longer so make sure you plant early enough so they ripen a month before season opens.

That said, milo is even better and even a small stand will last for months. Whitewings like to sit on the head to feed.

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My biggest issue with sorghum these days is the sugarcane aphid. No food plot producer will spray for them, they WILL wipe out a stand, and it will be a great place to harbor the little bastages for neighbors' crops. I've advised my clients to try dove proso millet, or even Texas panicum with the sunflowers.

BlueDeviledAg said:

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tlh3842 said:

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I'm thinking about planting sunflowers for dove season and I'm trying to find the best seeds to plant. What are you guys using? It'll be in Brazos county.

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Planter's version-- $1.99 on the end cap at Buc-ees

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Other than the whole "they've been cooked" thing.

CanyonAg77 said:

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BlueDeviledAg said:

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tlh3842 said:

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I'm thinking about planting sunflowers for dove season and I'm trying to find the best seeds to plant. What are you guys using? It'll be in Brazos county.

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Planter's version-- $1.99 on the end cap at Buc-ees

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Other than the whole "they've been cooked" thing.

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Ahhhh, that's why they don't germinate - I thought it was maybe the salt!

CanyonAg77 said:

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BlueDeviledAg said:

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tlh3842 said:

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I'm thinking about planting sunflowers for dove season and I'm trying to find the best seeds to plant. What are you guys using? It'll be in Brazos county.

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Planter's version-- $1.99 on the end cap at Buc-ees

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Other than the whole "they've been cooked" thing.

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Plus at essentially $5 a pound they are MORE expensive than Clearfield flowers!

Och26-58-87 said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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BlueDeviledAg said:

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tlh3842 said:

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I'm thinking about planting sunflowers for dove season and I'm trying to find the best seeds to plant. What are you guys using? It'll be in Brazos county.

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Planter's version-- $1.99 on the end cap at Buc-ees

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Other than the whole "they've been cooked" thing.

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Ahhhh, that's why they don't germinate - I thought it was maybe the salt!

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I found out the hard way about corn nuts.

Sometimes when I read this board I'm amazed at all the stuff I don't know.

B-1 83 said:

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Och26-58-87 said:

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CanyonAg77 said:

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BlueDeviledAg said:

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tlh3842 said:

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I'm thinking about planting sunflowers for dove season and I'm trying to find the best seeds to plant. What are you guys using? It'll be in Brazos county.

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Planter's version-- $1.99 on the end cap at Buc-ees

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Other than the whole "they've been cooked" thing.

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Ahhhh, that's why they don't germinate - I thought it was maybe the salt!

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I found out the hard way about corn nuts.

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Imagine my disappointment when I planted bird seed.

I bought 50lbs of black oil sunflowers to plant in a small plot. Mostly because they are cool looking and also for my bees. But...while they did come up...and flower...they did not return the next year. I have a hard time believing the damn squirrels ate every last seed, but I believe this is what happened. They ate the damn seeds before they fell out of the head.

They probably did! I have feeders in the backyard and a stray seed germinated in one of my plant pots. The children like growing things so we tended it and were so happy when it bloomed...it was just starting to seed when one of the squirrels gnawed the entire head off and dragged it across the yard. Ever after, I have put wire or netting around the plant (perhaps not feasible for you all) until I can harvest the seeds.
Squirrels may have a tiny brain but they are persistent critters.

FWIW, I have loads of white wings considering our yard is a standard lot in CS. Their favorites are black oil sunflower, white millet, safflower and as a treat-some fruit.

Maximillian (native) sunflowers.
Biggest prob is how prolific they are.

Best time to plant sunflower and others? Looking into doing this as well

wheelz said:

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If you can plant the big ones that the commercial farmers grow. They hold their seed longer so make sure you plant early enough so they ripen a month before season opens.

That said, milo is even better and even a small stand will last for months. Whitewings like to sit on the head to feed.

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Sesame is the absolute best. A lot of farmers tried to make it work growing sesame and then harvesting the seed later. The problem was the doves cleaned it out and there wasn't anything left to harvest. The people that were expecting delivery were not happy.

FF20Ag said:

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Best time to plant sunflower and others? Looking into doing this as well

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They are one of my earliest planted food plots here in Kansas. They'll germinate in sill temps around 50* but 55*-60* is better. The good news is they'll tolerate some frost. I plant in late April here in NE Kansas.

Plus deer and cattle eat the $&@# our of them

Sesame is a great addition - it does like much warmer temps for germination. There is nothing wrong with strips of food plots. Milo-sunflowers-sesame.....if you have time, room, and patience.

I plant late April / early May. Seed is mature mid/late Aug. I run a second planting late May / June. Seed is mature for 2nd season.

I usually strip sunflower /milo. Last year I ran milo/millet in the drill, then ran sunflower alone and drilled over. I was not happy with the results. Planting in strips was much better.

Call Sammy Nooner and find out what he plants.

Got a couple of Russian Mammoth sunflower heads the size of a large dinner plate.

Planted a couple of these just ****ing around and know nothing about sunflower otherwise.

Whats the best way to harvest the seeds and preserve for replanting next year?

Sesame is by far the best dove attractant,

Clip the seed heads, hang upside down in a dry area until very dry. The seeds will pop off easily.

I've had good success with these, and a lot of re-seeded on their own.