Time to Plant: A Regional Guide to Seasonal Food Plots with DeerGro

Want to grow food plots that actually pull deer in - and keep them coming back? It’s not just about throwing down seed and hoping for the best. It’s about knowing your region, playing the season, and giving your soil what it needs to crank out high-performance forage.

In this gritty, no-fluff guide, we’re breaking down seasonal food plots by region, the best times to plant, and how DeerGro’s PlotStart® and PlotBoost® can turn average dirt into a deer magnet. Whether you're in the Midwest, Deep South, or anywhere in between, this is your blueprint.

Why Seasonal Food Plots Matter More Than Ever

If you're still just tossing out seed mixes and hoping to see a buck, you're wasting time, fuel, and money. Whitetail are pattern-driven. You want to hold deer on your land? Then feed them year-round.

Seasonal food plots do more than attract - they build herd health, antler growth, and give you a serious edge when the rut hits. But it all starts with regional timing and soil that actually works with you.

Level Up Your Soil with DeerGro

Here’s the deal: good seed in bad soil is still a bad food plot. That’s where DeerGro steps in. Their two-part system works smarter, not harder:

• PlotStart® – Fast-acting liquid lime alternative. Raises soil pH, unlocks nutrients, and skips the wait time of traditional ag lime. 
• PlotBoost® – A foliar spray that ramps up nutrient uptake, boosts plant health, and helps crops push through stress. 

Together, they give your seed the best shot at success— without you needing a spreader the size of a dump truck.

Seasonal Food Plot Timing by Region

Northeast & Upper Midwest (USDA Zones 3–5)

• Spring (April–May): Ideal for clover, alfalfa, and chicory blends.
• Late Summer (July–August): Brassicas, turnips, and cereal grains for fall attraction.

Go-To Crops:

• White/red clover
• Winter rye, oats
• Rape, kale, turnips

DeerGro Tip: Use PlotStart® after snow melt for fast pH correction and a strong spring green-up. Hit mid-season growth with PlotBoost® to prevent drought stress and browse damage.

Southeast (USDA Zones 7–9)

• Spring (March–April): Lablab, soybeans, cowpeas
• Fall (September–October): Oats, wheat, clovers

Go-To Crops:

• Soybeans, lablab
• Crimson clover
• Fall grains 

DeerGro Tip: Sandy or rocky soils need help. Use PlotStart® to unlock nutrients fast. Spray PlotBoost® during dry spells to stretch your plant health through drought.

Pacific Northwest & West Coast (USDA Zones 6–9)

• Spring (March–May): Clover, chicory, peas
• Fall (August–September): Grains, brassicas, legumes

Go-To Crops:

• Ladino clover
• Peas, rye, oats
• Kale, rape, turnips

DeerGro Tip: Wet winters and dry summers make timing tricky. Hit spring plots with PlotStart® for early boost, then use PlotBoost® mid-summer to reduce plant shock in dry heat. 

Make It Year-Round

Want to be the guy pulling in bucks when everyone else is just glassing fields? Stack your seasons: 

Pro Tip: Add PlotBoost® in summer and fall for better palatability and stronger forage, even under heavy browse pressure.

Don't Just Plant - Dominate

If you’re still liming the old-school way, guessing at timing, and watching your plots burn out by October, you’re leaving meat in the woods. DeerGro gives you control over your soil and your success:

✅ Liquid lime alternative for fast pH fix (PlotStart®)

✅ Boost plant health + nutrient uptake (PlotBoost®)

✅ Works across all soil types and regions

✅ Saves time, labor, and fuel

Final Word: Know Your Dirt. Know Your Timing. Own Your Season.

Big bucks don’t just show up because you put out a bag of seed. They show up - and stay when your food plots hit different. So this year, go beyond the basics. Know your region. Play the season. And give your soil the fuel it needs to grow food that deer can’t walk past.

Get started now at DeerGro.com and make every seed count.