Adding Diversity to Food Plot Forages w/ Pumpkins

[@cnsoutdoors8406]

You planted a lot of pumpkins and looks like you had good results. I’d say depending on your herd size they are eating appropriately. I do pumpkins also and come November they come back to eat daily. You also planted next to brassicas so they have another food available at that time!

[@PFHabitat]

Yes I definitely haven't given up on them. I have other varieties I'll try this year. They're an easy way to add some diversity to the food sources

[@clarkwheeler8764]

By the 3rd season growing pumpkins for the deer, they ate plants, flowers, and vines like it was deer salad. So plant then again and see if they hit them harder and quicker next year. I actually stopped planting pumpkins for the deer when I couldn't get a single vine to maturity.

[@PFHabitat]

@clarkwheeler8764 wow that's crazy! I've never seen them touch the vines

[@daveguttormson6315]

Sam, don't give up on pumpkins. Like brassicas, it may take a bit for them to get used to them. For years, I've tried to get people to try them. One thing I never mentioned ( my bad), was not to expect deer to use them as a stand alone food source. More of a midway stopping point before going out to big ag fields. We all like candy but we don't fill up on it. Glad you tried them.

[@PFHabitat]

@daveguttormson6315 I definitely haven't given up on them. They're such a low cost investment I plan on continuing to add them to the perimeter of plots. Definitely a nice compliment to the rest of the food plot

[@disc4609]

Been doing pumpkins for 6 years. I do several varieties so there’s different pumpkins ripe at different times. 75 hills usually gets me about 250 pumpkins depending on rain. I also start them early at home and transplant them. The deer have never ate the plants.

[@PFHabitat]

@disc4609 I have some other varieties I want to try so I like that idea of mixing them up next year

[@kurtcaramanidis5705]

It's always fun experimenting. They don't eat them much by me either.

[@PFHabitat]

@kurtcaramanidis5705 yah I'll always be trying new things!

[@morrismonet3554]

Deer seem to treat them like brassicas in my area and munch on them all winter, digging through the snow for them.

[@PFHabitat]

@morrismonet3554 yah they're definitely starting to hit them now

[@dish797]

I've been wanting to do this for a few years now. My worry would be the deer destroying the plants before they could produce pumpkins. Obviously wasn't the case for you. I will give it a go. Thanks.

[@PFHabitat]

@dish797 yah generally i don't think they tough the vines so shouldn't be an issue

[@Treeplanter73]

In my experience, planting these in the wild, the animals eat the sprouts and flowers before any fruit can be grown.

[@PFHabitat]

@Treeplanter73 fortunately I didn't have that issue

[@jarrodmistic]

Did you spray or fertilize or anything to aid in fruiting?

[@PFHabitat]

@jarrodmistic nope. Just weeded around the plants a couple times throughout the summer

[@stevegerber835]

How far apart do you plant them?

[@PFHabitat]

@@stevegerber835 6 feet or so

[@TrappingTheMitten-JohnHowell]

If nothing else, take some home to your chickens! They will love you for it

[@PFHabitat]

@@TrappingTheMitten-JohnHowell sounds like a good idea!