When to Plant Food Plots in California
In Northern California's foothills, the average last spring frost comes around March 25 and the first fall frost around November 10. Every date on this page is set from those two. Mountain country frosts far longer; the coast and valleys, much less.
In the Planting Window Now
- Clover (crimson) — until October 16
- Winter wheat — until November 15
- Cereal rye — until November 30
- Oats — until October 21
- Austrian winter peas — until October 16
- Annual ryegrass — until October 31
Coming up: Clover (white) from March 4; Alfalfa from March 4; Chicory from March 11; Corn from March 25.
In California's earliest-opening zone, archery deer season opened July 11, 2026 and firearm season opened August 8, 2026. To have fall plots growing through deer season, plant brassicas by September 26 and oats by October 21; wheat and cereal rye planted later carry a plot into the late season. California deer season dates
Fall Food Plots in California
Fall plots carry deer through hunting season. Plant in this order: crops that need the most growing time go in first, and the hardy cereal grains go in last.
- Brassicas (turnips/radishes)August 22 – September 26
Late-season powerhouse that deer hammer after the first hard frost sweetens the bulbs.
- Clover (white)September 11 – October 11
A perennial favorite that provides year-round forage and thrives under heavy deer browse.
- Clover (crimson)September 11 – October 16
Fast-establishing annual clover that delivers high-protein forage through late fall and winter.
- ChicorySeptember 11 – October 1
Deep-rooted perennial that stays green in summer heat when other forages go dormant.
- Austrian winter peasSeptember 11 – October 16
A cool-season legume deer seek out the moment it comes up. Plant it in a blend with a grain that shields it.
- AlfalfaSeptember 11 – October 6
Protein-rich perennial legume that produces multiple cuttings and attracts deer all season long.
- OatsSeptember 16 – October 21
Quick-growing cool-season grain that deer prefer early in the fall before it winter-kills.
- Annual ryegrassSeptember 21 – October 31
Fast-germinating cool-season grass that fills in plots quickly and holds deer through late winter.
- Cereal ryeSeptember 26 – November 30
The hardiest fall grain: comes up in cold soil, grows on poor ground, and stays green after wheat and oats quit.
- Winter wheatOctober 1 – November 15
Hardy cereal grain that provides green forage through winter and excellent early spring attraction.
Spring & Summer Food Plots in California
Perennials like clover and chicory go in early; warm-season crops like soybeans, corn and sorghum wait for warm soil after the last frost.
- Clover (white)March 4 – April 22
A perennial favorite that provides year-round forage and thrives under heavy deer browse.
- AlfalfaMarch 4 – April 15
Protein-rich perennial legume that produces multiple cuttings and attracts deer all season long.
- ChicoryMarch 11 – April 24
Deep-rooted perennial that stays green in summer heat when other forages go dormant.
- CornMarch 25 – April 29
Standing grain that provides late-season food and cover, keeping deer on your property through winter.
- SunflowersApril 1 – May 14
The classic dove field crop. Deer browse the young plants, and doves, quail and turkeys feed on the seed.
- BuckwheatApril 8 – August 27
Fast summer cover crop that matures in 10–12 weeks, smothers weeds, and feeds deer, turkeys and doves.
- SoybeansApril 15 – May 29
High-protein warm-season legume that feeds deer from summer browse through fall bean pods.
- Grain sorghum (milo)April 15 – June 3
Heat- and drought-tolerant grain that feeds deer, turkeys, doves and quail from late summer through winter.
- LablabApril 15 – June 13
Tropical legume that thrives in southern heat and provides tons of leafy browse through summer.
- ChufaApril 15 – June 8
The turkey food plot: underground tubers that turkeys scratch out from late fall through spring.
California Food Plot Planting Calendar
| Crop | Spring / summer | Fall | Seed rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clover (white) | Mar 4–Apr 22 | Sep 11–Oct 11 | 8 lbs/acre |
| Clover (crimson) | — | Sep 11–Oct 16 | 20 lbs/acre |
| Chicory | Mar 11–Apr 24 | Sep 11–Oct 1 | 5 lbs/acre |
| Brassicas (turnips/radishes) | — | Aug 22–Sep 26 | 5 lbs/acre |
| Winter wheat | — | Oct 1–Nov 15 | 120 lbs/acre |
| Cereal rye | — | Sep 26–Nov 30 | 100 lbs/acre |
| Oats | — | Sep 16–Oct 21 | 100 lbs/acre |
| Austrian winter peas | — | Sep 11–Oct 16 | 60 lbs/acre |
| Annual ryegrass | — | Sep 21–Oct 31 | 30 lbs/acre |
| Alfalfa | Mar 4–Apr 15 | Sep 11–Oct 6 | 15 lbs/acre |
| Soybeans | Apr 15–May 29 | — | 50 lbs/acre |
| Corn | Mar 25–Apr 29 | — | 25 lbs/acre |
| Grain sorghum (milo) | Apr 15–Jun 3 | — | 15 lbs/acre |
| Sunflowers | Apr 1–May 14 | — | 10 lbs/acre |
| Lablab | Apr 15–Jun 13 | — | 20 lbs/acre |
| Chufa | Apr 15–Jun 8 | — | 50 lbs/acre |
| Buckwheat | Apr 8–Aug 27 | — | 50 lbs/acre |
Work out seed and fertilizer for your acreage with the food plot calculator, or map your plots on satellite imagery. Frost dates are long-term averages; your county can differ by a week or more, so lean early for fall crops in a cold pocket and late for warm-season crops.
California Food Plot Questions
When should I plant a fall food plot in California?
In Northern California's foothills, where the first fall frost averages around November 10, fall planting starts with brassicas (turnips and radishes) from August 22 – September 26, then oats from September 16 – October 21, then winter wheat from October 1 – November 15. Crops that need the longest growing time go in first.
When is it too late to plant a food plot in California?
For fall plots, cereal rye is the last crop worth planting, until about November 30 in Northern California's foothills. After that, seed rarely establishes before cold weather. Brassicas, clover and oats need to be in weeks earlier.
When should I plant clover in California?
White clover can be planted in spring (March 4 – April 22) or in late summer (September 11 – October 11). Fall seedings face less weed pressure; spring seedings can also be frost-seeded onto frozen ground in late winter.
When should I plant turnips and brassicas in California?
From August 22 – September 26, about 45 to 80 days before the first fall frost. Bulbs need that long to size up, and the first hard frost turns their starches to sugar, when deer start eating them.
When should I plant soybeans and corn for deer in California?
Soybeans from April 15 – May 29; Corn from March 25 – April 29. Both need warm soil and are planted after the last spring frost, which averages around March 25.
Know when to plant.
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