When to Plant Food Plots in Texas
In Central Texas and the Hill Country, the average last spring frost comes around March 15 and the first fall frost around November 15. Every date on this page is set from those two. North Texas runs about two weeks later in spring and earlier in fall, the Panhandle a month; South Texas, two to four weeks the other way.
In the Planting Window Now
- Clover (white) — until October 16
- Clover (crimson) — until October 21
- Winter wheat — until November 20
- Cereal rye — until December 5
- Oats — until October 26
- Austrian winter peas — until October 21
- Annual ryegrass — until November 5
Coming up: Alfalfa from February 22; Chicory from March 1; Corn from March 15; Buckwheat from March 29.
In Texas's earliest-opening zone, archery deer season opened October 3, 2026 and firearm season opens November 7, 2026. To have fall plots growing through deer season, plant brassicas by October 1 and oats by October 26; wheat and cereal rye planted later carry a plot into the late season. Texas deer season dates
Fall Food Plots in Texas
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 27 – October 1
Late-season powerhouse that deer hammer after the first hard frost sweetens the bulbs.
- Clover (white)September 16 – October 16
A perennial favorite that provides year-round forage and thrives under heavy deer browse.
- Clover (crimson)September 16 – October 21
Fast-establishing annual clover that delivers high-protein forage through late fall and winter.
- ChicorySeptember 16 – October 6
Deep-rooted perennial that stays green in summer heat when other forages go dormant.
- Austrian winter peasSeptember 16 – October 21
A cool-season legume deer seek out the moment it comes up. Plant it in a blend with a grain that shields it.
- AlfalfaSeptember 16 – October 11
Protein-rich perennial legume that produces multiple cuttings and attracts deer all season long.
- OatsSeptember 21 – October 26
Quick-growing cool-season grain that deer prefer early in the fall before it winter-kills.
- Annual ryegrassSeptember 26 – November 5
Fast-germinating cool-season grass that fills in plots quickly and holds deer through late winter.
- Cereal ryeOctober 1 – December 5
The hardiest fall grain: comes up in cold soil, grows on poor ground, and stays green after wheat and oats quit.
- Winter wheatOctober 6 – November 20
Hardy cereal grain that provides green forage through winter and excellent early spring attraction.
Spring & Summer Food Plots in Texas
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)February 22 – April 12
A perennial favorite that provides year-round forage and thrives under heavy deer browse.
- AlfalfaFebruary 22 – April 5
Protein-rich perennial legume that produces multiple cuttings and attracts deer all season long.
- ChicoryMarch 1 – April 14
Deep-rooted perennial that stays green in summer heat when other forages go dormant.
- CornMarch 15 – April 19
Standing grain that provides late-season food and cover, keeping deer on your property through winter.
- BuckwheatMarch 29 – September 1
Fast summer cover crop that matures in 10–12 weeks, smothers weeds, and feeds deer, turkeys and doves.
- SunflowersApril 1 – May 6
The classic dove field crop. Deer browse the young plants, and doves, quail and turkeys feed on the seed.
- SoybeansApril 15 – May 25
High-protein warm-season legume that feeds deer from summer browse through fall bean pods.
- Grain sorghum (milo)April 15 – May 25
Heat- and drought-tolerant grain that feeds deer, turkeys, doves and quail from late summer through winter.
- LablabApril 15 – June 3
Tropical legume that thrives in southern heat and provides tons of leafy browse through summer.
- ChufaApril 15 – May 29
The turkey food plot: underground tubers that turkeys scratch out from late fall through spring.
Texas Food Plot Planting Calendar
| Crop | Spring / summer | Fall | Seed rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clover (white) | Feb 22–Apr 12 | Sep 16–Oct 16 | 8 lbs/acre |
| Clover (crimson) | — | Sep 16–Oct 21 | 20 lbs/acre |
| Chicory | Mar 1–Apr 14 | Sep 16–Oct 6 | 5 lbs/acre |
| Brassicas (turnips/radishes) | — | Aug 27–Oct 1 | 5 lbs/acre |
| Winter wheat | — | Oct 6–Nov 20 | 120 lbs/acre |
| Cereal rye | — | Oct 1–Dec 5 | 100 lbs/acre |
| Oats | — | Sep 21–Oct 26 | 100 lbs/acre |
| Austrian winter peas | — | Sep 16–Oct 21 | 60 lbs/acre |
| Annual ryegrass | — | Sep 26–Nov 5 | 30 lbs/acre |
| Alfalfa | Feb 22–Apr 5 | Sep 16–Oct 11 | 15 lbs/acre |
| Soybeans | Apr 15–May 25 | — | 50 lbs/acre |
| Corn | Mar 15–Apr 19 | — | 25 lbs/acre |
| Grain sorghum (milo) | Apr 15–May 25 | — | 15 lbs/acre |
| Sunflowers | Apr 1–May 6 | — | 10 lbs/acre |
| Lablab | Apr 15–Jun 3 | — | 20 lbs/acre |
| Chufa | Apr 15–May 29 | — | 50 lbs/acre |
| Buckwheat | Mar 29–Sep 1 | — | 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.
Texas Food Plot Questions
When should I plant a fall food plot in Texas?
In Central Texas and the Hill Country, where the first fall frost averages around November 15, fall planting starts with brassicas (turnips and radishes) from August 27 – October 1, then oats from September 21 – October 26, then winter wheat from October 6 – November 20. Crops that need the longest growing time go in first.
When is it too late to plant a food plot in Texas?
For fall plots, cereal rye is the last crop worth planting, until about December 5 in Central Texas and the Hill Country. After that, seed rarely establishes before cold weather. Brassicas, clover and oats need to be in weeks earlier.
When should I plant clover in Texas?
White clover can be planted in spring (February 22 – April 12) or in late summer (September 16 – October 16). 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 Texas?
From August 27 – October 1, 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 Texas?
Soybeans from April 15 – May 25; Corn from March 15 – April 19. Both need warm soil and are planted after the last spring frost, which averages around March 15.
Know when to plant.
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More for Texas Hunters
Nearby states: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma