Summer is when bucks grow antlers and does raise fawns, so a warm-season food plot seed that delivers protein through the hot months pays off in the fall. Tecomate Lablab Plus deer, turkey and game bird food plot seed mixes lablab, peas, soybeans, milo and sunflowers in one bag, giving deer and other wildlife food and cover.
What is in Lablab Plus?
Lablab Plus contains Tecomate Lablab, Ebony peas, forage peas, soybeans, milo/sorghum and sunflower seed. Tecomate describes it as offering the "triple threat" of whitetail nutrition: high protein, fat and carbohydrates.
- Lablab: a proven summer annual for hot, arid growing conditions
- Ebony peas: a black-seeded pea proprietary to Tecomate that keeps producing peas while it produces forage, and establishes quicker than lablab in cooler soil
- Milo/sorghum and sunflowers: shelter and trellis the young lablab and peas, then produce grain heads and large seeds for deer and game birds
Key features of this warm-season food plot seed
- Protein content: 26% to 32%
- High-yield, high-protein forage
- Great for early season bowhunting
- Less vulnerable to grazing pressure than single cultivars
- Offers mature sorghum grain heads and dried beans into winter
- Provides food and cover for turkeys and game birds
- Grows anywhere cowpeas or soybeans are grown
Who should plant Lablab Plus?
Straight Tecomate Lablab is a strong summer plot, but young lablab is vulnerable to early grazing. Lablab Plus was developed so you can establish this kind of plot on smaller acreage, with milo protecting the young plants. Tecomate notes it is an excellent choice in southern areas where grain sorghum is a common plot choice, and ideal for zones 3 and 4. It can be left standing through fall for nutrition and attraction in bow and rifle seasons. In the South, it is often rotated with fall plantings like Tecomate Max-Attract.
You can see Lablab Plus details and seeding rates on the product page.
How to plant Lablab Plus
- Planting time: all zones in spring once ground temperature is above 68°F; zones 2, 3 and 4 also list fall
- Seeding rate: 10 lbs plants 1/2 acre; 20 lbs plants 1 acre; 50 lbs plants 2 1/2 acres
- Planting depth: 1/2 to 1 inch
- Lime and fertilizer: lime if pH is below 5.8; use a high phosphorous fertilizer at 200 to 300 lbs per acre
- Inoculant: cowpea inoculant will improve nitrogen fixation
Plant in a sunny location disked to a clean, level and firm seedbed; an Impact Implements ATV/UTV disc plow / harrow is a good fit for that job. No-till drill, cultivate and broadcast, or cultivate and drill. When broadcasting, cover seed by dragging, cultipacking or lightly disking, and plant in good moisture.
Protecting young plants
Lablab can be hurt by grazing pressure in the first 3 to 4 weeks. Tecomate suggests planting enough acreage to spread out early pressure, temporarily fencing off young plants, or using an effective deer deterrent. After 4 weeks, lablab can withstand the heaviest grazing pressure.
Frequently asked questions
When can I plant Lablab Plus warm-season food plot seed?
In spring in all zones once ground temperature is above 68°F. Tecomate also lists fall planting for zones 2, 3 and 4.
Is Lablab Plus good for turkeys and game birds?
Yes. It provides food and cover for game birds, and the milo grain heads provide high-energy feed once mature.
How much does a 20 lb bag plant?
20 lbs plants 1 acre at Tecomate's recommended seeding rate.
For a summer plot that feeds deer, turkeys and game birds into the fall, order Tecomate Lablab Plus food plot seed. Browse more warm-season mixes in our spring and summer seed mix collection. Questions? Contact us.