Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover
Imperial Clover is the plot I keep coming back to. Plant it once and it produces for three to five years with proper mowing and fertilization. Deer hit it year-round, and turkey use it too. The seed is coated for better germination, and the per-acre cost is reasonable once you spread it over the life of the plot.
I have planted food plots on my hunting property for years. Here are the five seed mixes I would actually plant in 2026.
I manage a small property where I plant food plots every year, both for hunting and for the satisfaction of watching deer use them. Seed quality, mix design, and planting prep matter more than acreage. Here are the five food plot mixes I would buy and plant in 2026.
| Mix | Plant Type | Best For |
| — | — | — |
| Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover | Perennial clover | Multi-year plots |
| BioLogic Maximum | Brassicas and clover | Fall hunting |
| Antler King No Sweat No Till | No-till mix | Beginner plots |
| Real World No-Till | Brassicas and grain | Small acreage |
| Frigid Forage Big-N-Beasty | Brassicas | Late-season draw |
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We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
At a glance
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover | Perennial clover | Check price | |
| BioLogic Maximum | Brassicas and clover | Check price | |
| Antler King No Sweat No Till | No-till mix | Check price | |
| Real World No-Till | Brassicas and grain | Check price | |
| Frigid Forage Big-N-Beasty | Brassicas | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover
Imperial Clover is the plot I keep coming back to. Plant it once and it produces for three to five years with proper mowing and fertilization. Deer hit it year-round, and turkey use it too. The seed is coated for better germination, and the per-acre cost is reasonable once you spread it over the life of the plot.
BioLogic Maximum
For fall hunting plots, BioLogic Maximum is the mix I use most. It is a blend of brassicas (turnips, radishes, rape) and clover that grows fast through late summer and peaks during bow season. After the first hard frost the brassicas sweeten and deer pile in.
Antler King No Sweat No Till
If you do not have a tractor or a tiller, the Antler King No Sweat No Till mix is the one I recommend. Designed to be sprayed, raked, and seeded over a kill zone of weeds. Mix includes brassicas, clover, and grains. Germination is honest, not magical, but it works.
Real World No-Till
Real World makes a no-till brassica and grain mix that performs well on small plots where heavy equipment is impractical. Slightly pricier than Antler King, but the seed quality is noticeably better and germination rates have been higher in my plots.
Frigid Forage Big-N-Beasty
For late-season draw, Frigid Forage Big-N-Beasty is heavy on brassicas designed to hold deer through December and January. Plant in mid-summer, watch growth take off in fall, and the brassicas pull in deer once snow covers other food sources.
FAQs
A quarter acre is the practical minimum for deer. Smaller plots get browsed down to dirt in days. Half-acre to one-acre plots hold up better through the season and feed more animals.
Fall plots go in late summer (August in most northern zones) for hunting season hold. Spring plots go in April or May for summer growth. The exact week depends on your zone, soil temperature, and the specific seed mix.
