Common vetch, hairy vetch and bigflower vetch are cool-seasonlegumes that can be planted as either winter annuals or summer annuals. Of the three species, bigflower vetch is most preferred by deer; however, all of the vetches can be overgrazed easily if they are planted food plots less than 2 ½ to 3 acres in size. One draw back to the vetches is that their seed is very expensive. However, once planted, you can encourage them to reseed by disking the plot each year in late-summer.
Vetch site requirements
As a group, they are adapted to a wide range of growing conditions and they tolerate acidic soils more than most other legumes. Common vetch is best adapted to grow in the mid-west and southern regions. It will grow best when planted on well drained, fertile soils. Hairy vetch and bigflower vetch are winter hardy and would be the best choices for food plots in northern regions. Hairy vetch will grow over the widest range of soil conditions and will tolerate sandy soils. The vetches are not drought tolerant, and they shouldn't be planted on poorly drained soils. Although all three species are good nitrogen fixers, they may require annual applications of low nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorous to encourage the best growth. As always, fertilize according to your soil test.
Plant vetches with other forages
Vetches are most beneficial to deer when they are planted with other annual forages. The following are suggested forage mixtures that include vetch:
Vetch, corn and/or sorghum . (Seed vetch into corn and sorghum in late-summer to provide a late-fall through early-winter food source)
Vetch and soybeans. (Seed vetch into soybeans in late-summer to provide a late-fall through early-winter food source)
Vetch, cowpeas, and alyceclover. (Provides a food source from late-summer through early-fall)
Vetch, cowpeas, and American jointvetch. (Provides a food source from late-summer through early-fall)
