Whitetail Institute FUSION vs. Winter-Greens [Review]

Whitetail Institute FUSION gravitates towards those looking for a perennial seed food plot that guarantees to last even during the hottest months. In contrast, Winter-Greens appeals to those into premium brassicas that bloom and thrive in the winter.

Both Whitetail Institute products earned a 4.6-star rating out of 5 on Amazon. Despite this, they serve different purposes and designs. Whitetail Institute FUSION’s forage combo and design work well with those wanting to plant in the Spring.

On the contrary, Whitetail Institute Winter-Green is perfect for the fall season when the temperature gets colder. Before jumping into rash decisions and regretting it late, we reviewed both deer food plots, which you can read in detail below.

A. Whitetail Institute FUSION – Features and Specs

Whitetail Institute FUSION has continually earned a top spot in deer food plot products, thanks to its forage components combination: WINA-100 forage chicory and the infamous Imperial Whitetail Clover.

Imperial Whitetail Clover is the world’s number one deer food plot product. Additionally, it is the only genetically designed clover specifically for Whitetail deer.

Thus, adding the palatable and tender WINA-100 forage chicory, FUSION offers a great deal of protein and tonnage that attracts and makes deer grow antlers rapidly.

You can purchase Whitetail FUSION in three sizes based on your food plot’s coverage:

• 3.15 lb (0.5 acres)
• 18.5 lb (3 acres)
• 27.75 lb (4.5 acres/3-9.25 lb bags)

Whitetail Institute FUSION is also perfect for those looking for a food plot that will last throughout the drought season when Winter-Greens is at a disadvantage.

However, deer are more likely to prefer Winter-Greens and other annual food plots in the winter, which puts FUSION at a slight disadvantage.

B. Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens – Features and Specs

One of the most commendable characteristics of Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens is that its lettuce-type brassica forage component can withstand frigid temperatures that other similar brassica cannot do.

Additionally, the brand included a few amounts of Tall Tine Turnip for increased tonnage and desirability.

You can find Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens in various sizes and coverage:

• 3 lbs. (0.5 acres)
• 12 lbs. (2 acres)
• 24 lbs. (4 acres/2-12 lb bags)

Planting Winter-Greens allows you to attract deer to your location and help them get the nutrition they need to serve you best in your upcoming hunting activity.

Sadly, Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens is ideal for cold weather conditions. Unlike FUSION, which can thrive entirely in cold and dry climates, Winter-Greens lacks the design to survive in the summer.

On the brighter side, deer’s preference leans towards Winter-Greens compared to clovers and chicories.

Whitetail Institute FUSION vs. Winter-Greens Planting Dates

There are differences in the planting dates of Whitetail Institute FUSION and Winter-Greens depending on one’s food plot location.

Nevertheless, it is critical to note that regardless of the planting dates, refrain from doing it during hot and dry climates and strictly adhere to the specified dates that you can refer on the table below:

Is Whitetail Institute FUSION better than Winter-Greens?

Whitetail Institute FUSION and Winter-Greens have the same star rating on Amazon. However, Whitetail Institute FUSION is better than Winter-Greens because it thrives in hot and cold conditions with two forage components that attract and hold deer lasting up to five years.

Comparing Whitetail Institute products with each other can be confusing at times. Therefore, it would be an excellent idea to look for these factors when trying to identify which products suit your needs the best:

1. Protein content

One of the remarkable things about choosing Whitetail Institute products as your deer food plot is that the protein content it provides is high. However, there are instances that some Whitetail Institute products have higher protein content than others, which is apparent between FUSION and Winter-Greens.

Whitetail Institute FUSION boasts up to 44% of the protein needed for the deer to develop antlers. In contrast, Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens offers 36% protein content to help deer survive the frigid months.

2. Crop tolerance

Regarding crop tolerance, both products show high tolerance in drought and cold conditions. Nonetheless, FUSION still works better even during the year’s hottest months than Winter-Greens. The latter’s design focuses more on the fall and winter seasons of the year.

Moreover, the clover in FUSION slows down its production to protect itself from excessive heat and drought.

Therefore, if you are into a food plot that wants to attract deer during summer and cold seasons that can last five years, FUSION can put you at a tremendous advantage over Winter-Greens.

3. Soil condition

The soil pH for Winter-Greens and FUSION should be at a neutral level of 6.5 to 7.5. Although they share similar soil pH needed in planting, they differ regarding soil types.

For instance, you need to plant Winter-Greens where there is medium to well-drained soil, while FUSION requires moderately drained to heavy soil.

The clover in FUSION is a nitrogen-fixing legume that allows you to spend less on fertilizer costs. The forage component produces its nitrogen supply resulting in no need for a second nitrogen fertilization.
Another thing to remember is that both food plots require less than four hours of filtered or indirect sunlight.

4. Desirability

Because of the extensive research and continuous development of Whitetail Institute products, deer find it all irresistible and desirable. Depending on how you take care of and maintain your food plot, both FUSION and Winter-Greens are promising ones that will surely keep deer coming to your area.

5. Digestibility and palatability

One critical thing that makes food plot products palatable to deer is their ability to be easily digestible, apparent in Whitetail Institute FUSION and Winter-Greens. Both food plots are easy for the deer to digest, with high-quality forages helping them acquire sufficient nutrition to survive.

6. Seed type and growth

Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens is an annual seed plot, while FUSION is perennial. Each offers two utterly different forage components. Regarding FUSION, it has RainBond coated seeds that enhance seedling survivability, and the chicory forage grows as deep as three feet into the soil.

On the contrary, Winter-Greens grows tall despite heavy snow and grows fast like its counterpart.

7. Food plot location

Both products require varied soil types, which you can plant on, as mentioned above. However, for FUSION, there are certain areas with the following soil types you need to avoid:

• Sandy
• Hillside
• Hilltops
• Soggy

Whitetail Institute FUSION undeniably offers more advantages than Winter-Greens due to its forage component combination and can even thrive despite extreme drought and cold. However, if you are only interested in food plots focusing on extreme frigid conditions, Winter-Greens are also an excellent option.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How late can you plant winter greens?

Planting winter greens may differ depending on your location and brand. Nonetheless, winter greens are ideally best to plant during late summer since it needs enough sunlight before the upcoming cold months.

Deer food plot brands have their specific planting dates for every product. When planting winter greens, following the recommended planting dates would be best.

An excellent example of this is the Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens. The product has specific planting dates for every corresponding location. Since it is drought resistant, it allows you to plant it from late summer to early fall.

Planting it late in the fall will likely produce little results since winter greens need enough sunlight to grow before winter arrives.

How long does it take for Whitetail Institute fusion to germinate?

Whitetail Institute FUSION boasts good germination that establishes quickly within a few days after planting. The maximum time for the food plot to mature is around three to four months reaching a mature height of 15 inches.

Some products promise good germination, while some don’t. Whitetail Institute FUSION proliferates, considering that some encountered a growth on their food plot days after planting.

However, the success of your food plot also depends on how you thoroughly follow the planting instructions and perform soil tests as suggested.