Whitetail Institute No-Plow vs. Winter-Greens [Review]

Whitetail Institute No-Plow and Winter-Greens are annual seed plots yet have different forage components and designs. The latter appeals to those who want to plant high-quality lettuce-type brassicas. On the other hand, No-Plow is ideal for planting sites that are hard to access with farming equipment.

Finding the right deer food plot needs thorough consideration and research, especially since not all sites are identical. Also, soil types vary, meaning some seeds grow better with specific soil types than others.

Although both products were from Whitetail Institute, you must identify which would suit your needs best. To help you compare and contrast both products, below is information about the features, description, planting dates, and instructions of each product that you need to know.

A. Whitetail Institute No-Plow – Features and Specs

One of Whitetail Institute’s most successful products is its No-Plow, the brand’s second longest-running food plot product, right behind Whitetail Clover. It’s all thanks to the three main reasons that make it a popular choice among customers, which are:

• Immense versatility
• Continues product improvement
• Exceptional attractiveness to deer

Only some have the exact lot location; some people have unoccupied lots that are difficult to access with farming equipment, while some are on slopes or, if lucky, on level ground. As a result, Whitetail Institute developed and produced a variety of deer food plots for customers to choose from, including the No-Plow.

If you own a spot where you want to establish a food plot, yet it is very tough for heavy farming equipment to maneuver, Whitetail Institute No-Plow has you covered. If you can get on the site only on foot or riding a 4-wheeler, No-Plow allows you to plant without needing any farming equipment.

Moreover, the product guarantees an all-season attraction because of its diversified forage components:

• Forage grains and grasses
• Clovers
• Brassica
• WINA 412 radish

These forages work well and complement each other, contributing to No-Plow’s market dominance. For instance, the forage grains and grasses attract the deer during the first few days after planting.

Then, brassicas act as a nutritious and attractive food source for deer once the weather turns cold. It is important to note that the WINA 412 radish is a recent addition to the No-Plow and provides additional forage to deer in early and late seasons.

Lastly, the clovers will provide needed nutrition for deer to recover from winter health losses and for antler re-growth.

In addition, part of No-Plow’s notable features is that it attracts pollinators and is available in the following size and coverage:

• 9 lbs. (0.5 acres)
• 25 lbs. (1.5 acres)
• 50 lbs. (3 acres/2-25 lb bags)

B. Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens – Features and Specs

Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens is now on its way to dominating the food plot market, especially in the brassica vertical. It even received a 4.6-star rating on Amazon because its irresistible features attract deer to the food plot weekly.

On the other hand, Winter-Greens is available in three sizes and coverage depending on how many acres you have:

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

The product is so palatable that deer prefer it against other standard brassicas and even outperform them by about 400%. Winter-Greens is best for those looking for a deer food plot intentionally designed for fall and winter that even stands tall under snow.

Since the company added its Tall Tine Turnip forage component to its Winter-Greens product, it has become more irresistible to deer, urging them to return for more.

Whitetail Institute No-Plow vs. Winter-Greens Planting Dates

Whitetail Institute No-Plow and Winter-Greens have differing planting dates depending on location. However, both products must require you to refrain from planting during hot and dry weather.

Also, remember to stick to the listed planting dates in the table below based on where your site is:

Is Whitetail Institute No-Plow better than Winter-Greens?

Concerning planting in non-tillable areas with guaranteed nine months of deer attraction, Whitetail Institute No-Plow is better than Winter-Greens. However, Whitetail Winter-Greens would be a better choice if you prefer a food plot that blooms in winter with a farming equipment accessible location.

Although both products are annual seed plots, they don’t serve the same purpose, making it easier to decide which one to buy. Nevertheless, it is crucial to discuss and identify what makes both products so different from each other by doing a compare and contrast based on the factors below:

1. Seed type and growth

As mentioned, Whitetail Institute No-Plow and Winters-Greens are annual seed plots but don’t share similar seeds and blooming periods. For instance, Winter-Greens bloom in the winter and offers only two forage components: Tall Tine Turnips and lettuce-type brassicas.

On the contrary, No-Plow has a blend of forages, which serves various purposes to make the food plot irresistible to deer. Furthermore, No-Plow blooms in spring, while Winter-Greens does in winter.

Although Winter-Greens and No-Plow have their fair share of differences, you can both plant them in the fall. Also, they both establish quickly as long as you carefully and diligently follow their corresponding planting instructions.

For example, No-Plow starts appearing above ground after just a few days of planting.

2. Desirability

No-Plow attracts and keeps deer by blending a variety of forages that mature at different times. Also, customers can expect their food plot to attract deer in no time, considering that they included the Whitetail Clover forage component on the No-Plow product.

On the other hand, Winter-Greens has also proven to be desirable to deer compared to other standard brassicas making deer visit the food plot site at least once a week.

As a result, both Whitetail Institute products are undeniably desirable to deer compared to other standard food plots.

3. Food plot location

Among the factors listed, food plot location is the primary determinant in your decision-making, especially if you are unsure whether you will be better off using No-Plow or Winter-Greens.

Whichever food plot you choose, it would be best to identify beforehand how accessible your site is to help you narrow down your choices.

If you have a site that isn’t accessible with farming equipment like tractors and can only access it by foot or riding a 4-wheeler, No-Plow would be a better choice than Winter-Greens. Here are the ideal sites for planting No-Plow:

• Fence lines
• Small clearings in the woods
• Fire lanes
• Power lines
• Old logging roads
• Gas lines

However, if your food plot location isn’t your primary concern, Winter-Greens can be enough to attract deer to your food plot.

4. Digestibility and palatability

Both No-Plow and Winter-Greens have a similar forage component with each other: brassica. The lettuce-type brassica by Whitetail Institute gets sweeter after the season’s first frost, making it palatable to deer.

The Whitetail Clover on No-Plow also contributes a lot in providing a well-tested and prominent food to deer that the brand has ever made.
Aside from palatability, both food plots cater to the deer’s small digestive system because they are tender to eat, making them easy for the animal to digest.

5. Soil condition

Compared to Winter-Greens that require medium to well-drained soils, No-Plow can grow in various soil types and requires three to four hours of daily sunlight. In contrast, Winter-Greens need at least four hours of daily sunlight, indirect or filtered.

Nonetheless, both food plots require a 6.5 to 7.0 optimal soil pH level.
The radishes in Whitetail Institute No-Plow offer a secondary advantage to soil quality.

Because of the radishes’ thick roots leave spaces in the soil, which is hugely beneficial to compact heavy soils. It also adds organic matter to the ground leading to improved soil fertility and structure.

6. Crop tolerance

Due to their drought and cold resistance, Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens and No-Plow will stand up to low water and cold temperatures. They can also still thrive despite heavy grazing from deer.

7. Protein content

Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens and No-Plow boast 36% protein content becoming a high-energy food source for deer. No-Plow offers up to nine months of nutrition and attraction to deer, while Winter-Greens can thrive even in frigid winters.

By referring to the information above, you can easily decide which issue you would like to cater to when establishing a deer food plot.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the best no-plow food plot seed?

Clover, chicory, alfalfas, and brassicas are the best no-plow food plots. Tiny seeds with a planting depth of not more than 1/2 inches will work best with no plow food plots compared to large grains such as corn, peas, and beans.

If you have a food plot location that seems impossible to plow using farming equipment, consider choosing the type of seeds to plant to ensure success.

For instance, chicory and clover make easy seed-to-soil contact, while brassicas can still produce good stands even in a no-till plot.

Can you plant no plow in the spring?

No plow planting usually happens in the summer or fall. Although unusual, it’s possible and can still be adequate to plant no plow in the spring if you follow the planting instructions carefully and do a soil test beforehand.

Those who live in the north may prefer to plant no plow seeds like clover during spring. You can also check the bag of the seed plot you purchased and look for the recommended planting dates based on the area of your food plot for better results.