Turnips

[mrklean]

How many of you guys put these in your plots? Just doing some research before we start planting this spring, already have a few ideas on what were putting in. Thanks

[Wapiti]

Can be a later season gold mine...usually once there has been a frost or 2 it takes the bitterness out of the tops. 2 deer were killed over turnips this late season where I hunt and it's in the middle of a standing cornfield...once it snowed the sign going to and fro the turnips was impressive!

[RuttenBuck]

Turnips are one of our favorite food plot plants. Easy to grow, very nutritious, and provide a ton of forage. Deer really start hitting the turnips when the clover starts to die off with the frosts. They are really digging up our plots right now getting at the turnips. I highly recommend planting in the fall though. We usually watch the weather for rain in the forecast and plant in early August and by late September they are tall and lush.

[Jody]

mrklean, see my reply on the late-season food plot topic forum about Brassicas.

[hhguide]

RuttenBuck nailed it if you ask me!

[jkjkoda]

Planted them for the first time this year in a reall romote area . very low activity Think it was do to the crops in area next year there will be corn surrounding this small grass area should be more productive?

[WaitForIt]

It may take a year or two for the deer to acclimate to brassicas and turnips if they have never tried them before.

I'd hedge your bets and mix brassicas with the turnips (ie, dwarf essex rape) to help ensure you get usage.

[lovebigbluegills]

Where can a guy find turnip seed in bulk?

[BLACKJACK]

R.J. Hunt out of Wadena, just do a internet search - 'r j hunt'. They'll ship or they may even deliver to a dealer near you. Also try Albert Lea seed house, I've bought lots of stuff from them.

[lovebigbluegills]

Thanks blackjack

[Code-Man]

Look up Agassiz Seed down in Fargo. They will custom blend stuff for you and will get ya any seed you want. Not bad price either

[lovebigbluegills]

Anybody had luck just going to a local grain elevator?

[Joe15]

My grandpa told me he always catches them eating them out of his garden so I think I'm giving them a try this year.

[kelly-p]

Something I found interesting with Bullseye turnips that our local farmers coop sells is that on some of our land that is clay/loam the deer eat them right up. After a couple frosts it looks like a battle field where mines went off. 7 miles away where our land is peat I planted them down a dike that we had rebuilt in our rice paddies and they grew great. Leaves waist high and some turnips the size of footballs,,,,the deer walked right through them and never touched them. I also tried them down a sand ridge both fertilized and non fertilized, again the deer walked right through them and never touched them?

addition

After a frost and some snow the ruffed grouse will really work the leaves over also.