Purple Top Turnip a brassica family plant that deer love to consume. This nutritious turnip has the characteristic of growing with the globe exposed so deer have easy access to the entire plant in food plots. The plant and roots are nutritious and protein filled, readily consumed by deer.
Several seed companies market turnip and brassica mixes that are more suitable for deer and food plots. Turnips can be planted as a stand-alone crop at a rate of 5 lbs./acre. They can also be planted in combination with other forages such as clovers, chicory or some type of cereal grain.
What is the best month to plant turnips?
Plant your fall turnip greens from late August to October; for a spring crop, plant 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost. Space these easy-to-grow greens 6 inches apart in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8.
Do deer like turnips or radishes?
Radishes and turnips are relished by deer in the first few weeks after the come-up, but plants put in during the spring or early summer are woody and less palatable by fall. Deer will eat the tubers as long as they can get dig them out of the frozen ground.
What is the proper way to plant turnips?
Turnips are seeded directly into the garden; they do not transplant well. Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch deep, 1 inch apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. You can also scatter turnip seed and cover the seeds with no more than 1/2 an inch of soil. Water well and consistently.
Can you over plant turnips?
Keep in mind that turnip seed is quite small and a little bit goes along way. It is always best to not over seed, even when planting alone, as the plants will crowd each other, causing stunted growth.
How long does it take turnips to grow from seed?
Turnips are ready to harvest 40 to 55 days after planting. If harvesting the leaves, they are ready when they reach 4-6 inches in height. If only harvesting the leaves, cut them from the plant when they reach the desired size, leaving 1 inch of leaves above the crown of the plant. More leaves will grow in their place.
How long does it take turnips to grow?
Turnip roots generally take 50 to 60 days to produce. Harvest turnip greens by pulling the entire plant when the leaves are 4 to 6 inches long (Fig.
Should turnip seeds be soaked before planting?
Still, I like to mix in standard application of a balanced organic fertilizer, watered in well, before planting turnip seeds. Additionally, deeply soaking the prepared bed helps encourage strong germination. In beds or rows, the only trick to getting turnip seeds to germinate is to keep them moist for about three days.
How late can you plant turnips for deer?
Turnips can be planted in late summer in northern climates or early fall in the southern states. Different turnip varieties produce different proportions of leaves and roots. Garden varieties tend to grow large roots and should be avoided.
What time of year do deer eat turnips?
The key factor to remember with turnips — while deer will begin eating them as early as germination, don’t expect peak consumption during the early season. In areas with quality food sources, deer typically don’t hit them very hard until mid-October to early November.
Can I plant radishes and turnips together?
Like any root vegetable, turnips (Brassica campestris L.) do well along with carrots and radishes. They are easy to care for and can be planted either in spring, so you have turnips all summer, or in late summer for a fall crop.
What attracts deer the most?
Food Plots
Plants that typically attract deer include red clover, chicory, and orchard grass. Certain high-protein crops, such as peas, soybeans, turnips, alfalfa, sorghum, kale, or corn, are also attractants that the animals enjoy feeding on. Deer like the nutritious nuts that come from chestnuts and acorns as well.
How many turnips does a plant produce?
Thin seedlings to 3-4 inches apart (depending on the variety) when they are 2-3 inches tall. Use row covers to protect young plants from flea beetles and root maggots. What is this? For square foot gardening, plant 9 turnips per square foot.
What to plant after turnips?
Turnips are natural aphid repellents, protecting a wide variety of garden crops that are vulnerable to aphid invasion. Squash, tomatoes, celery, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, beans, onions, garlic, lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, cauliflower, and radishes all flourish when planted interspersed with turnips.
How often do you water turnips?
Water. At least 1 inch of water per week is vital for good root development. Turnips need to grow quickly, and regular water along with a rich soil, will help them do that.
Can you plant turnips in the spring for deer?
Both turnips and radishes tend to mature much quicker when planted during the spring. This results in these crops becoming non palatable to deer rapidly. You might try buckwheat as the seed is relatively small and often grows well when broadcast into a good seedbed.
Do turnips come back every year?
A true biennial, the turnip requires a vernalization, or cooling period, before producing blooms and seeds in its second year.
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