Holy radish
- Thread starter Nova
- Start date
Nova
5 year old buck +
4wanderingeyes
5 year old buck +
Nice! Mine were doing really well this year, then the deer starting hammering them in September, pretty much ate all of the greens, and chewing into the radish and turnips.
tynimiller
5 year old buck +
What is the soil composition of the one this year vs the one that didn't do as well. We have definitely seen the most remarkable growth in the loamier type soils vs our more clay ridden ones for obvious reasons. However...give them a few years and those turnips and radishes will really get the soil tunneled/broken....as a buddy who loves no tilling says "they are natures disk"
Boll Weevil
5 year old buck +
Nova,
The first year i planted radishes the deer didn't touch them...family ate more than the deer did. The 2nd year was better but I planted a patch way back in the timber where there was no other green food source. Wonder if your deer will pounce on them or if they'll have to learn it's edible?
The first year i planted radishes the deer didn't touch them...family ate more than the deer did. The 2nd year was better but I planted a patch way back in the timber where there was no other green food source. Wonder if your deer will pounce on them or if they'll have to learn it's edible?
Nova
5 year old buck +
Soil composition in this plot is heavy soil that doesn't drain well. The last year plot was sandy loam.
This will be my 5th year I believe planting brassica at home in one of the three plots. I have grown some great plots of it most of those year and they have yet to touch them ever.
This will be my 5th year I believe planting brassica at home in one of the three plots. I have grown some great plots of it most of those year and they have yet to touch them ever.
Boll Weevil
5 year old buck +
Deer in my neighborhood will eat turnip, collard, and mustard greens but they won't fool with radishes until it's the only green food left. They just aren't terribly fond of them in my area for some reason and won't hardly eat'em. Sounds like your deer up there have the same preference.Interesting.
westonwhitetail
5 year old buck +
I noticed deer in my neck of the woods have a preference for the radish greens during early season compared to any other brassica I planted. I planted PPT, barkant turnips, kale, and dwarf essex rape in strips to see if they'd use any variety more than the other. The kale is waist high and turnips and rape are about 2 feet tall and all have little signs of browsing. The radished are less than a foot tall and they're obviously being eaten heavily. Season is still early and we havn't had any hard frosts yet, so maybe things will change with cooler weather. But i am very happy with the radishes so far
S.T.Fanatic
5 year old buck +
If the preference of my deer doesn't change in the next couple of years radish will be the only Brassica I plant. Time will tell with the sugar beets.
When trying new things how many years will you try them before writing them off?
I know my soil is great in the plot with the sugar beets so if they dont eat them it wont be from poor nutrients or PH.
When trying new things how many years will you try them before writing them off?
I know my soil is great in the plot with the sugar beets so if they dont eat them it wont be from poor nutrients or PH.
4wanderingeyes
5 year old buck +
See what they do over early winter with them. If they don’t touch them after 3 years, I would move on. But this is where a cover crop spread in with them works great. Whether it is winter rye, oats, or winter wheat, it gives the deer another draw in the same field. That would entice them to try the other crops while they are in there. Plus, it is a draw even if they refuse to eat the other brassicas.
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H20fwler
5 year old buck +
I agree with the three year plan, I don't phase things all the way out but I sure don't plant as much of it after that. For whatever reason rabbits seem to love the radishes here in winter and that is enough for me to still keep some mixed in the plots. The deer here don't touch any of my brassicas until after a couple hard frosts. I think it changes the sugar content in them?
When I first started mixing chicory in with my clovers it took deer a while to start really hitting it. I am in a heavy ag area with rotated crops of corn/beans/winter wheat so they have some good eats most of the time to choose from.
When I first started mixing chicory in with my clovers it took deer a while to start really hitting it. I am in a heavy ag area with rotated crops of corn/beans/winter wheat so they have some good eats most of the time to choose from.
Boll Weevil
5 year old buck +
Other than for benefiting the soil, I plant radishes less and less. Their value as a food source is far below other options and it's hardly worth the input resources and consumed acreage to justify.
tynimiller
5 year old buck +
Precisely...shoot in not so harsh winters our brassicas serve zero hunting point really as they don't turn on to them until after season closes in early January. The point of our plots though isn't for us it is for the deer....now that may play a factor in where I plant my bulb brassicas predominately though LOL
j-bird
Moderator
I continue to plant brassica even though the deer don't pay them much attention. It's an emergency food source if its needed, they are cheap and they are good for the soil..... If the deer don't take a bite, it's not much wasted on my part and should I get a plot failure or a terrible snow storm the insurance they can provide is something I'm will to do.
Yup I see the same thing. Radishes are first, then the others after a frost.
Bowsnbucks
5 year old buck +
The first year we planted brassicas at camp, deer didn't know what they were, so didn't bother with them. 2nd year, deer started hitting them. 3rd year - the mix was DER, PTT, Pasja forage brassica, and Groundhog radishes. Deer were hammering that plot. It seemed deer were eating all of the tops from all varieties. Turnip bulbs were eaten first ( when the tops were eaten/frozen down ) and the radish bulbs were the last thing to be eaten.
Deer use varies in all areas it seems. Our camp is in mountains with no ag nearby - only woods. It was an old farmstead, so fields were there & we rehabilitated them for plots. Once acorns are gone, those winter brassica plots get lots of attention. Anywhere from late Sept. through March, deer will be in the brassicas, winter wheat, & winter rye.
This fall - little rain has our brassica plot way behind last year's growth levels. Deer are eating the tops already, but at only 6" to 7" tall, it's gonna take rain & moderate temps. to get 'em going.
Deer use varies in all areas it seems. Our camp is in mountains with no ag nearby - only woods. It was an old farmstead, so fields were there & we rehabilitated them for plots. Once acorns are gone, those winter brassica plots get lots of attention. Anywhere from late Sept. through March, deer will be in the brassicas, winter wheat, & winter rye.
This fall - little rain has our brassica plot way behind last year's growth levels. Deer are eating the tops already, but at only 6" to 7" tall, it's gonna take rain & moderate temps. to get 'em going.
