I have 3 small plots and I rotate every year. One year my biggest plot gets total brassicas and the other 2 smaller plots get a mix of grains. The next year the 2 small plots will get total brassicas and the biggest one gets grains. In my opinion, I want maximum tonnage. As stated by Paul Knox, never mix brassicas with anything. When brassicas are planted at the proper rate, they will grow quicker, canopy and shade out to a large extent all other vegetation. When you mix other things with brassicas you will compromise one type of food for another. Rotate every year, get maximum tonnage and never have a problem with disease.
So planted in a mix there is no need to take a break for s few years? I only use brasicas in mixes.
I wanted to turn most of my small plots in PA into oats/rye/brasica/clover mixes since this mix has been much more productive than my clover plots. Also planning a new property that im going to try to get beans established and like the idea of overseeding rye and brasicas. (Never had enough acreage before to establish beans without a fence so im just beginning to game plan)
Jack, my logic is correct. My plots are in planted pines and are around 1/4 to 1/2 acre plots with a 1/2 acre permanent clover plot as well. The plots don't get hit very hard until the lower browse is gone, which is now. With these plots located in the pines, every ounce of brassicas and grains will be devoured by the end of February. The brassicas and grains will be eaten to the ground, giving the deer and turkeys some much needed protein through the colder parts of our winter. These plots are small but they do serve that purpose you describe, filling gaps. You talk about diversity and diversity is what is created. A plot of durana clover, with 2 plots of grains and a slightly larger plot of brassicas, with the grains and brassicas rotated every year. I wish I could create larger plots but in planted pines you can only accomplish so much with the limited space, so tonnage is the key to give the deer and turkeys as much as possible through our mild winters. The does are doing well with several having multiple healthy fawns and the entire herd is fat and healthy. Here's a couple of PICS taken a month and a half ago. The brassicas, in the first image, are 2 feet tall and filled in very nice. The grains, in image two, have grown very nicely and filled in as well. Here's a buck taken Thursday morning 11/9/17 just past the end of the brassicas. Quality food at the right time of the year.
That depends on how deer use your brassica. A lot of us have deer eating them early and often. I have a hard time getting my brassica to crowd out anything.When brassicas are planted at the proper rate, they will grow quicker, canopy and shade out to a large extent all other vegetation. When you mix other things with brassicas you will compromise one type of food for another. Rotate every year, get maximum tonnage and never have a problem with disease.
Tap, I'm wondering what problems you are having that won't allow the brassicas to canopy. Could you give us some more information. Is it because the deer are hitting them early, not planting them early enough, not enough fertilizer or poor soil conditions?That depends on how deer use your brassica. A lot of us have deer eating them early and often. I have a hard time getting my brassica to crowd out anything.
It's mostly from early browsing. My herd is one of the kind that don't wait for brassica to freeze before they pound it.Tap, I'm wondering what problems you are having that won't allow the brassicas to canopy. Could you give us some more information. Is it because the deer are hitting them early, not planting them early enough, not enough fertilizer or poor soil conditions?
I normally try to plant brassica in mid July, but that can be a crap shoot with getting adequate rain during that period...so the seed could sit there not germinating for a couple weeks. But as far as back dating from the frost, then mid July is good here.Tap, My brassicas normally get hit hard when the lower browse / leaves fall off the trees. Which is normally about our first fall frost date, around the 10th of November. I use this date, 10 November, back up 90 days and plant my brassicas. My question to you is, when are you planting in SW PA? For SW PA, I would guess your first frost and leaf drop is around the 15th-30th of September. If you back up from those dates, you should be planting around the 4th of July or a bit earlier. With proper rain, fertilization and soil conditions, you should have some huge brassicas if given the time to grow unless your deer herd numbers are too high. Just a thought.