Is it to early?

[4wanderingeyes]

First of all I am in NW Wisconsin zone 3b. I have had little luck the past 3 years in having anything decent as for a food plot. Previously to this I could grow baseball size radish and turnips, in a mix of clover, and winter rye, now I am lucky if I get pea size radish and turnips. My thought is to change things up a bit, because if it isnt working, why keep trying.Last year I never planted and radish or turnips, and just went with clover, winter rye, and a little chicory. This year I want to plant radish and turnips again, but I was thinking rather than planting in late June, early July, that I would plant mid to late May, maybe adding more growing time, and getting some of the spring rains. I think the poor timing of rain is my biggest hold up the past couple years. The only other thought is I have been planting chicory with it, does chicory and radish and turnips clash somehow? My plan was to plant chicory in with the radish and turnips in Mid to late May. Any suggestions are welcome!

I have had a soil test done 2 years ago, things weren't to bad, but I amended as recommended at the time. I will be sending in a couple new soil samples next week.

 

[SD51555]

Why do u think it failed?


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[Ben.MN/WI]

I’ve never tried planting turnips and radishes that early, but they could bolt and go to seed instead of putting energy into bulbs.

Hard to say if that would be better or worse than a July planting that might fail because of drought.

I’ve had July brassica plots fail too because of drought, so I think looking into alternate options is a good idea.

 

[ruskbucks]

I think it is the weather conditions. I didn't have the best radish or turnips the past 2 years either. I believe it was 3 years ago I had huge turnips the size of a baseball cap. Pictures are on here somewhere. I've been doing plots up at my place over 20 years . The ideal planting week I've found has been the first week in July. My FIL always went against what everyone suggested and planted his radish sometime in May or June and they bolted. They produced seed pods similar to soybeans. To my surprise the deer did eat the pods but the rest of it they left alone. I wouldn't go any earlier than July. I tried a few weeks earlier thinking they would get bigger but it didn't happen. Have you tried putting urea down right before a storm, late July or August. It makes a big difference. I put some gypsum down this year to try.they claim sulfur can make a big difference also.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

Why do u think it failed?


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I planted right before a decent rain the past few years, they would grow about an inch or so, then no rain for a month +, and nothing grew after that, other than weeds. So to save the plots I would plant winter rye, oats, winter wheat, and clover the beginning of September, and even that would have minimal growth, this year I do have winter rye at lest coming up this spring, unlike the last 2 years.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

The soil sample came back, low on ph, low on potassium, and low on magnesium. I wasn’t able to find Dolomitec lime locally, so I just bought regular lime, and spread it, 2 tons per acre. I will amend the potassium with some 0-0-60, but with the low magnesium I have a question, do I just get some magnesium oxide from the fertilizer store? Or do I just use epsom salt?

I know the magnesium oxide will raise the ph, which is fine because I am at 5.6, but I see that side effects of the potash will cause low magnesium. Do I skip the potash and get the magnesium up? Put the potash down and not worry about magnesium? Or amend both and see what happens?

It is asking for 90 pounds of potassium per acre, and 20 pounds of magnesium per acre.

 

[jackpine]

How big is the plot? Do you use exclusion cages? Reason I’m asking is bcuz I’m in the same area and have a single small plot surrounded by heavy cover, no ag for 40 miles. I grew a great stand of rye the first year but after that it looked like bare dirt and a few weeds every year. It seems that once the deer found it they are keeping any rye clipped down to the dirt, I have to get down on my hands and knees to see anything, it grows fine inside the cage.


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