Radishes are a fast-growing, cool-season crop often planted in home gardens and large agricultural food plots. For gardeners hoping to grow this root vegetable undisturbed, the answer to the question of deer preference is a definitive yes. Deer find radishes, particularly the leafy foliage, highly palatable and desirable browse, often targeting them before other available forage. This attraction means that any planting of radishes will likely become a target for local deer populations.
Deer Attraction to Radish Plants
A radish plant’s appeal is due to its impressive nutritional profile and high digestibility for white-tailed deer. Radish foliage provides a significant source of crude protein, often measured between 20 to over 40 percent depending on the stage of growth. This high protein content is important for deer health, especially during the fall and early winter months as they prepare for the breeding season and colder weather.
Radishes are also quickly digestible, allowing deer to efficiently process a large volume of forage in a short period. Like other members of the Brassica family, radishes store starches that convert into sugars after cold weather arrives. This “frost-sweetening” increases the plant’s palatability and energy content, making it a highly sought-after food source when other natural forage declines late in the year.
Preference for Specific Plant Parts and Varieties
Deer generally start feeding on the most accessible and nutrient-dense portion of the radish plant. The leafy tops are typically browsed first due to their convenience and high protein concentration, which is especially attractive to deer seeking to build body mass. This early consumption can quickly defoliate a radish patch, leaving only the root portion behind.
Later in the season, as winter progresses and snow covers the ground, deer shift their focus to the underground storage organs. The large, fleshy root becomes a source of concentrated carbohydrates and energy necessary for survival in cold conditions. Forage varieties, such as Daikon or Tillage Radishes, are bred to produce long roots, often protruding from the soil. These roots are a primary target for deer, who use their hooves to dig up the exposed portion for the energy-rich meal.
Protecting Radishes from Deer Browsing
For home gardeners, the most reliable method of preventing deer damage is the installation of a physical barrier. Since deer are capable jumpers, a permanent fence must typically be at least eight feet tall to fully deter them in open areas. In smaller, more confined garden spaces, a slightly lower six-foot fence may be effective, especially if the deer feel uncertain about their landing space inside the enclosure.
Chemical deterrents offer a less permanent, but often effective, alternative to tall fencing. Odor-based repellents containing putrescent whole egg solids mimic a predator’s presence, causing deer to avoid the area. Other products use bitter taste-repellents like Thiram, which make the foliage unappetizing; however, any repellent requires reapplication every few weeks and after heavy rain.
Another strategy is to use the strong scents of unpalatable companion plants to confuse or mask the radish smell. Interplanting radishes with highly aromatic herbs and vegetables, such as garlic, onions, mint, or sage, can provide protection. Deer tend to avoid these plants due to their strong oils and pungent odors, which may encourage them to bypass the garden bed in favor of less-scented forage.