Turnips offer a valuable forage source for deer food plots from early fall through late winter. These plants provide a dual benefit: deer consume the leafy tops and the carbohydrate-rich underground bulbs. Managing a successful turnip plot involves precise steps, from preparing the ground to understanding when deer are most likely to start feeding.
Preparing the Planting Site
Select an area that receives ample sunlight, ideally a minimum of six hours per day, and has well-drained soil. Turnips tolerate a range of soil types but will not thrive in heavy clay or waterlogged spots.
Obtaining a soil test reveals the soil’s current nutrient levels and pH. Turnips grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soil, targeting a pH range of 6.0 to 6.8. If the pH is too low, agricultural lime must be applied, often several weeks or months before planting, to adjust the acidity.
After soil testing, prepare the site by eliminating existing vegetation and creating a fine seedbed. Existing weeds and grasses should be killed using an herbicide, followed by tilling or disking the ground to loosen the topsoil.
Optimal Timing and Seeding
Timing the planting correctly maximizes forage production. Turnips are a cool-season annual requiring 60 to 90 days to reach maturity before the first hard frost. The optimal planting window is typically late summer, ranging from late July in northern states to early September in southern regions.
Seeds may be broadcast across the prepared soil or drilled in rows. When planting turnips alone, the recommended seeding rate is 5 to 8 pounds per acre, which can be reduced if mixing with other forages like clover or cereal grains. Seeds must be planted shallowly, at a depth of no more than 1/4 inch.
Planting seeds too deep will inhibit germination. After broadcasting, roll the plot with a cultipacker or heavy roller to press the seeds into the soil. This ensures excellent seed-to-soil contact for successful germination.
Post-Planting Care and Weed Control
Once the seeds germinate, the young turnip plants require care. Initial fertilization can be applied during planting using a balanced fertilizer, such as 19-19-19, according to soil test recommendations.
A secondary application of high-nitrogen fertilizer, such as urea (46-0-0), is required about 30 days after emergence or when leaves are 4 to 6 inches tall. Applying 50 to 100 pounds of urea per acre promotes the development of large, high-protein leafy tops. This application should be done immediately before a predicted rain.
Weed management prevents competing growth from choking out the young plants. Early control is necessary, even though turnips will shade out weeds later. Post-emergence herbicides safe for brassicas, such as Clethodim for grasses, offer a targeted chemical approach. Mechanical alternatives include light mowing of tall weeds, provided the turnip plants are not damaged.
Understanding Deer Consumption Patterns
A turnip food plot provides attraction throughout the fall and winter. Deer typically begin feeding on the green, leafy tops first. The leaves are high in protein, often containing 15 to 20 percent crude protein.
Consumption of the underground bulb often occurs later in the season, particularly after the first hard frost. The primary effect of cold weather is the general reduction of other available natural forages. The bulbs are rich in highly digestible carbohydrates, providing the energy deer require to withstand winter conditions.
The plot’s value extends well into the late season, with the bulbs remaining a viable food source even under a layer of snow. They provide a high-energy food that is readily accessible when other food sources have been depleted or become dormant. This late-season availability makes the turnip plot a preferred feeding location.