Turnips are a highly effective, dual-purpose food plot crop for deer management, providing greens for early-season forage and carbohydrate-rich bulbs for late-season nutrition. These cool-season annuals are part of the brassica family, known for their high yield and digestibility throughout the season. The primary goal of turnip planting is to ensure the plants reach full maturity before the first hard freeze, maximizing both leaf production and bulb size. Establishing a thriving plot requires specific attention to planting time, soil conditions, and technique, which together determine the ultimate success of the crop.
Determining the Optimal Planting Window
The optimal planting time for turnips is determined by counting backward from the average date of the first killing frost in your specific location. Turnips generally require 75 to 90 days to reach full maturity, with some varieties maturing in as little as 60 days. Planting needs to occur well before the first sustained freezing temperatures to allow sufficient time for the taproot to convert into a substantial bulb.
Planting too early, especially during mid-summer heat, can cause the plant to “bolt,” or prematurely produce a seed stalk, which halts desirable bulb growth. Conversely, planting too late means the bulbs will not have enough time to develop size before the ground freezes solid. The general window for most regions is late summer, typically spanning from mid-July through early September.
Regional climate differences significantly affect the exact timing. Northern regions need to plant earlier, often in late July or August. Southern states benefit from a longer growing season and can often plant later into early fall, sometimes as late as mid-October in areas with very mild winters. Successful germination also depends on soil temperature (ideally 60° to 105°F) and the immediate availability of moisture.
Essential Soil Preparation Before Seeding
Preparation of the seedbed is a foundational step that must occur before any seeds are broadcast. Turnips perform best in well-drained, fertile soils, and selecting a site that receives six or more hours of direct sunlight daily is necessary. The process begins with clearing the area of existing vegetation, often using a broad-spectrum herbicide to eliminate competition for the young turnip seedlings.
Turnips thrive in a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH range, ideally between 6.0 and 7.0. A soil test is the most accurate way to determine pH and nutrient deficiencies, with lime application being necessary if the pH is below the optimal range. Once soil amendments are planned, the ground should be tilled or disced to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, creating a fine, firm seedbed.
Initial fertilization is also applied during this preparation phase to support rapid early growth. Turnips are heavy feeders, and a balanced fertilizer, such as a 19-19-19 blend, applied at a rate of approximately 300 pounds per acre is a common recommendation. Applying these nutrients and the necessary lime before seeding allows them to be incorporated into the soil, ensuring they are immediately available for the root systems.
Seeding Depth and Technique
Planting requires precision because turnip seeds are small, demanding a shallow planting depth for successful emergence. Forage turnip seeds should be broadcast or drilled no deeper than one-quarter to one-half inch into the prepared seedbed. Burying the seeds any deeper than this maximum depth will significantly reduce the germination rate and can lead to a failed plot.
Seeding rates vary depending on whether turnips are planted alone or in a mix. When planted as a stand-alone crop, the recommended broadcast rate is typically between 5 and 6 pounds per acre. If the turnips are included in a mixed brassica or cereal grain plot, the rate is often reduced to 2 to 4 pounds per acre to prevent overcrowding.
After broadcasting the seeds, achieving firm seed-to-soil contact is the next important step. This is accomplished by lightly dragging the area with a chain harrow or using a cultipacker, which presses the seeds into the ground without burying them too deeply. Immediate moisture is then needed for successful germination, ideally from a soaking rain or irrigation shortly after planting.
Ensuring Long-Term Forage Availability
After the turnip seedlings have established themselves, post-germination maintenance ensures a sustained food source deep into the late season. About 30 days after the seeds sprout, a mid-season application of nitrogen fertilizer is often beneficial to boost lush foliage production. Applying an additional 30 to 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre promotes the large, leafy growth that deer initially prefer to browse.
The palatability of the turnip crop changes over time, offering a dual-phase attraction for deer. In the early fall, deer generally focus on consuming the high-protein greens, which can contain 15 to 20 percent crude protein. Consumption of the carbohydrate-rich bulbs typically increases later in the season, often after the leaves have matured or experienced several frosts.
Although a common belief suggests that frost converts starches into sugars to make the plants sweeter, research indicates that the sugar content in the bulbs remains consistently high. The increased consumption during cold weather is likely due to the plant’s continued digestibility and the decreased availability of other natural food sources. This late-season switch to the energy-dense bulbs provides a valuable source of nutrition for deer preparing for or enduring winter.