Don't bother with turnips. I tried them in north central Iowa. They grew alright, but turnips are a bitter taste and not edible until after a freeze. The deer did not touch mine at all even after a good freeze. Deer tracks right through the plot, no sign of the deer even trying them. I have to believe the deer did try them because they try everything at least once. Obviously they learned the turnips were not good to eat. The following spring I did not see any evidence the deer were even trying the turnip bulbs that were still in the ground. Bust.

The Iowa DNR planted some large plots of turnips on some public hunting area I hunt a few years ago, I saw the plots. The next year they plots were planted to alfalfa. Based on my experience I have to assume the DNR felt turnips were not worth it. I read an article by Doctor Deer, a deer biologist, who said in effect turnips were not a good food plot crop in this climate. Sorry, I do not have a link or reference to share. I am going with clover blend in my next food plot. Do yourself a favor and skip the turnips.

 

I was thinking about clover as well but I heard it was a pain to get growing. I'm from northeast ne and with the little moisture we have idk where to even begin other than turnips due to the deep root.. Some people have said it was great and the deer hammered them. I'm in a bind thats for sure!

 

If you have a lot of corn and beans where you are at, they may not be a big hit with the deer.

I found them to be ALMOST worthless when I tried them. The deer didn't touch them, but all my older relatives loved them!

 

Turnips seem to be hit or miss. A buddy of mine will plant them after his summer garden is done. They grow great, and once the frosts hit the deer would devour them. But...next year came around and they wouldn't touch them. Not really sure why.

 

Ask the local seed houses which type of clover or alfalfa grows best in your climate then plant a blend. Many seed houses also have a deer food plot blend they sell for a given region. Call a couple seed houses and judge how much they know or if they are just guess on deer food plots. One I called knew nothing and they sold me the turnip seeds. Another seemed to be quite knowledgeable and sold me the clover blend.

 

We planted clover and turnips right next to each other and it worked out well. I watched deer eat the turnip greens along with the clover. They don't touch the bulbs it seems until late in the season. We plant the clover early in the growing season and plant the turnips in the fall. It seems to me that the deer really prefer the clover over the turnips by a huge margin but will still feed on the turnips.

 

I feel that turnips need a couple years to become a good plot. It takes the deer a couple years to find them and actually get used to them. It's something they are not used to. Once they find them, they love them but the first year or two don't expect much activity in them.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

Try Forage Radish's. There are different varieties. I had great results with Ground Hog Radish's in Vermont in two different locations. Deer will eat them before a frost and after. They like sun and nitrogen and can be planted as a no till method. I do believe it is better to till but one of the plots I refered to was not tilled and they grew great. I got the seed from Welters seed in Iowa. I see Evolved Harvest has a radish and rape mix for sale at a Tractor Supply store. I was amazed at how the deer seemed to like the radish. Good Luck.

 

I no-till seeded forage radish, rape and barkant turnips for the first time last year and it made a nice plot! There is no agriculture in my area so the deer started on the radish and rape first and then to the turnips in Dec. By the end of the month the plot was nothing but dirt. They ate EVERYTHING. I will be planting it again this year.

 

Turnips and white radish are huge hits up here.

Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2

 

I like the clover and turnip next to each other. They will have something for early spring and then my turnips will be there for them in the fall! Thanks for all the opinions!

 

I bought the same evolved harvest mix. It was a mix of daikon radish and t raptor(a hybrid of turnip and rape.). Deer hammered it in ny. First the radishes starting in early oct then the t raptor at the end of oct.

 

I planted turnips this year for the first time and they weren't touched at all. I talked to a friend of kine and he said to give it 3 years if they don't hit them in that time they won't. He said this was his 3rd year of turnips and the deer devoured they. I'm giving it 2 years yet if they don't get on them I'm planting more clover. I have clover in one of my plots and they are in it all the time.

 

I planted turnips last spring and watched the deer walk through and stand in them. I never saw any signs of eating all winter . Someone suggested sugar beets instead? I may try some along with clover and see.

 

Tried them this past season; we ate more turnips last year than the deer did. White clover and any kind of oats are what works best here.