Sam16 Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 I'm thinking about putting several mini turnip plots in this summer around my stands. I have about 4-5 stands that are over small meadows, and was considering putting turnips in there. I hadnt in years past because the farmer mows down these meadows once or twice a year, usually around august. When i learned today that turnips will grow back even healthier after they r mowed, a lightbulb appeared over my head. What do you guys think? Make a few snack bars for the deer. I'm planting in Northern Illinois... When should i plant them to optimize the plots for oct-nov. Do you think i would need fertilizer? Any other tips? Thanks a lot guys and gals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: Anyone grow turnips? or know how? This should be in the land and wildlife management forum. Turnips do need fertlized. Here I planted them last fall around the beginning of September. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QDMAworks4me Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: Anyone grow turnips? or know how? Do yourself a favor and get a soil sample done where you want to plant turnips this will tell you what you need for fertilizer and if you would need anything else to get you soil ready. Around here we plant them last part of july begining of august, I think they need like 45 days to come to maturaty before your first hard frost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: Anyone grow turnips? or know how? Last year we planted an acre of Shot-Plot which produced thousands of turnip. Up here we plant the first of Aug. in hopes the plants will reach maturity by the first frost. Like QDMA said, about 45 days. Our soil tested 7.1 PH so we didn't add lime. We fertilized with 200# 19-19-19 fertilizer. We had turnip the size of soccer balls. The deer really ate the leaves shortly after the first frost. In about two days the land looked like a bunch of popsicle sticks! The deer are still digging up the turnips. We plant this more as a food source than to hunt over. The window is very narrow when the plants get frost bit and turn to sugar. You had better watch closely as they are devoured quickly. BTW, my wife cooked and froze about 20# of turnip which we are still eating ourselves. They were delicious!!! Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam16 Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: Anyone grow turnips? or know how? does everyone else agree that turnips arent the best solution to actually hunt over? I would go with a clover or something, but the farmer of the land only grows alfa alfa all over the farm, most of it unhuntable, or at least tough to hunt. Maybe i shouldnt go with turnips at all? Being that i'm no farmer, more of a city slicker to be honest, is there anything else i would just have to roto till and plant? Any other ideas would be apperciated... thanks guys! Like i said, im no farmer, so try and spell everything out as simply as possible... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: Anyone grow turnips? or know how? i'm a bigger fan of hunting over cereal grains than turnips. If you are planting smaller plots the deer can wipe out a turnip plot pretty darn fast--they are also a better late season draw than early season. Turnips are easy to grow and do provide some great late season nutrition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thayer Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Re: Anyone grow turnips? or know how? turnips are a nice supplement to areas that lack wintering forage...they are not high on the list of desirable eats....plant some winter wheat with an overseeding of clover for some great draw and Dogdoc has an incredible mix of cereal grains and AWP's that simply draw hungry deer to your plot. Plant the turnips in Aug or Sep and let them winter your deer and create a spot for the deer to return to year round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Re: Anyone grow turnips? or know how? Turnips are probably one of the easiest things to grow. Up here we plant in early Aug. and just leave them on their own. I still have thousands of turnips in my field now, however we have had an easy winter overall and other food was readily available. The deer are nibbling at them but prefer the left over standing corn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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