Darron Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 This summer I plan to plant a brassica mix on a 1/2-3/4 acre plot. I was looking at the commericial brands like shotplot and maximum, but after doing the calculations, it will be cheaper ordering from from my local co-op. Here is what I want to plant: Purple Top Turnips Dwarf Essex Rape Appin Forage Turnips How many pounds of each should I buy to plant a 1/2-3/4 acre plot? I would rather go a little on the heavy side. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saphira Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 is brassicas good forage for deer. i'm a first time planter and i need a little advice on what to plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I would go with 3 or 4 # of each Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 going on the heavy side with brassicas could be a mistake. They grow very big leafs and use a lot of nitrogen. If you plant too heavy they will out compete themselves with overcrowding and become stunted. I would recommend 10# total per acre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 going on the heavy side with brassicas could be a mistake. They grow very big leafs and use a lot of nitrogen. If you plant too heavy they will out compete themselves with overcrowding and become stunted. I would recommend 10# total per acre. Great advice Doc..........I can guarantee 100% this is true as I have done it and seen others do it. 8-10lbs per acre is max! We have planted feedmill dwarf essex rape side by side with the Whitetail Institutes Wintergreens/Secret Spot/No-Plow/Pure Attraction over the past few years. We found the W.I. products germinated faster, were more drought tolerant and preferred by the deer. However, by the time winter comes, no brassica, regardless of brand remains uneaten. I do know that deer will like and eat the feedmill brassicas and it will give them good nutrition also. Do what you can afford but don't skimp on your soil prep and fertilizer, otherwise you will be blaming it on the seed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darron Posted January 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 going on the heavy side with brassicas could be a mistake. They grow very big leafs and use a lot of nitrogen. If you plant too heavy they will out compete themselves with overcrowding and become stunted. I would recommend 10# total per acre. I will be using an earthway hand spreader. What number (rate) do you think I should set it on? I believe it goes from 1-5, with 1 being less seed thrown and 5 being a lot of seed thrown. 10pds isn't much, so I would assume the lowest setting (1)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Start out with a low setting and see what you are getting for coverage. It is better to have to go over a plot two or three times to use all the seed than get one half way around the plot and run out. You will quickly notice if you aren't dispencing seed quickly enough. You will seldom see two spreaders which spread the same amount on the same settings. I have two Earthway over the shoulder units and one has to be set a little differently from the other. Like Dog Doc said, don't go on the thick side. I have planted a lot of brassica-turnip mixes and have found lighter is better. The bulbs need room to grow and mature as well as the large leaves shade out the plants. One of my favorite seed mixes is "Shot-Plot" and it is not overly priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darron Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Start out with a low setting and see what you are getting for coverage. It is better to have to go over a plot two or three times to use all the seed than get one half way around the plot and run out. You will quickly notice if you aren't dispencing seed quickly enough. You will seldom see two spreaders which spread the same amount on the same settings. I have two Earthway over the shoulder units and one has to be set a little differently from the other. Like Dog Doc said, don't go on the thick side. I have planted a lot of brassica-turnip mixes and have found lighter is better. The bulbs need room to grow and mature as well as the large leaves shade out the plants. One of my favorite seed mixes is "Shot-Plot" and it is not overly priced. Thank you for the response. I'll try it on setting 1 or 2 and see how it does. How much are you getting your Shotplot for? The cheapest I have found is $9.79 for a 2.5pd bag. If you buy 12.5 pds that is $49 plus shipping. If you order from welter seed you can 4lbs of PTT, 4pds of DER and 4lbs of Appin forage turnips for 31.80 plus shipping. That's a savings of almost $20. If you're finding shotplot cheaper than 9.79 for 2.5pds please let me know because I have heard great things about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 I paid $29.99 for a 10# bag last year. Check with Gander Mountain or a sporting goods store. Many stores may have access to Shot-Plot but don't stock it. There are other seed suppliers out there which have good products as well. I stay away from seed at the local co-ops because I feel the seed from suppliers, who specialize in deer food plot seed, blend mixes which are more attracting and nutritional for deer. I have proven this on my own on a couple plots. Others may or will disagree but I am a firm believer in engineered seed. The cost can be absorbed quickly if you get the result you want in buying a good proven seed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darron Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 I went with welter seed and ordered 2lbs of Purple Top Turnips, 3lbs Dwarf Essex Rape and 2 lbs of Appin Forage Turnips for $18. Not a bad deal, 7lbs for $18 when shotplot was 2.5lbs for $10. Hopefully 7lbs will do my plot. I've never actually measured the plot, but I would say it is around 3/4 an acre. I'll set the spreader on the lowest seeding and what I don't use I'll give to my buddy for helping me. I also bought 56lbs of winter rye for $13. I plan on using this on shaded gasline food plot that's 15yds wide and around 125 yards long. I heard WR is winter hardy and will grow about anywhere, so I guess we'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippyswamp Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Food for thought. Don't guess on your acrage, measure it, it's not that hard. And you're not over seeding. Length x width devided by 43,560 will give you your acres. We tend to use Imperial products, because it's intended for whitetails. A little more money, but well worth it. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 I also bought 56lbs of winter rye for $13. I plan on using this on shaded gasline food plot that's 15yds wide and around 125 yards long. I heard WR is winter hardy and will grow about anywhere, so I guess we'll see. Did you find a winter rye grain? Rye grains have been like magnets for the deer here, and they do grow about anywhere. As I posted in one of your threads before, have had great results with wintergrazer rye from pennington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darron Posted February 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2009 (edited) Did you find a winter rye grain? Rye grains have been like magnets for the deer here, and they do grow about anywhere. As I posted in one of your threads before, have had great results with wintergrazer rye from pennington. Yes I did find a winter rye grain. Welter seed sells a fall rye grain. I talked to them to make sure it was the same as winter rye and they said yes. They recommended planting it in August or early September. The person I spoke to said they sell a lot of fall rye grain because it is cheap, grows well in not so ideal soils and the deer love it. Below is the link to the rye I bought. http://www.welterseed.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=201 Edited February 11, 2009 by Darron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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