BRASSICAS

Brassicas are another excellent choice for fall planting, especially as an offering for the late season. Brassicas (your mama called them “greens”) include turnips, mustard, collards, rape (a particular variety is known as Canola) and a host of other foods like brussel sprout, cabbage and even bok choy. Deer hunters are most familiar with rape and turnip as a fall planting and the tiny seed produces large, lush, dark green leaves that are very nutritious. These seemingly abundant fields are often ignored by deer to the great disappointment of inexperienced (LEVEL 1) deer farmers but these plants have a secret. They are triggered by falling temperatures to begin the process of maturing and flowering. In order for this to happen, the plant must produce sugars to nourish the growing buds and it is then that the lush green leaves begin to attract deer. After frost, plant sugar levels increase dramatically and suddenly the plot that proved disappointing for weeks is the number one destination of deer in the area. This continues into the coldest part of the winter and often includes deer pawing and eating the bulbs from the ground until the closing day of the season.

TIP: Check these fields often as the weather cools or you could miss one of the best opportunities of the season!

a Guide to Plants | Cereal Grains | Brassicas | Legumes | Blends | Forbs