I have always planted them as part of my fall plots but they have never done much because I usually plant late, in October., and they need more time to grow full size. Since I am fixing to actually live there and will be able to plant when I want, I am going to do a field of straight Brassica, just to see what the deer response would be. What time would be best to plant them so they can get full size and what varieties have you guys had success with.

First week or two in September

They consume alot of resources, so you should plan on coming back about 45 days or so after planting and adding more fertilizer. Otherwise they will start to yellow. At least in my experience.

I know they like their Nitrogen. The field had decent Ph and was heavily limed about 3 months ago so that will help.

I have never used a pure stand on one plot, but I used to plant the middle of plots with brassica. My favorite was sodbuster radish, t-raptor rape, and bayou kale. On the same lease I had brassica eaten to the ground and 800 yards away, I could see no browse. I planted brassica first week of September and then hit the rest around the first of October and fertilized the brassica the same day.

It is not a total brassica, it is a blend, but these two will more than do what you are trying to do

Buck Busters Fall Blend
WMS Deer Magnant

Thanks for the info.

I would be curious on your results Brad. I hate your summer plot didn't work out again. I've also got some buddies I wouldn't rely on to plant the way I like to.

Wms has a brassica blend I’ve had success with but never in a pure stand, always places with grains and clover.

I don't like grains and brassica in the immediate spot because of the use of nitrogen. I do put clover with the brassica though and also with the grains.

Don’t buy the blends. Especially if they got cereals with the brassicas.

Forage Rape. Sow it short before you over sow. Spacing is everything

I’d plant early to mid September. Radish and rape seem to do very well if they get rain.

Youll need pretty good rain. Date dont matter but it needs to rain regularly if you want it to be knee high. It will look like crap in drought situation

That T-raptor was cool stuff. I grew it last year in a mix with daikon, Purple tops, rape, and some peas. Neat looking leaf and they actually made a decent bowl of greens.

My deer loved my brassicas last year. It was wild to see them eating turnips like apples.

Brad as a few suggested, I’d plant early September in our climate to get a good stand. Will be dependent on rain as September and October can be dry.

I have had good luck with the WMS brassica mix they offer. I also plant canola which is available through tecomate. The canola has performed well for me over the last few years. It’s not a bitter as the brassica and I see earlier usage before hard frost/freeze that the brassica needs to sweeten them up.

I planted two fields last season in brassicas and the deer didnt hit them well at all
They looked good but were mostly avoided by deer.....I wont do it again

Sometimes the deer don't take the them right away.

It's better to introduce brassica to deer in a mix, so they get used to them, before doing all brassica. Same happened to me 20 years ago.

Best piece of advise so far.

Get ready for army worms planting in Sept.