When to Plant Turnips for Deer: A Guide to the Best Time for Growing This Deer-Friendly Crop

When Do You Plant Turnips for Deer?

Turnips are a popular winter food for deer, and for good reason. They’re nutritious, they’re easy to grow, and they can be planted in a variety of climates. But when is the best time to plant turnips for deer?

In this article, we’ll discuss the best time to plant turnips for deer, as well as how to plant them, how to care for them, and how to harvest them. We’ll also provide some tips on how to attract deer to your turnips.

So if you’re thinking about planting turnips for deer, read on!

Month	Best Time to Plant	Why
March	Early to mid-month	The soil is warming up and the days are getting longer, which are ideal conditions for turnips to grow.
April	Mid- to late-month	The weather is starting to warm up even more, and the soil is becoming even more fertile, making it the perfect time to plant turnips.
May	Late-month to early June	The weather is warm and the soil is fertile, making it the ideal time to plant turnips.

When to Plant Turnips for Deer

Turnips are a great source of food for deer, and they can be planted at any time of year. However, there are some times of year when turnips are more likely to be successful than others.

Early spring is the best time to plant turnips for deer if you live in a warm climate. This is because the soil will be warm and moist, which is ideal for germination. Turnips planted in early spring will also have plenty of time to grow before the weather gets too hot.

Late summer is also a good time to plant turnips for deer if you live in a cool climate. This is because the soil will still be warm, but the weather will be cooler, which will help the turnips to grow. Turnips planted in late summer will also have plenty of time to grow before the weather gets too cold.

Fall is not the best time to plant turnips for deer, but it is still possible to do so. Turnips planted in fall will need to be protected from the cold weather, and they may not have as much time to grow before the winter. However, fall-planted turnips can still be a good source of food for deer, and they can help to attract deer to your property.

How to Plant Turnips for Deer

Planting turnips for deer is a simple process. Here are the steps involved:

1. Prepare the soil. Turnips prefer well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. If your soil is not well-drained, you can improve drainage by adding compost or sand. You can also add organic matter to the soil to help it retain moisture.
2. Sow the seeds. Turnip seeds are small, so they should be sown shallowly. Sow the seeds about 1 inch apart in rows that are 12 inches apart. Cover the seeds with soil and water them well.
3. Water the plants. Turnips need regular watering, especially during dry spells. Water the plants deeply once a week, or more often if the weather is hot and dry.

Tips for Planting Turnips for Deer

• Choose a variety of turnips that is suitable for your climate. There are many different varieties of turnips available, so you can choose one that is best suited for your area.
• Plant turnips in a location where deer can easily find them. Deer are attracted to areas that have plenty of cover, so plant your turnips in a spot where deer can hide.
• Mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and keep the weeds down. Mulch also helps to protect the plants from frost damage.
• Harvest the turnips when they are ripe. Turnips are ready to harvest when they are about 3 inches in diameter.

Turnips are a great source of food for deer, and they are easy to plant and grow. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your deer have a healthy and nutritious diet.

When Do You Plant Turnips For Deer?

Turnips are a great food source for deer, and they can be planted in the fall or early spring. Deer love to eat the leaves, stems, and roots of turnips, and they will help to keep your garden free of weeds.

Fall Planting

If you are planting turnips for deer in the fall, you should do so about 6 weeks before the first frost. This will give the plants enough time to establish themselves before the ground freezes.

When planting turnips for deer, it is important to choose a location that gets full sun. Turnips need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day to grow properly. The soil should be well-drained and fertile. If you have heavy clay soil, you may need to add some compost or sand to improve drainage.

To plant turnips, dig a shallow trench about 1 inch deep. Sow the seeds about 2 inches apart, and then cover them with soil. Water the seeds well, and then keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.

Spring Planting

If you are planting turnips for deer in the spring, you should do so about 4 weeks after the last frost. This will give the plants enough time to grow before the summer heat sets in.

When planting turnips for deer in the spring, it is important to choose a location that gets full sun. Turnips need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day to grow properly. The soil should be well-drained and fertile. If you have heavy clay soil, you may need to add some compost or sand to improve drainage.

To plant turnips, dig a shallow trench about 1 inch deep. Sow the seeds about 2 inches apart, and then cover them with soil. Water the seeds well, and then keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.

How to Care for Turnips for Deer

Once your turnips have germinated, you will need to care for them regularly to ensure that they grow healthy and produce a large harvest.

Weed and water the plants regularly

One of the most important things you can do to care for turnips is to weed and water them regularly. Weeds compete with turnips for water and nutrients, so it is important to remove them as soon as you see them. Turnips also need to be watered regularly, especially during dry weather.

Protect the plants from pests and diseases

Turnips are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, so it is important to take steps to protect them. Some of the most common pests that attack turnips include aphids, flea beetles, and cabbage loopers. Some of the most common diseases that affect turnips include black rot, clubroot, and downy mildew.

To protect your turnips from pests and diseases, you can take the following steps:

• Plant turnips in a location that is not prone to pests and diseases.
• Rotate your crops so that you do not plant turnips in the same spot year after year.
• Use row covers to protect your plants from pests.
• Spray your plants with insecticidal soap or neem oil to kill pests.
• Treat your plants with fungicides to prevent diseases.

Harvesting Turnips for Deer

Turnips are ready to harvest when the roots are about 2 inches in diameter. To harvest turnips, dig them up with a garden fork or shovel. Be careful not to damage the roots.

Once you have harvested your turnips, you can store them in a cool, dry place for several months. You can also freeze turnips for long-term storage.

Turnips are a great food source for deer, and they are easy to grow. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your deer have a healthy and nutritious food source all winter long.

When should I plant turnips for deer?

Turnips are a great food source for deer, and they can be planted in late summer or early fall. This will give the turnips time to mature before the winter snows arrive.

How much space do I need to plant turnips for deer?

Turnips are a relatively small plant, so they don’t need a lot of space. You can plant them in rows or in a large bed. The spacing between plants should be about 12 inches.

What kind of soil do turnips need?

Turnips grow best in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. If your soil is sandy or clayey, you may need to add compost or manure to improve the drainage.

How much water do turnips need?

Turnips need regular watering, especially during the hot summer months. Make sure to water them deeply so that the water reaches the roots.

When will my turnips be ready to harvest?

Turnips are ready to harvest when the roots are about 2 inches in diameter. You can harvest them by pulling them out of the ground.

How do I store turnips?

Turnips can be stored in a cool, dry place for several months. You can also freeze them for later use.

What are the benefits of planting turnips for deer?

Turnips are a nutritious food source for deer, and they can help to supplement their diet during the winter months. Turnips are also a good way to attract deer to your property.

Are there any disadvantages to planting turnips for deer?

Turnips can be a bit invasive, and they can spread quickly if you’re not careful. You may need to thin them out or pull them up before they get too big.

When Do You Plant Turnips For Deer?

Turnips are a great way to attract deer to your property, and they’re also a nutritious food source for them. However, it’s important to plant turnips at the right time of year in order to maximize their benefits for deer.

The best time to plant turnips for deer is in late summer or early fall. This will give the turnips time to mature before the winter months, when deer are most in need of food. Turnips can be planted directly in the ground or in raised beds. If you’re planting them in the ground, make sure to till the soil well and remove any rocks or debris. If you’re planting them in raised beds, make sure the beds are at least 12 inches deep and filled with a well-draining soil mix.

When planting turnips, space the seeds about 2 inches apart. Cover the seeds with about 1 inch of soil and water well. The turnips will germinate in about 10-14 days.

Once the turnips have germinated, you’ll need to water them regularly, especially during dry spells. You’ll also need to weed around the plants to keep them free of competition.

Turnips are ready to harvest when the roots are about 2 inches in diameter. To harvest the turnips, simply pull them out of the ground. You can then store the turnips in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

Turnips are a great way to attract deer to your property and provide them with a nutritious food source. By planting turnips at the right time of year, you can help to ensure that your deer have a healthy and happy winter.

Key Takeaways:

• Turnips are a great way to attract deer to your property.
• The best time to plant turnips for deer is in late summer or early fall.
• Turnips can be planted directly in the ground or in raised beds.
• Turnips need to be watered regularly, especially during dry spells.
• Turnips are ready to harvest when the roots are about 2 inches in diameter.
• Turnips can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.