LetThemGrow
Member
Thanks for update,always good to see what others try.
Appin turnip
- Thread starter Chad Hauenstein
- Start date
Chad Hauenstein
Member
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Good looking plots. Keep us posted on how this comparison works out.
Chad Hauenstein
Member
Thanks guys. We have have been really lucky to get good rain to keep them growing.
We have been planting plots for about 5 years now and it has made a huge difference for us. Having food around after gun season usually allows us to pick up a new buck or two. Pressure from all sides and a big family that all hunts usually means the best bucks are gone by the end of the season.
I believe the buck below is one that we picked up last January after the season.
I think he is a three year old which is not a shooter for me but a good one for my son if he gets a chance.
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We have been planting plots for about 5 years now and it has made a huge difference for us. Having food around after gun season usually allows us to pick up a new buck or two. Pressure from all sides and a big family that all hunts usually means the best bucks are gone by the end of the season.
I believe the buck below is one that we picked up last January after the season.
I think he is a three year old which is not a shooter for me but a good one for my son if he gets a chance.
Sent from my iPad using Deer Hunter Forum
Chad Hauenstein
Member
Here is an ariel view of our fields last year. Together they total about 8 acres.
Before we started improvements these were hay fields that deer would avoid during the season. It was the biggest hole in the bucket and where we spend most of our time on projects.
In addition to adding food i wanted to make deer feel comfortable in the daytime and make bucks move from to check does. So we started planting persimmon and chestnut orchards to cut the fields up.
The trees were coming along slowly but not providing the visually block to make deer feel secure during the day so last year we added sorghum screens.
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Before we started improvements these were hay fields that deer would avoid during the season. It was the biggest hole in the bucket and where we spend most of our time on projects.
In addition to adding food i wanted to make deer feel comfortable in the daytime and make bucks move from to check does. So we started planting persimmon and chestnut orchards to cut the fields up.
The trees were coming along slowly but not providing the visually block to make deer feel secure during the day so last year we added sorghum screens.
Sent from my iPad using Deer Hunter Forum
Chad Hauenstein
Member
For us the screens were a big improvement to increase daytime usage and let us get in undetected. It also really helped to control where deer entered the fields.
They are great to hide tents too which is how my son hunts.
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They are great to hide tents too which is how my son hunts.
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Chad Hauenstein
Member
We are in Wayne county which is in the north eastern corner of the state.
Chad Hauenstein
Member
Of all the brassicas we planted this year i have to say that winfred has really stood out.
Winfred is over knee high in most of the plot.
Unlike pasja and appin the winfred is seeing browse already. Though not as much as the lc mix. DER and radish are getting the most attention.
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Winfred is over knee high in most of the plot.
Unlike pasja and appin the winfred is seeing browse already. Though not as much as the lc mix. DER and radish are getting the most attention.
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Chad Hauenstein
Member
Chad Hauenstein
Member
Hey all, with a hard frost expected tonight i thought i would show some picts of how our brassica grew. We normally get frost around 10-7 so this was a week longer growing season than expected. We also had above average temps in sept and oct.
First, comparing really good purple top growth to appin. A Lot more top growth on the appin and a lot more bulb on the purple top.
Another view laying side by side going from Right to left.
Purple top, winfred, appin, pasja
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First, comparing really good purple top growth to appin. A Lot more top growth on the appin and a lot more bulb on the purple top.
Another view laying side by side going from Right to left.
Purple top, winfred, appin, pasja
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Chad Hauenstein
Member
To this point the appin and pasja have put out more top growth but with no frost the browse preference has been almost all than the ptt, der, gh mix first and winfred second.
We watch the dee pull out the gh right out of the ground. Some eat the top and radish. Others just eat the radish and leave the greens.
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We watch the dee pull out the gh right out of the ground. Some eat the top and radish. Others just eat the radish and leave the greens.
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Chad Hauenstein
Member
The big surprise so far is how tall the Winfred has grown.
This is really exciting because i have heard other say that the greens do really well into winter! I will definitely be planting winfred again.
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This is really exciting because i have heard other say that the greens do really well into winter! I will definitely be planting winfred again.
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Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
The big surprise so far is how tall the Winfred has grown.
This is really exciting because i have heard other say that the greens do really well into winter! I will definitely be planting winfred again.
On our place, the Winfred will nothing but stalks and those will be just about chewed to the ground. Although I continue to plant DER, PTT and Radish, my go to brassica is a mix of rutabaga and Winfred. Although we planted beets in the mix, I haven’t been able to confirm they weren’t crowded out by the faster growing brassicas.
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The big surprise so far is how tall the Winfred has grown.
This is really exciting because i have heard other say that the greens do really well into winter! I will definitely be planting winfred again.
Sent from my iPad using Deer Hunter Forum
Looking incredible. Thanks for the updates!
Did you use exclusion cages?
Let us know if all that protein produces a better hunting experience.
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Chad Hauenstein
Member
Looking incredible. Thanks for the updates!
Did you use exclusion cages?
Let us know if all that protein produces a better hunting experience.
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Thanks JFH, we didn't use exclusion cages this year. the season so far has been pretty good with lots of buck sightings. I have had a few sits this year with my boy and he has had a shooter in range twice but no shot yet. We plan on getting out this weekend so hopefully we will have some excitement.
Chad Hauenstein
Member
After an early archery season and the first couple days of gun I️ thought I would share an update.
These are just my observations. Others could have a different experience.
From a deer preference standpoint the LC purple top and radish mix is the clear winner over the appin turnip.
Through both seasons I️ have watched deer after deer feed in the LC mix and ignore the appin.
Now that we have had several hard frosts any advantage might have had in leaf growth has shriveled away.
On the plus side deer love the Winfred brassica so that will remain in the rotation.
Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum
These are just my observations. Others could have a different experience.
From a deer preference standpoint the LC purple top and radish mix is the clear winner over the appin turnip.
Through both seasons I️ have watched deer after deer feed in the LC mix and ignore the appin.
Now that we have had several hard frosts any advantage might have had in leaf growth has shriveled away.
On the plus side deer love the Winfred brassica so that will remain in the rotation.
Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum
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