I have only planted brassicas from my local seed store and always had the same results. Not very impressive. Used correct fertilizer and lime and always had just reasonable results. Has anyone ever used big n beasty or other brands and did the seed make a difference? Any info will help since I have to put this in the ground asap. THANKS!
The biggest difference is prepping of the soil, proper PH, enough sunlight and RAIN. The most expensive, recommended or Nutritionist (just a joke) approved seed won't do crap without those first four... So if you actually got the PH up to where it needs to be, properly killed and prepared a seed bed and got solid/good rain amounts and the seed still didn't perform I'd say it was possibly any or all of the following: -Soil Test was or had a false reading on the PH -Seed purchased was old or had gotten moisture damage -Sunlight/Canopy cover may need re-examined, opening up the southern side of a plot can make a huge difference -Seeding rate, too thick or too little can result in failed plots Good luck! I've used both name brand stuff and local stuff.....without too terrible of a difference other than you gotta mix your own and stuff if going local depending on your feed store.
If you plant this time of year or later, it is typically dry so there isn't the most moisture for growth, combined with short growing season of Northern WI. Guessing.
Planted Big and Beasty in Northern Wisconsin last year on July 25th with proper PH and fertilizer. Grew to about 2ft tall -- astounding results, but was eaten completely to the ground by November 6th. Planting it again this weekend in hopes that the bulbs will be slightly bigger from a little longer growing season.
As Ty mentioned, soil prep is the most important. As far as the seed...Big N Beasty is the same seed. The only advantage you get with most premixed seed is your ratio of different forages in the blend is going to be spot on. But the plants themselves are the same. There are a few food plot mixes that have varieties of brassicas that are unique and you can't get from an ag store. The guaranteed analysis label on the bag will give you lots of info. FWIW I have planted Big N Beasty and had good luck with it.
Now I have no reasons why, but I totally have seen a difference in local co-op seed vs BNB. I planted local stuff for years. Followed directions to the T. The stuff grew great, looked great, but deer wouldn't eat it. Switched to BNB and the stuff performs amazing! Absolutely gets pounded. Just 100% based off observations.
Did that 2 years ago. BNB on left... Co-OP mix on right. Planted same day, same seed density, same fertilizer, same sunlight exposure, same rain fall, same ground slope, etc...
If I'm reading right Farmer Brown is saying that the local wouldn't grow but was wondering if the anybody had used B&B. I was just suggesting he do a side by side, like you did, to see if its the seed or if its something else thats causing the issue. But i could be wrong.
In my experience, which is worth an unknown amount of BS, it all depends on where it is planted and the type of surroundings. I planted the exact same mix last year at our farm and at my in-laws place in town. We are surrounded by agricultural ground, mostly beans and corn. Granted, last year was a VERY mild winter with only 5" of measurable snow/sleet. Mostly sleet. The acre we planted at my in-laws, which is in town with the nearest ag ground 2 miles away, was absolutely mowed down to the dirt. There were numerous times, while I was in the stand, that I watched the deer digging at the frozen ground trying to get more out to eat. At our farm it looked like the front of a food plot bag. Thick, lush, tall, and untouched. It wasn't until late winter, the end of Jaunuary first of February, that the deer finally got in there to eat the winter peas that we had planted. Come spring we disked numerous untouched turnips, that were the size of dinner plates, in to chunks. I've planted many of the food plot company varieties but I'm not sure what exactly makes the difference. As far as pH goes, our place is great. The pH at the in-laws is a constant battle. The ground there use to be farmed hard. The type of farming that takes all you can get out of the soil but don't put anything back to keep it in good shape. Last pH sample had the soil in the upper 5's. The pH at our place is in the upper 6's. They are about as different as you could get 2 spots. As the crow flies we are 11 miles from their place. One more thing to take in to consideration is the deer density of the area. At my in-laws the deer are everywhere and only archery hunting is allowed. At our place gun season is allowed and since we are in the "metro" area the antler restriction doesn't apply so it is the "brown and down" theory here. I guess I forgot this part. The mix we used is from a local store that will mix anything you want in any ratio you want. I patterened the mix from a popular name brand with the exact ratios they used of the same "brand" of seed they used. Seed tags are amazing. Just my 2 cents worth.
there is a huge difference in genetics in brassicas. Also you want to plant a mix that is "balanced". Brassicas range from 42 days to maturity until 150 days on the swedes. Planting dates and soil types affect what you should plant. In my education plot i showed people over 15 types of brassicas and how they compare to each other in plant disease resistance, growth and ability to resist insects. I wrote a long piece in this months newsletter on brassicas in more detail that what i'll post here. Needless to say, brassicas are the most missunderstood forage in both genetics, seeding rates and also fertilization. Most people fertilize their brassicas wrong and leave out 2 essential elements that really affect growth and palatability.
