Dr James Kroll says brassicas are useless

I have tried them in PA but not with much success. They seem to eat the tops more than anything. Very little digging around here. We actually use the big radishes in between grape rows to help break up compacted soil and we will see some eating but not alot. Back to clover and chicory for me, they avg more time overall in the greens.

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On many different occasions i have had brassicas outperform both standing beans and standing corn. The ease of planting also makes them very appealing. Dr. Kroll is a salesman for his product, its just unfortunate he has to resort to scare tactics to sell.

 

I just want to say that I am shocked that a hunting "expert" would compromise integrity to make a $.

 

I'd rather have a counseling session with Dr. Phil than get deer advice from Dr. Kroll.

 

I'm sure glad the deer in my area didn't get the message. The deer here eat the turnips as soon they are up and hammer them after couple hard freezes.

 

I plant shot plot every year on several properties and the deer hammer them!

Covey, I've found a system for pumpkins that works GREAT.

P.m. me and i,ll tell ya about it.

 

I've tried many different brassicas and have planted them from July through September trying to find the right timing. Only once did I ever see a spike buck chewing on a plant. Most springs I end up bush hogging the tops before I plant again in the spring and summer. The best success that I have had has been with clover and winter wheat.

 

People have been planting brassicas for how long in food plots?

Personally Im not a brassica fan but the data speaks for itself especially the farther you go north. Without a shadow of a doubt his timing and statement has some commercial driven agenda to sell something else I'm sure.

 

I try to plant around July 25 every year

 

I don’t get TV quality brassica use by the deer in my plots, but come January/February they eat all the leaves off so there’s only bulbs left. And the bulbs will have bites out of them.

The first year I planted them they didn’t get hit at all, then year after year they are getting more use.







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Weird, my deer must not have anything else to eat... they always walk through the clover, and 4 acres of apple trees to pound the brassicas, then dig through 2’ of snow in February to find toxic bulbs.

 

I plant a turnip-radish mix every year and the deer just pound it. I did find that deer must learn to like a new food plot planting. The 1st year the deer here only eat the tops, 2nd year deer ate the tops and started to eat the bulbs. The 3rd year the 1 ac. field is wiped clean to bare ground.
IMHO deer must learn to eat something new.

 

I agree with this wholeheartedly.

Every year i get more and more action on them.

 

Had to do a little digging for this pic from a few years back. After putting an arrow through this buck I went ahead and picked a few turnips out of the plot I shot him in to make some turnip kraut as seen in the background.. I drew my bow when he had his head down eating turnip tops..

 

Well Dr Kroll disagrees with you.

 

Even if deer didn't eat them they are good for breaking up the soil and adding organic matter to it. As a cover crop they help prevent compaction, prevent erosion, reduce weeds, retain moisture, add organic matter.. you get the point. :-) Its a bonus that in the winter the leaves and bulbs help carry the herd till spring green up.

 

I'm still waiting to se what that's like. I've never had a brassica plot with enough bulbs left after season is over to do anything for the soil.

 

Thats a good problem to have. So I have to ask though when you were in NC did they decimate your brassicas too. Here they seem to wait till Jan/Feb to hit the bulbs.

 

No they did not. Not until after season was over. IMO brassicas are best suited North of the Mason Dixon line if you want them to be palatable during hunting season.

 

This is why I plant them in all my new plots. It offers some food and helps build the soil up in our rocky/clay NE Ohio landscape.


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