Radish tubers grow about half in the ground and half out of the ground and protrude much higher above the ground than a turnip bulb does. Depending on plot location, my plots have been fairly vacant of activity regardless of what's planted.. The main difference between Turnip and Radish is that the Turnip is a root vegetable and Radish is a species of plant. Radish offers great browse which grows back after getting hit, radish tubers will rot out before late season. Turnips are often boiled and sometimes pickled, sautéed in salt and soy sauce, and are most commonly eaten in the fall and winter, but can be preserved until later in the year. I feel that the overall shape of a radish compared to a round turnip is easier for a deer to eat as well and I strongly believe that had something to do with finally getting deer to eat my brassicas. This food-plot seed variety is a very good option for most deer hunters. Turnips, radishes and rape are cool season crops which are ideal for fall plantings. In the winter of 2008, 96 deer were observed digging through the snow to eat radish greens and roots in New York state. However, as gamekeepers we need to focus on more than just using food plots as a tool to bring deer in closer for a shot. Purple Top Turnips for Food Plots. The turnip or white turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. Turnip. Early August Plantings-Turnips, forage rape, and radishes. SwiftKill, Aug 20, 2017. Radishes are one of the most popular choices for deer … 7 Top forage Turnips? If you have been planting them for awhile and the deer have become accustomed. Deer will nail the rotten radish tubers pretty quick. Food plots are used as a way for animal watchers and hunters to attract and track the habits of deer and other animals. Like closely related forage radishes, purple top turnips are not affected by light frosts. Protein content can range from 15 to 20 percent in both the leaves and the roots. Most brassicas are attractive because of one thing: sugar. By: Deer Creek Seed. Radishes, parsnips, turnips, beets and carrots all roast well and together create a blend of colors, textures and flavors that will complement almost any meal. As nouns the difference between radish and turnip is that radish is a plant of the brassicaceae'' family, ''raphanus sativus , having an edible root while turnip is the white root of a yellow-flowered plant, brassica rapa , grown as a vegetable and as fodder for cattle. Generally radish first then turnips after some hard freezes. The leafy radish tops, which can be 2 feet tall, can grow back during the growing season after deer have grazed. Most turnips survive the winter and hold onto nutrients into the spring (longer than radishes). Purple Top Turnips are one of the most widely planted, highly nutritious food plot species grown. Species Report. At our lease, the deer have eaten everything down to the ground and left nothing standing but short clover. Even though turnips are about 20% protein, they’re easily digestible for deer. Have fun and good luck this season! SwiftKill, Aug 20, 2017 The radish tops emerge very fast and the deer seem to enjoy them immediately. So what are brassicas good for other than being a favorite fall/winter food item? The early trimming apparently doesn't hurt their development, and the tops regrow rapidly and remain visible among the turnips well into season. Turnips are very palatable for grazing cattle and sheep. In fact, turnip palatability increases after cold weather arrives because the young leaves are somewhat bitter at first but turn sweeter as they mature with cooler temperatures. Food plots outside your regular garden can keep deer away from the veggies you intend for your kitchen or attract the animals for purposes of photography or hunting. Deer will preferentially eat both the leafy green tops and the big round roots over surrounding browse. See also: Everything You Need to Know About Food Plot The deer will still be attracted to them slightly now however. Basically, a deer like at a turnip the same way us humans look at beef jerky. In areas with quality food sources, deer typically don’t hit them very hard until mid-October to early November. Several improved varieties of radishes now exist and are managed in food plots, such as Daikon, Trophy, Tillage, and Groundhog.