PREPARATION

Start with a clean, weed-free seedbed by spraying or tilling existing vegetation. Create a smooth, firm seedbed with good
seed-to-soil contact. Avoid leaving the soil excessively loose before planting.

SOIL TEST & FERTILITY

Conduct a soil test whenever possible and adjust soil pH to approximately 6.0–7.0. Apply fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. For best results, pair Bucknip™ with Fuel™ Brassicas + Clover to support rapid establishment, vigorous top growth, and strong brassica production.

PLANTING RATE

Broadcast (Prepared Seedbed): 10 lbs/acre
Broadcast (No-Till): 12-13 lbs/acre
Drill: 5 lbs/acre

When Used In Blends: Reduce the rate according to the amount of turnip
desired and the other species included.

PLANTING DEPTH

Plant approximately ¼–½ inch deep. When broadcasting, spread evenly over a firm seedbed and lightly cultipack or roll afterward. Avoid burying the small seed too deeply.

TIMING

Plant approximately 60–90 days before your area's average first frost as summer temperatures decline. This provides enough growing time to establish substantial leafy forage and develop bulbs before severe winter conditions.

MOISTURE

Adequate moisture is critical for rapid germination and establishment. Plant into moist soil or immediately ahead of dependable rainfall whenever possible.

PLANTING DENSITY

Avoid excessive seeding rates. Turnips require adequate spacing to maximize leaf production and bulb development. When incorporating Bucknip™ into a blend, reduce the standalone rate to prevent overcrowding.

ADJUSTING FOR PLS & GERMINATION

Recommended planting rates assume 100% Pure Live Seed (PLS) and 100% germination. Actual seed quality varies by lot. To determine an adjusted planting rate, divide the recommended seeding rate by the PLS percentage multiplied by the germination percentage, both expressed as decimals. Adjusting for PLS and germination ensures proper stand density and maximum forage production.

Straight Shot™ Bucknip™ is a premium single-species forage turnip packaged for hunters who want to build custom blends, enhance existing food plots, or plant turnips by themselves without purchasing a bulk farm-size bag.

Forage turnips provide deer with two food sources from one plant—highly palatable leafy tops above ground and energy-rich bulbs below ground. They establish quickly and are an excellent addition to fall and
late-season food plots.

Bucknip™ is a cool-season annual brassica. It grows rapidly during the fall, produces forage throughout hunting season, and completes its life cycle within one growing season.

For maximum top growth and bulb development, plant approximately 60–90 days before your area's average first frost. Use the recommended Backwoods planting window for your zone and adjust for local frost dates and current weather conditions.

Plant approximately ¼–½ inch deep. Bucknip™ is a relatively small seed, so planting too deeply can reduce emergence. When broadcasting, spread evenly over a firm seedbed and lightly cultipack or roll afterward.

Absolutely. Bucknip™ can be planted as a standalone turnip plot or incorporated into a custom blend with other brassicas, cereal grains, and clovers.

Yes. This is one of the best uses for Straight Shot™ Bucknip™. Overseed it into an existing fall plot to add turnip tops, bulbs, and
additional forage diversity without completely replanting the plot. Good
seed-to-soil contact and adequate moisture are still critical for successful establishment.

Bucknip™ Forage Turnips pairs especially well with Trophy Rape™, Buck Radish™, Winter Rush™ Turnips, cereal grains, and annual clovers. Reduce individual species rates when building a blend to prevent excessive plant competition.

Yes. Adding Bucknip™ to oats, wheat, or cereal rye is an excellent way to introduce a brassica component to a grain-based food plot and provide deer with another forage source as the season progresses.

Target approximately 6.0–7.0 pH for best performance. A soil test should be used whenever possible to determine lime and fertilizer requirements before planting.

Yes. Brassicas are relatively heavy nutrient users, and proper fertility is important for maximizing leafy growth and bulb development. Apply fertilizer according to a soil test. Backwoods Fuel™ Brassicas + Clover is the recommended Backwoods fertilizer option for Bucknip™.

Both. Deer can browse the leafy tops throughout the growing season and may also consume the turnip bulbs as the season progresses. Utilization varies by property, deer density, available food sources, and local conditions.

No. Deer can browse turnip foliage before frost. However, cold temperatures can change plant carbohydrate and sugar dynamics and may increase palatability.

Under favorable moisture, fertility, and temperatures, germination can occur quickly and substantial leafy growth can develop within the first month. Allowing approximately 60–90 growing days before the average first frost gives Bucknip™ more opportunity to maximize both top growth and bulb development.

Yes. More seed does not necessarily mean more forage. Excessive plant populations increase competition for sunlight, nutrients,
moisture, and growing space and can result in smaller plants and reduced bulb
development. Follow the recommended rate and reduce it when Bucknip™ is part of
a blend.

You can, but continuously planting brassicas in the same location is generally not the best long-term management strategy. Rotating with cereal grains, legumes, or other forage types can help diversify the planting program and reduce potential disease and pest pressure associated with repeatedly growing the same crop family.

Bucknip™ gives you a single forage-turnip species and complete control over how much you plant or add to another plot. Brassicas + Bulbs™ is a professionally designed multi-species blend for hunters who want a complete brassica planting without creating their own mixture.

Straight Shot™ gives hunters access to premium individual food plot species in practical food-plot quantities. Buy what you actually need to create your own blend, spice up an existing plot, overseed a thin stand, or experiment with a targeted planting—without buying and storing a large bulk farm bag.