PREPARATION

Start with a clean, weed-free seedbed by spraying or tilling existing vegetation. Prepare a firm, smooth seedbed with good seed-to-soil contact. Avoid leaving the soil excessively loose, which can cause small turnip seed to be planted too deeply.

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, use Backwoods Fuel™ Brassicas + Clover at planting to support rapid establishment, vigorous top growth, and strong bulb development.

PLANTING RATE

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

When Used In Blends or Overseeding: Reduce the rate based on the other species present and the desired turnip population.

PLANTING DEPTH

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

TIMING

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

MOISTURE

Plant into adequate soil moisture or immediately ahead of dependable rainfall. Consistent moisture during germination and early establishment helps maximize stand density and rapid forage production.

OVERSEEDING & BLENDING

Winter Rush™ can be overseeded into compatible existing plots or combined with cereal grains, clovers, mustards, rape, radishes, and other brassicas.

When adding Winter Rush™ to another planting, reduce the standalone rate to prevent excessive plant competition. Broadcast where exposed soil is available and time planting ahead of dependable rainfall whenever possible.

PLANT POPULATION

Avoid the temptation to seed excessively. Turnips need adequate space, nutrients, sunlight, and moisture to maximize both leafy forage and bulb development. More seed does not automatically produce more usable forage.

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™ Winter Rush™ is a single-species turnip seed designed for hunters who want to plant a dedicated turnip plot, add tops and bulbs to an existing food
plot, or build their own custom fall blend.

Winter Rush™ provides two potential food sources from one plant—fast-growing leafy
forage above ground and developing turnip bulbs below. That combination makes
it a strong choice for fall and late-season hunting plots.

Winter Rush™ is a cool-season annual brassica. It establishes rapidly, produces leafy forage and bulbs during the fall and winter, and completes its life cycle within one growing season.

For maximum top and bulb development, plant approximately 60–90 days before your
area's average first frost. Use your Backwoods planting zone as a starting
point, then adjust for local frost dates, soil moisture, and current weather conditions.

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

Yes. Winter Rush™ Turnips can be planted as a standalone turnip plot when you want a concentrated source of leafy brassica forage and bulbs.

Absolutely. This is one of the advantages of Straight Shot™. Winter Rush™ can be added to compatible cereal grain, clover, or other fall plots to increase brassica diversity and introduce both leafy forage and bulbs.

Yes. Its small seed makes Winter Rush™ well suited for broadcasting into compatible existing plots where adequate exposed soil is available. Good seed-to-soil contact and dependable rainfall are important for successful establishment.

Winter Rush™ pairs well with cereal rye, forage wheat, oats, clovers, forage peas, mustards, rape, and radishes. Reduce individual species rates when building a blend so the stand doesn't become overcrowded.

Potentially both. Deer readily browse turnip foliage and may also consume the bulbs as the crop matures. Actual utilization varies by property, deer density, available natural forage, weather, and previous exposure to turnips.

No. Deer can browse turnip foliage well before the first frost. Cold temperatures can influence plant carbohydrate concentrations and palatability, but turnips should not be marketed as something deer only eat after a freeze.

Turnips can provide forage after many warm-season food sources have disappeared. Their combination of cold-tolerant leafy vegetation and developed bulbs gives deer multiple potential food sources deeper into hunting season.

Under favorable moisture, fertility, temperatures, and seed-to-soil contact, turnips establish rapidly. Leafy forage can develop within the first several weeks, while meaningful bulb development requires additional growing time.

Give Winter Rush™ approximately 60–90 days before the average first frost for strong overall development. Planting too late may still produce leafy forage, but it can limit the amount of time available for substantial bulb development.

Yes. Turnips respond strongly to adequate fertility. Conduct a soil test whenever possible and fertilize accordingly. Backwoods Fuel™ Brassicas + Clover is the recommended Backwoods fertilizer pairing for Winter Rush™.

Target approximately 6.0–7.0 pH for best performance. Proper pH improves nutrient availability and supports vigorous top and bulb development.

Absolutely. This is a common food plot mistake. Excessive plant populations create competition for sunlight, moisture, nutrients, and growing space, which can reduce individual plant and bulb development. More seed does not automatically mean a better plot.

Yes. The standalone planting rate is intended for a dedicated stand. When Winter Rush™ is mixed with other species or overseeded into an existing plot, reduce the rate based on the amount of turnips desired and the density of the other species.

Turnips can produce substantial forage, but heavy deer pressure can keep young plants browsed down before they reach their full potential. On high-density properties, increasing planted acreage or combining Winter Rush™ with other forage species can help distribute browsing pressure.

Both provide turnip tops and bulbs, but they give hunters different turnip options for customizing a plot. Winter Rush™ is an all-around cold-weather and late-season performance, while Bucknip™ is the versatile all-around forage turnip option for fast fall forage production.

Winter Rush™ Turnips establish and mature more quickly, making them well suited to traditional fall planting windows. Sweet Tooth™ Sugar Beets require a longer growing period but can develop substantially larger, carbohydrate-rich roots when given adequate time.

Winter Rush™ gives you straight turnip seed and complete control over how much goes into your plot. Brassicas + Bulbs™ combines multiple complementary brassicas and root crops into a complete pre-designed blend.

Straight Shot™ gives hunters individual food plot species in practical food-plot quantities. Plant Winter Rush™ by itself, add turnips to an existing plot, increase the turnip component of another blend, or build your own custom mix—without buying and storing a large agricultural bag.