Still eating

[Ford]

Deer still hitting the plot. And a buck showed up. Here is a photo.

[crs740]

what did you plant there? Looks like some brassicas. The deer do not seem to be hitting my brassicas very hard yet. Of course, there have been several cornfields that have been recently picked on the farm too. They are hammering the chicory though.

[Ford]

Yeah Brassicas. They have been hitting it hard sice the first couple of frosts..I say the later they hit your plot the better. The more you will have left during those lean periods..(I think..)

[crs740]

I sure hope so or I am going to be pissed about the money I spent on it. Have you planted it before or is this your first year? I hear that it takes some time for the deer to realize that it is good to eat

[Ford]

Yes first year. They hit mine right away, after the first couple of frosts. I heard that too, and my immediate area is forest, so I guess it all depends.

[crs740]

Ford, how much and what mix of fertilizer did you put down?

[SteveNY]

Nice plot, and buck.

How big is the plot?

[Ford]

It is 1/2 acre. I put down 1000 lbs of pelletized lime (a little at a time througout the summer) and 200 lbs of 10-10-10.

I have since learned that I should have used more nitrogen. But it came out pretty good anyway..

[crs740]

Yeah, it is my understanding now that brassicas need around 100 lbs of nitrogen. My plan from hear on out is to have my plot split into three section, once section of clover, one of a winter rye/radish/clover mix and one section in brassicas. The winter rye mix will be rotated for 3 years with the brassica mix and less nitrogen will needed because the clover will be fixing N. After 3 years plow under the clvoer plot and replant tham all.