Brassicas,turnps,etc?

[Football Hunter]

Wonder,since all these things produce a pretty big fruit,root,etc.Can this some how help with ground compaction problems.Cant get big equipment to most of my plots,thinking this might help some,although I didnt see much deer usage last time I planted them till almost after deer season.

Which is ok.They eat the heck out of my clover.

Does this idea have any merit?

 

[richmanbarbeque]

Chisel plow, next time I have Justin chisel my plots you should have him swing by your place.

 

[jmb4wd]

Glad you brought this Football Hunter, I have been doing a little reading about this topic as well.

Seems like from what I gather the Diakon Radish family produces a long taproot that would overtime open the soil and hard pan to an extent. I am thinking about trying some in a plot I have that has a pretty good hard pan, results of a dozier running over it when building a pond.

From what Ive read, the Groundhog variety of Radishes seem to do really well up north, and I read a thread on QDMA forums about these tillage radishes.

Tillage Radishes

I just wonder if we will have good enough results with our heavy clay soils, to justify cost in areas that have no access with bigger equipment.

 

[BSK]

When planted in thin, hard soils, I found the turnips just grew up out of the soil instead of down into the soil. But that make it easier for the deer to dig them up and eat them! The tap roots just ran horizontally just under the grounds surface.

For thin concrete-like soils, as Richman said, chisel-plowing is the only answer.

 

[Football Hunter]

Ok,dont know how many of my plots I can get a tractor to,and I have 8+- inches of good dirt above the chirt level.But over time,it does get compacted.

 

[BSK]

You would be surprised what you can grow in a plot where the chert level is at ground surface, if you chisel plow it. There is a little soil in between those chunks of rock!

 

[Football Hunter]

Yeah,was really surprised what 8pts was able to grow in his chirt,those beans were 5 foot tall or so.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Radish will penetrate pretty well. My turnips just grow on top.

 

[Football Hunter]

Radish will penetrate pretty well. My turnips just grow on top.

Much deer usage with those?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Radish will penetrate pretty well. My turnips just grow on top.

Much deer usage with those?

Like with nearly everything I plant that wasnt anywhere around prior to me planting it... first year- no to very little usage. 2nd year- pretty good usage.