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Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Brassica Blend
Four brassica species—rape, turnip, kale, radish—in one mix. Extended grazing season, diverse root architecture, soil improvement. Complete brassica food plot.
Growing Guides & Fertilizer Education
Four brassica species in one bag—each contributing different root architecture, maturity timing, and cold tolerance for the most complete brassica planting possible. Rape provides fast high-protein regrowth. Turnip adds energy-dense bulbs. Kale extends grazing into deep winter. Radish breaks compaction at 12-24 inches. Together they create a diverse planting that provides something at every stage of fall and winter—rather than betting everything on a single species.
Category
Brassica
Type
Brassica Blend
Scientific Name
Brassica spp. (multiple species blend)
Zones
Annual in all zones
Brand
Wicked Tuff Turf
What Is It ?
Four brassica species in one bag—each contributing different root architecture, maturity timing, and cold tolerance for the most complete brassica planting possible. Rape provides fast high-protein regrowth. Turnip adds energy-dense bulbs. Kale extends grazing into deep winter. Radish breaks compaction at 12-24 inches. Together they create a diverse planting that provides something at every stage of fall and winter—rather than betting everything on a single species.
How to Apply ?
Step 1
Plant 90-120 days before frost; apply 60-100 lbs N
Step 2
Scout for flea beetles at emergence
Step 3
Spread seed (6-8 lbs/1k sq ft new; 3-4 lbs overseed)
Step 4
Lightly incorporate or press into surface
Step 5
Water if dry
Step 6
Graze progressively (Rape, then Turnip, then Kale)
Best For
Complete fall/winter brassica food plots|Livestock grazing with extended season|Deer food plots with multi-species attraction|Soil health improvement (multiple root architectures)|Risk reduction through species diversity|Farms wanting brassica benefits without choosing a single species|Cover crop programs combining forage and soil benefits
FAQs
1.
What is forage chicory?
A brassica blend combines multiple brassica species—typically turnip, rape, kale, and radish—into a single planting mix. Blending provides species diversity that a single brassica cannot: turnips offer root energy and fast maturity, rape provides leafy regrowth, kale delivers maximum cold hardiness and late-season forage, and radish breaks compaction. Blends also spread grazing preference across species, reducing the risk of selective overgrazing that damages single-species stands.
2.
What does 85/80 Kentucky bluegrass mean in this mix?
Plant brassica blends in late summer (mid-July through mid-August in zones 4-6, or August-September in zones 7-8) for fall and winter forage. This timing allows 60-90 days of growth before hard frost. The different maturity rates of blended species create a staggered grazing sequence: radish and turnip tops are ready first (45-60 days), rape reaches grazing height next (60-80 days), and kale matures last (90-120 days), extending the grazing window.
3.
How much clover is in the All Purpose Lawn Mix and will it be visible?
Seed brassica blends at 5-8 lbs per acre broadcast, or 3-5 lbs per acre drilled. For food plots, use 5-6 lbs per acre. For small areas, approximately 0.1-0.2 lbs per 1,000 sq ft. Since blends contain multiple species with different seed sizes, mix thoroughly before planting and calibrate seeding equipment carefully. Plant 0.25-0.5 inches deep on a firm seedbed. Pre-mixed blends are designed for broadcast seeding at a single rate.
4.
Are brassica blends good for deer food plots?
Yes—brassica blends are among the most popular and effective deer food plot plantings. Deer preference shifts through the season: they browse leafy tops (rape, kale, turnip greens) first in early fall, then switch to turnip bulbs after hard frost sweetens them. A multi-species brassica blend provides diverse nutrition and extended attractiveness from September through January. Research shows deer food plots with brassica blends have higher visitation rates than single-species plantings.
5.
What nutrients do brassica blends need?
The All Purpose Mix performs in 3-8+ hours of direct sunlight. Optimal performance is at 4-6 hours. In shadier spots (3-4 hours), creeping red fescue carries the stand. In full sun (8+ hours), tall fescue tends to dominate over time. For less than 3 hours of direct sun, the Sun & Shade Mix is a better choice with its 65% fine fescue content designed specifically for heavy shade. The All Purpose is best described as a moderate-shade-tolerant blend.
6.
What fertilizer program does the All Purpose Lawn Mix need?
Apply 2-3 lbs nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft annually, with the white clover component providing an additional 0.5-1 lb N through biological fixation. Fall fertilization (September-October in zones 4-6) produces the best results. A simple program: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in September, 1 lb in late October, and optionally 0.5-1 lb in late May. Avoid heavy spring nitrogen which promotes disease and weed pressure. Slow-release or organic fertilizers complement the clover's natural fertility contribution.
7
How long do brassica blends provide forage?
A well-planned brassica blend provides 60-120 days of forage depending on climate zone and species composition. In zones 5-7, a late-July planting provides grazing from late September through December or January. The sequential maturity of blended species extends the window: turnips and radish are grazed first, rape provides mid-season forage, and cold-hardy kale delivers the last grazing into early winter. Total fresh biomass production ranges from 4-8 tons per acre.