The Secret Weapon for Superior Deer Nutrition and Deer Attraction
In the world of serious whitetail management, planting a strategic food plot is more than just broadcasting seed—it’s about year-round attraction, balanced nutrition, and long-term herd health. Among the highest-performing blends available, whitetail institute beets and greens food plots stand out for their palatability, digestibility, and cold-weather drawing power. This guide offers everything hunters and land managers need to know to unlock the full potential of a beets-and-greens planting, combining expert insight with proven field-tested strategies.
Why Choose Beets and Greens for Your Food Plot?
Unmatched Cold-Season Attraction
When native forages have died back and acorns are depleted, a well-managed whitetail institute beets and greens food plot becomes a whitetail deer magnet. Blending fast-growing brassicas with sugar-rich beets offers a double punch: high protein and digestible energy—critical for pre-rut, rut, and late-season survival.
Two-Phase Forage System
A premium beets-and-greens blend works in two waves:
- Early Season Forage: Leafy tops (from kale, turnips, radishes) are irresistible to deer in early to mid-fall.
- Late Season Energy: As temperatures drop, the plants convert starch to sugar in the roots—particularly beets and turnips—offering sweet, high-carb energy that sustains deer through winter.
Nutritional Powerhouse
A high-quality beets-and-greens plot can provide:
- Protein: 20–36% crude protein (vital for antler growth and lactation)
- Energy: Carbohydrates from sugar beets help maintain body condition during winter
- Minerals: Brassicas are naturally rich in calcium, phosphorus, and potassium
Key Components of a High-Performance Beets & Greens Blend
1. Kale (Brassica oleracea)
- Extremely cold-hardy
- High protein and leaf production
- Remains palatable into late fall
2. Forage Turnips
- Dual-purpose: leafy forage and energy-dense bulbs
- Matures quickly and regrows after grazing
- Highly attractive during and after the rut
3. Tillage Radish
- Deep taproots break up compacted soil
- Fast-growing with large leaf area
- Improves soil tilth and nitrogen cycling
4. Sugar Beets (Beta vulgaris)
- High sugar content (up to 20%)
- Slow to establish but extremely rewarding in late season
- Long taproots draw nutrients from deep layers of soil
Proprietary Cultivars and Seed Coatings: Do They Matter?
Yes—and here’s why.
Top-tier blends like those from premium manufacturers use proprietary varieties selected for:
- Increased leaf tonnage
- Higher sugar content
- Improved regrowth
- Disease resistance
In addition, polymer seed coatings like RainBond™ improve moisture retention at planting. These coatings help seeds germinate in marginal moisture conditions—a vital edge in unpredictable fall weather.
Soil Preparation and Planting Strategy
Soil Testing
Always begin with a comprehensive soil test. For optimal performance:
- pH range: 6.0–7.0
- Lime: Apply as needed to correct pH
- Fertilizer: Based on soil test, but generally 300–400 lbs/acre of 19-19-19 or similar
Seedbed Preparation
- Kill existing vegetation with glyphosate 2–3 weeks before planting.
- Till the plot to 4–6 inches for good seed-to-soil contact.
- Cultipack before and after seeding to firm the seedbed.
Seeding Rates and Depth
- Broadcasting: 8–10 lbs per acre
- Drilling: 5–7 lbs per acre
- Seeding Depth: ¼ inch—too deep and sugar beets may fail to germinate
Best Planting Times by Region
| Region | Planting Window |
|---|---|
| Upper Midwest | Mid-July to Early August |
| Northeast | Late July to Mid-August |
| Southeast | August to Early September |
| South-Central | September |
Avoid planting too early, as mature brassicas may flower and lose palatability. Time your planting so that the plot hits peak growth just before cool weather arrives.
Management Tips for Maximum Results
- Rotate Crops: Avoid planting brassicas in the same plot two years in a row to prevent disease buildup.
- Exclude Deer Temporarily: Use fencing early to allow plants to reach full maturity.
- Supplement with Winter Greens: Mix with cereal grains (like winter rye or oats) to offer forage diversity.
- Frost Effect: Deer preference surges after the first frost, when starches convert to sugars—especially in beets and turnips.