About Fall Grain + Brassica Blend
The fall grain-plus-brassica blend is the most versatile and widely planted food plot combination in North America, providing rapid early-season attraction from cereal grains within two to three weeks of planting, followed by legume protein from Austrian winter peas, and finally late-season draw from frost-sweetened brassica roots and leaves. The multi-species approach hedges against weather variability — if an early frost damages oats, cereal rye and brassicas remain productive — and provides diverse nutrient packages to deer across the entire hunting season. Calibrating the brassica seeding rate is the most critical step: even a few extra pounds per acre of brassica seed can dominate the stand and shade out companion species.
How much Fall Grain + Brassica Blend seed per acre?
The standard broadcast seeding rate for Fall Grain + Brassica Blend is 75–100 lbs per acre, dropping to about 60 lbs per acre when drilled. Typical recipe (broadcast totals): cereal rye 40–50 lb/ac + oats 30–40 lb/ac + Austrian winter peas 15–20 lb/ac + brassica mix 2–3 lb/ac. Reduce individual component rates by 25–40% vs. pure-stand rates. Brassica fraction must be kept low or it will crowd grains. The calculator above scales this to your exact plot size and converts it into the number of retail bags to buy.
When to plant Fall Grain + Brassica Blend
Fall Grain + Brassica Blend is a cool-season crop. In the northern US, plant in Aug–early Sep; farther south, plant in Sep–Oct. Sow it 3/4" deep and plan on 14–30 for grain emergence; brassicas peak at 60–90 days post-frost.
Soil, pH & fertilizer
Aim for a soil pH near 6.5(don't go below ~6). 300 lb/ac 13-13-13 at planting; inoculate peas. Top-dress with 50–80 lb/ac actual N six to eight weeks after planting to push grain and brassica growth. Not sure where your soil sits? Read our soil test & lime guide.
Fall Grain + Brassica Blend blends well with crimson clover, ladino clover, chicory if you want a more diverse, resilient plot.
Fall Grain + Brassica Blend FAQ
- How much Fall Grain + Brassica Blend seed do I need per acre?
- Broadcast Fall Grain + Brassica Blend at about 75–100 lbs per acre, or 60 lbs per acre if you drill it. Typical recipe (broadcast totals): cereal rye 40–50 lb/ac + oats 30–40 lb/ac + Austrian winter peas 15–20 lb/ac + brassica mix 2–3 lb/ac. Reduce individual component rates by 25–40% vs. pure-stand rates. Brassica fraction must be kept low or it will crowd grains.
- When should I plant Fall Grain + Brassica Blend?
- In the northern US plant in Aug–early Sep; in the South plant in Sep–Oct. Expect 14–30 for grain emergence; brassicas peak at 60–90 days post-frost.
- What soil pH does Fall Grain + Brassica Blend need?
- Fall Grain + Brassica Blend does best at a soil pH around 6.5 (minimum ~6). 300 lb/ac 13-13-13 at planting; inoculate peas. Top-dress with 50–80 lb/ac actual N six to eight weeks after planting to push grain and brassica growth.
- Do deer like Fall Grain + Brassica Blend?
- Deer preference: high from mid-fall through winter — cereal grains draw deer immediately post-germination; peas and clover add protein; brassicas extend late-season draw after frosts.