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How to Grow Forage Brassicas

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Forage Brassicas

Brassica oleracea var. acephala (kale) / Brassica rapa subsp. rapa (turnip)

vegetable

Forage brassicas are cool-season cruciferous plants grown primarily for livestock feed and soil improvement in cover crop systems. Kale and turnips are highly nutritious, cold-hardy, and regrow after grazing or cutting, making them valuable components of integrated farm management and rotational grazing programs.

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Winterbor Lacinato Red Russian Chollakale Purple Top Golden Ball

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Example Forage Brassicas timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Forage Brassicas

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Forage Brassicas

    Around Jun 1

    ≈ 45 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Forage Brassicas dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6+ hours daily; tolerates partial shade
💧
Water: Moderate to consistent moisture; 1-1.5 inches per week. Brassicas prefer evenly moist soil but tolerate some drought once established. In cover crop blends, rely on rainfall when possible.
📏
Spacing: 6-12 inches apart for kale; 4-8 inches for turnips (closer in dense cover crops) inches
📅
Days to maturity: 45-90 days depending on variety and intended use (grazing/cutting stage earlier than full maturity)
🌱
Planting depth: 0.25-0.5 inches for seeds; transplants at soil line

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy to clay loam soil with good organic matter
pH: 6.0-7.5
Amendments:
compost or aged manure balanced NPK fertilizer lime if pH below 6.0 potassium-rich amendments for forage quality

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 2-8; most productive in zones 3-7 during cool seasons

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b

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Growth Stages

1

Germination & Seedling

1-2 weeks

Seeds emerge within 5-10 days. True leaves unfold; plants develop 2-4 leaves.

Ensure soil moisture for consistent germination. Thin seedlings if direct seeded to prevent overcrowding. Protect from slugs and flea beetles with row covers.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-6 weeks

Rapid leaf development; plants build root systems and canopy. Kale forms bushy rosette; turnips develop both leaf and root mass.

Keep soil consistently moist. In cover crop blends, manage companion plant competition. Side-dress with nitrogen if needed. Monitor for cabbage worms and other brassica pests.

3

Pre-Grazing/Cutting Readiness

Variable, 45-70 days from planting

Plants reach 12-24 inches in height with substantial leaf and root biomass. Ready for first grazing or mechanical harvest.

Stop nitrogen applications 2-3 weeks before grazing to reduce nitrate levels. In mixed blends, this stage indicates optimal forage quality (digestibility peaks before flowering).

4

Regrowth/Ratoon

3-4 weeks per regrowth cycle

After grazing or cutting, plants regenerate from remaining leaf buds and root crowns. Multiple harvests possible per season.

Leave 4-6 inches of leaf stubble for regrowth. Water after cutting. Allow 2-3 weeks between harvests. Second and third cuttings may be smaller.

5

Late Season/Dormancy

Until frost or winter dormancy

As temperatures drop, growth slows. Kale becomes sweeter (cold increases sugars). Turnips may be left for root storage value.

Late-planted forage brassicas provide winter grazing in milder zones. Turnip roots can be harvested for supplemental feed. In cold zones, allow plants to winterkill or graze before hard freeze.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

cereal rye oats barley hairy vetch crimson clover alfalfa peas radish chicory plantain

Avoid planting near:

other brassicas in same planting (disease risk) cabbage family relatives (compete for nutrients and pests)

Common Pests

  • Row covers during planting; Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray; hand-picking; encourage natural predators

  • Row covers on seedlings; neem oil; reflective mulches; encourage beneficial insects; thin plant density for air circulation

  • Strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil; ladybugs and parasitic wasps; avoid excessive nitrogen

  • Lime soil to pH 7.5+; rotate brassicas out 4+ years; improve drainage; resistant varieties when available; sanitize equipment

  • Floating row covers; diatomaceous earth around base; remove and destroy infested plants; rotate fields

Uses

🍳

Livestock Forage & Feed Supplement

Culinary

Forage brassicas provide high-protein, nutrient-dense feed for cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, particularly valuable in fall and winter when pasture quality declines. The combination of leaf and root biomass offers diverse nutrition and palatability. [source]

🍳

Human Consumption (Kale Leaves, Turnip Greens & Roots)

Culinary

Both plants are edible for humans, with kale leaves rich in vitamins K and C, and turnip greens and roots providing similar nutrition. Young leaves are tender for salads; mature leaves suit cooking and preservation. [source]

🏠

Cover Crop & Soil Improvement

Household

When incorporated into soil, forage brassicas improve organic matter, suppress weeds, break soil compaction with deep roots (especially turnips), and suppress pest populations. Brassicas reduce parasitic nematodes through glucosinolate compounds. [source]

🦋

Pollinator & Beneficial Insect Support

Wildlife

If brassicas flower (allowed to bolt in later season), the flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and beneficial insects during shoulder seasons when other forage is scarce. [source]

🏠

Carbon-to-Nitrogen Management in Mixed Systems

Household

When grown in blends with legumes (clover, vetch), brassicas provide supplementary grazing windows and balance the system's nitrogen dynamics, supporting overall farm productivity and reducing external input needs. [source]

Harvest Tips

For forage use: Begin grazing or mechanical cutting when plants reach 12-18 inches tall and have substantial leaf mass (45-70 days after planting). Graze to 4-6 inches stubble height to allow regrowth. For maximum nutritional value, harvest before flowering. Kale typically tolerates repeated harvests better than turnips. In grazing systems, introduce animals gradually to prevent bloat. Turnip roots can be mechanically harvested separately from leaf material in late season.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Forage brassicas like kale and turnips can withstand temperatures below 20°F, and frost actually improves palatability and digestibility by converting starches to sugars—this is why they're prized for winter grazing.
  • 🌱 Turnips have an exceptionally high yield-to-seed-cost ratio and can produce 5-8 tons of dry matter per acre in a single season, making them one of the most economical forage crops for small and large-scale operations.
  • 🌱 Brassicas contain glucosinolates—sulfur-containing compounds that suppress soil-borne pathogens and parasitic nematodes, earning them a reputation as 'biofumigant' crops in regenerative agriculture.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cover Crop Crown Full Sun Germination Partial Shade Row Cover True Leaves
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