Chicory + Turnip Forage Blend

SKU: BDL-CHICTURN

$98.99 $14.14/lb
  • Covers 2 acres
  • Seeding rate: 3.5 lb per acre
  • 7 lb bundle
Total Price: $98.99
Estimated Delivery: 15-18 business days

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Ground-level view of a chicory and forage turnip paddock in late autumn, with purple-white turnip bulbs lifted above soil, blue chicory flowers on tall stems, a farmer's muddy work boot at the frame edge, and an overcast sky over open farmland.

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What is the Chicory + Turnip Forage Blend?

The Chicory + Turnip Forage Blend is a high-nutrition forage system designed for graziers who want more from their pastures than just dry matter yield. Forage Chicory is a perennial herb with documented mineral content — calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur — that exceeds most cool-season grasses on the same soil. Its taproot penetrates 36–48 inches, accessing nutrients in subsoil horizons. Forage Turnip is one of the fastest biomass-producing brassicas available, and its bulb and greens are self-harvested by cattle and sheep in late fall when cool-season forages have gone dormant. Sweetclover bridges the nitrogen economy of the system and attracts pollinators during bloom. Together, these three species create a nutritionally complete, multi-function summer and fall forage planting.

Specifications

Seeding Rate 3.5 lb per acre
Sun Requirements Full Sun to Partial Shade
Time to Germinate 60 – 90 days for first grazing

Seeding Specs

Water Needs Moderate — chicory drought tolerant once established
Soil Preference Well-drained loam to clay loam
Soil pH 6.0 – 7.5
Planting Depth 1/4 – 1/2 inch

Establishment Specs

Height 18 – 36 inches
Color White/Yellow (Sweetclover bloom), Blue (Chicory bloom)
Uses Forage, Grazing, Food Plot, Cover Crop, Pollinator
Native/Introduced Introduced species

Why Choose This Seed?

Mineral-Rich Forage

Forage Chicory pulls calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium from subsoil layers that grass roots cannot reach. Research from New Zealand and the U.S. shows chicory-based swards deliver measurably higher mineral density than straight ryegrass or fescue paddocks, reducing supplementation costs in some systems.

Self-Harvested Brassica

Forage Turnip produces a bulb that cattle and sheep dig and consume themselves in fall and early winter. This self-grazing behavior extends the productive grazing season when other forages are dormant or frozen, reducing the demand on hay reserves during the critical late-fall feeding window.

Nitrogen Bridge

Sweetclover is a biennial legume that fixes substantial nitrogen — often 80–150 lb per acre over its life cycle — and produces deep taproots that improve soil drainage and structure. It blooms prolifically and is one of the most important honey plants in North America, providing significant pollinator value alongside its agronomic function.

Extended Grazing Season

This blend is designed to extend the grazing season at both ends. Chicory and Sweetclover provide spring and summer forage. Forage Turnip produces its highest-quality biomass in fall, after light frosts increase sugar content. Properly managed, this planting bridges the gap between summer forage and winter hay feeding.

Deep Root Soil Action

Chicory and Sweetclover both produce taproots that penetrate 36+ inches, breaking through compacted layers and creating bio-channels for water infiltration. When these plants die or are grazed hard, their root mass decomposes in the subsoil — adding organic matter below the plow layer where it contributes most to long-term soil carbon.

How to Use the Chicory + Turnip Forage Blend

Site Prep

Control sod competition before seeding into established pasture. A firm, well-firmed seedbed is critical for the small-seeded Chicory fraction.

For pasture inter-seeding, graze tight or mow before broadcasting. Avoid seeding into standing sod taller than 3 inches — canopy competition kills Chicory seedlings.

Seeding

Broadcast and cultipack for best seed-to-soil contact, or drill at 1/4 inch for Chicory and Sweetclover and 1/2 inch for Turnip. Inoculate Sweetclover with a commercial inoculant labeled for sweet clover (Rhizobium meliloti).

Seed into moisture — the small-seeded fraction is sensitive to soil drying during germination.

Establishment

Chicory emerges in 7–10 days under good conditions and establishes a rosette in year one. Do not graze Chicory until plants have 8+ leaves and are well-anchored.

Turnip grows rapidly and can be grazed at 10–12 inches. Sweetclover is biennial — it establishes in year one and blooms in year two.

Termination or Management

Chicory is a perennial and should be managed for persistence — never graze below 3 inches and allow 25–35 day rest periods. Turnip is an annual and will winter-kill after hard frosts, requiring replanting each year.

Sweetclover will naturally reseed if allowed to bloom in year two before termination.

Helpful Resources

Cover Crop Planting Guide

Cover Crop Planting Guide

Learn more about Cover Crop Planting Guide
The Ultimate Guide for Improving Clay Soil for Thriving Plant Growth

The Ultimate Guide for Improving Clay Soil for Thriving Plant Growth

Learn more about The Ultimate Guide for Improving Clay Soil for Thriving Plant Growth
All About Cover Crops & Green Manure

All About Cover Crops & Green Manure

Learn more about All About Cover Crops & Green Manure

Questions & Answers

Is Forage Chicory actually palatable to livestock?
Yes, highly palatable to cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. Livestock show strong preference for chicory over many grasses when given a choice. Its bitter taste (from natural compounds including sesquiterpene lactones) does not deter grazing preference and may have mild antiparasitic properties in sheep and goats.
How long will Forage Chicory persist?
Properly managed, Forage Chicory persists 3–5 years. The key management rules are: never graze below 3 inches, provide 25–35 day rest periods between grazings, and avoid heavy traffic during wet conditions. Overgrazing is the primary cause of stand decline.
Can I feed too much Turnip to cattle?
Yes. Limit Turnip (and brassicas generally) to no more than 75% of the total diet during a grazing event to avoid digestive upset, bloat, and hypothyroidism risk from glucosinolates. Introduce animals gradually — start with 1–2 hours of grazing and increase over 5–7 days. Always provide access to grass or hay simultaneously.
What is the best planting time for this blend?
Early spring (March–April in most regions) and late summer (August–September) are both good windows. Spring planting gives Chicory and Sweetclover a full season to establish before winter. Late summer planting produces fall Turnip grazing and allows Chicory and Sweetclover to overwinter as established rosettes for strong spring regrowth.
Is this blend suitable for deer food plots?
Yes. Forage Chicory and Forage Turnip are among the most attractive food plot plants for whitetail deer. Deer consume both the greens and the turnip bulb, particularly after the first frosts sweeten the brassica. Sweetclover is browsed as well. This blend is an excellent multi-season deer attractant planting.
Does Sweetclover need inoculation?
Inoculation is strongly recommended if sweet clover has not been grown in the field recently. Use a Rhizobium meliloti inoculant specifically labeled for sweet clover — do not use a generic legume inoculant. Apply immediately before seeding, keep inoculated seed out of direct sunlight, and seed the same day as inoculation.

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