Successful Growing of Radishes

Radishes are easy to grow – with a bit of preparation.

For a small investment in time, you can have homegrown radishes for salads and roasting.

What Do You Want to Know About radish?

Choose the Right Radish for Your Needs

Radishes come in three types – Early, Midseason and Late.

Early radishes enjoy cool weather and grow fast, often 22 to 30 days. Most varieties are this type including Champion, Cherry belle and Scarlet Globe

Midseason can tolerate warm temperatures. French Breakfast and Icicle are two varieties.

Late radishes are also known as storage or winter radish. Diakon and Korean radishes belong in this group as do “watermelon” types.

Radishes come in a variety of shapes – round or long or very long.

Colors range from white, red, green, purple and black.

Easter Egg is a popular choice mix of different colors and different maturity dates.

Planting

Where should I plant my radishes?

in a well drained area
in soil with some organic material
as early as possible for spring varieties
avoid areas with too much nitrogen
have the ground prepared the fall before,
if possible
full sun – at least 6 hours, prefers 8 to 10 hours

How Do I Prepare Raised Beds for Radishes?

In many gardens, a raised bed for radishes is a great idea because they take up very little space.

Ideally, the bed should have loose soil 12 inches deep for long varieties. A minimum of 6 to 8 inches is required for most varieties.

Avoid filling the bed with only ordinary garden or top soil, because the surface will crust over
and the bed will dry out faster.

Add potting mix, garden compost and a bit of sand.
Mix 1 part organic matter (peat moss, compost, etc.) to 1 part sand or perlite to 2 parts soil.

Be careful of too much nitrogen. A 10-20-10 fertilizer is a good choice.

Can I Grow Radishes in Pots?

Yes.

Select a short variety and plant in a 5 gallon pot or barrel.

Easter Egg is a good option.

Use potting soil.

The potted radish may require more water and fertilizer than the in ground or bedded plants. But be careful not to water too much which causes root rot. Make sure there a holes in the bottom of the pot.

How About Growing in the Ground?

It’s best to prepare the ground in the fall, so you can plant as early as possible in the spring.

Year One – test the soil to find out what nutrients need to be added.

Year Two – In the spring,

1 cup of fertilizer, such as 10-20-10, on the soil for each 10 feet of row to be planted.

Rake the fertilizer in.

How Do I Plant Radishes?

Plant as early as the ground can be worked or the soil is 45 degrees F or warmer.
Plant 1/2 inches deep, about 1 inch apart. For larger varieties follow seed pack directions.
Plant every two weeks for succession crops..
Radishes can also be scattered and thinned. Thin to 2 to 3 inches in all directions between plants.
Water the seeds in.

Getting the most radishes

Provide 1-2 inches of water per week.

Don’t over crowd radishes. This caused all leaf and little root.

Keep the soil evenly moist. Periods of wet and dry cause root splitting.

Keep track of when they should be ready. Old radishes get hot and woody.

Radish thinings can be eaten.

When Do I Harvest Radishes?

Usually 21 to 30 days after planting for round and French Breakfast types. Longer for Specialty radishes.

Spring varieties will bolt and become inedible as summer temperatures arrive.

If you forget to pick them in time and the radish starts to flower, bees love to visit the flowers!

If you take care of your plants, you can look forward to tons of radishes.

A 100’ row of radishes will yield around 30 pounds.