Radish
- Germination Days: 5 - 10
- Hardiness Zones:1-11
- Planting Depth: 1/2"
- Plant Spacing:2”
- Row Spacing:1’
- Growth Habit:Upright
- Soil Preference:Rich, sandy, light and well-drained, 6.5-7.0 pH
- Temp Preference:Cooler to warm
- Light Preference:Full sun to partial shade
- Days to Maturity:30 days
Growing
Radishes are a hardy, very easy-to-grow root vegetable that can be planted multiple times in a growing season. Plus, radishes can be harvested as soon as three weeks after planting! Radish seeds can be planted in both the spring and the fall, but growing should be suspended in the height of summer, when temperatures are typically too hot. (Hot temperatures may cause radishes to bolt, making them essentially useless)
Planting
- Plant in a sunny spot. If radishes are planted in too much shade—or even where neighboring vegetable plants shade them they will put all their energy into producing larger leaves.
- Like carrots, radish plants are primarily grown for their roots. Though the soil needs to be rich in organic matter, it should not be compacted. If your soil is more clay-like, mix in some sand to loosen it and improve drainage.
- If your soil isn’t rich in organic matter, incorporate a few inches of aged compost or all-purpose fertilizer (see packaging for amount) into the planting site as soon as the soil is workable.
- Till your garden bed to remove any rocks or dirt clods before planting.
- For a spring planting, sow seeds 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost date.
- It is recommended to plant radish seeds directly in the garden so as not to disturb their roots. Sow seeds about ½ to 1 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows 12 inches apart.
- For continuous harvest plant another round of seeds every 10 – 14 days until the weather is still cool.
- For fall planting sow seeds in late summer or early fall at least 4–6 weeks before the first fall frost.
Care
- Thin radishes to about 2 inches apart when the plants are a week old. Crowded plants do not grow well.
- Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Soggy soils result in root rot
- Apply a thin layer of mulch around the radishes can help retain moisture in dry conditions.
Pests / Diseases
- Cabbage Root Maggot
- Clubroot
Harvest
- Radishes will be ready to harvest quite rapidly, as soon as three weeks after planting for some varieties.
- Harvest when roots are approximately 1 inch in diameter at the soil surface.
- Do not leave radishes in the ground long after their mature stage.