radish
Radishes are quick to sprout and easy, anything goes plants. As with carrots, harvested radishes leave pockets of space, making it easier for air and water to enter. Plant them around the garden to loosen the soil.
VarietiEs
Radishes can taste sweet or spicy and be round or long. Their small size makes them perfect for container growing. Try growing Watermelon, French Breakfast, or Amethyst for a peppery crunch. The large winter types are referred to as daikon radishes; try Alpine for a sweet, mild flavor.
WHERE RADISH THRIVES
Regional compatibility
Radishes can grow in any region at any time but prefer the cool springs found in temperate climates.
Optimal sOIL & sun
This root prefers a slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH balance 6.5 to 7) and grows best in moist, well-drained, loose and sandy conditions. The loose soil allows the radishes to easily grow into uniform shapes. That said, it is tolerant of a variety of soil types, except for heavy clay.
Radishes that grow too fast get woody and tough. Growing them in afternoon shade will keep them nice and tender.
RESILIENCE
Radishes grow in most types of soil at any time of the year.
PLANTING
FROM SEED
Radishes are the easiest root crop to grow because they have large seeds and sprout very quickly. Plant them directly in the ground up to a half inch deep and an inch apart. If you lose track of your spacing, thin plants once they sprout to achieve the right spacing. The little radish sprouts are delicious in salads.
Best time of year to plant
Plant seeds in the spring for a fall harvest or in the fall for a winter harvest.
COMPANION PLANTS
Radishes pair well with nearly everything, and their small size and quick growth habit means you can often sneak in a crop next to longer season plants like tomatoes and squash. Just be sure to get your radish seeds in early so they are ready before the bigger crops produce too much shade.
Growing
Radishes are particularly juicy when planted near lettuce. Quick- growing radish seeds also make great row markers for slow-to-grow beets and carrots.
WATERING. As with many vegetables, your radishes want 1-2 inches of water a week. Hold off once they are big enough to harvest, because too much water when they are ripe can cause splitting. (Split radishes are still good to eat! Just not quite as pretty.)
WEEDING. Weed your radishes regularly when they are small.
FERTILIZING. Radishes do not need as much fertility as some other crops, but will benefit from a good-quality compost mixed in to the seed bed before planting.
CHALLENGES
Picking radishes on time might be their biggest challenge. If you wait too long they will become woody or pithy, making them less palatable overall. Hot weather will turn up the spice, which could be good or bad depending on your preference!
PESTS & DISEASE. If you notice your radish leaves starting to curl, you might have an aphid infestation. Check under the leaves for black, orange, or green aphids. These pests will suck the sugar out of your plants. The cabbage maggot is also a problem. Look for wilted leaves and mushy brown tunnels in your radish crop. If you see evidence of cabbage maggots, treat your radishes with Bt or insecticidal soap. The pesky flea beetle is another pest that can infest your radishes. These bugs are not a problem for mature radishes, but the small, circular bites they take out of leaves can kill younger plants.
Radish is susceptible to black rot, a fungus that attacks the roots and leaves of radish in the winter, and Septoria leaf spot, a fungal disease that attacks the leaves. To prevent rot from spreading make sure to clean it up all infected plant residue after harvesting so it doesn't spread throughout the garden. Do not compost infected leaves or roots. Burn infected plant material or bring them to your local green waste drop off. Planting your radishes in a new spot each year also helps fend off fungal disease. Make sure the soil is well-drained.
Harvest
Radishes mature quickly. If you wait too long to pick them, they become inedible. Pick them before they get bigger than a golf ball, unless they’re sweet daikon. These can grow big without losing taste and texture. Harvest your radishes by grabbing hold of the green tops and pulling.
STORE
Keep radishes in the refrigerator in a plastic bag with the tops removed. (The tops can be cooked and eaten also!) Topped radishes will last at least a month, and some varieties will last much longer.
Preserve
Because of their long storage capacity, radishes don’t need to be preserved in the same way as some less hardy crops. However, pickled and fermented radishes are both delicious!
RECIPES
OUR BOOKS
