HOW TO GROW RADISHES: PLANTING, GROWING AND HARVESTING
If you’re looking for a vegetable that’s both easy to grow and incredibly delicious, then look no further than the radish. This root vegetable is a staple in many cuisines around the world and can be grown in almost any climate.
The radish (Raphanus sativus) is an annual or biennial plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) is the quickest-growing salad vegetable in the garden, can be ready for picking six weeks after planting seed if you give it a rich, well-watered soil.
There is always a good demand for radishes in the culinary kitchen; the parts of the radish plant that are commonly consumed are the leaves, flowers, pods, and seeds.
Radish roots are low in calories and are usually eaten raw; the young leaves can be cooked like spinach. The young fruits are also edible and are often eaten raw or sautéed.
Raising Ravishing Radishes
Radishes may be had practically the whole year round by making successional sowings of seed every three or four weeks they’re a great catch crop and very satisfyingly to grow for beginners or kids!
Growing Radish from Seed
How to grow radish from seed: Dig in a ration of old manure or compost; and when that is done, open up narrow trenches about two inches deep, along the lines of the rows. Run complete fertilizer along the bottom of each trench fill in; and plant the seed sowing little and often. Sow seed in the spot where it is to grow.
This can be in the ground, in containers or sow a couple of rows in a growbag.
Keep the soil damp, always, thereafter because if radishes must be grown quickly, if tender roots are required. Then on no account must they be allowed to get dry the radish quality and flavour are much improved by frequent watering.
Cover the seeds lightly, and erect a cage of cotton to protect them from the birds.
Radish is often sown thinly in the rows with Carrot or other root crops, or with Lettuce, and drawn out as required.
Thin the plants out, as they come through, to two inches apart. The fast growing varieties that are ready for use twenty days after sowing can be set between rows of parsnips, potatoes, and other crops as they will be gathered and out of the way long before the other vegetables appear above the ground.
Some gardeners mix a little radish seed in with the carrot seed when sowing – when ready the radishes are pulled and eaten before they crowd the other things so are invaluable as a catch crop, thus making room for the carrots, lettuce, cabbage, beans, etc.
Choose Your Radish Variety
The first step in growing delicious radishes is choosing the right variety for your climate and tastes.
There are literally dozens of varieties available, each with its own unique flavor and texture. Some popular varieties include French Breakfast, Cherry Belle, Icicle, and Easter Egg radishes. For colder climates, try winter varieties like Daikon or White Icicle.
The rat-tailed radish comes from Southern Asia and is grown for its seed pods which are eaten freshly picked and raw, or pickled — the root is not edible. The Oriental radish or daikon is larger and has a more spongy texture than the other varieties but the flavor is similar. The great thing about radish is you can plant and enjoy them all the year round.
Prepare Your Soil
Once you’ve chosen a variety of radish that suits your needs, it’s time to prepare your soil for planting. Radishes prefer loose soil with plenty of organic matter that drains well. Make sure the soil is free of weeds and rocks before planting; otherwise they may interfere with the growth of your plants.
You can also add some compost or fertilizer to give your plants an extra boost!
With just a little bit of preparation and care, growing radishes can easily become one of your favorite gardening activities! Whether you’re looking for something quick and tasty or something more exotic like daikon radish, these root vegetables add an extra burst of flavor and nutrition to any meal – and make great snacks too! So why not find a place for them in your garden this season.
