Growing Radishes — ediblegardens52

Oct 30

Oct 30 Growing Radishes

I planted my radishes this week. They were the last of the cool season veggies to go in the ground because of their short seed to harvest time. This year I’m planting short rows and I set a reminder on my phone to plant another row in ten days. Succession sowing is not one of my strengths.

Though I usually grow Easter Egg II radishes because of their vibrant colors and mild flavor there are so many varieties for radish-lovers. Johnny’s Seeds offers 24 radishes and Baker Creek Rareseeds features 22, both with some very unusual kinds.

I start off by soaking my radish seeds for several hours or as long as overnight. The hard seed coat softens and germination happens faster.

Sow radish seeds outdoors with other cool season crops or as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. I plant the seeds a half inch deep and an inch apart. Thin to 2-4 inches depending on eventual size.

Before planting my radishes I reviewed two excellent blogposts on growing radishes from favorite garden mentors. I hoped to avoid some problems I’ve had in growing radishes, though really, they are quite easy. They’re a good crop for children to plant since the smaller ones are ready to harvest in a month.

Before planting my radish seed recently I consulted several of my favorite garden mentors for tips on planting, growing and harvesting radishes. Check the links below.

How to Grow Radishes
Adventures in Growing Radishes

Here are some of my key takeaways:

Grow radishes full sun but they will tolerate partial shade. They are suitable for containers too.
Prepare radish bed with added compost and remove rocks, sticks and other obstructions that cause misshapen roots.
Replant right away if first sowing comes up unevenly.
Maintain even moisture in radish bed for best growth. Inadequate or uneven moisture results in tough, pithy and hot radishes.
Learn about common radish enemies and solutions.
Harvest smaller radish varieties when the size of a quarter for best flavor and texture.
Store seed properly for 5 year viability. Sprout marginal seeds for salads.

Speciality Produce lists 30 different radish varieties with descriptions, availability, uses, ethnic/cultural info and recipe links for each one. I’ll be trying these Dill Roasted Radishes at my first harvest.