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Radish is one of those vegetables that you tend to forget that it exists… unless you’re a big fan. That’s because these spicy little root balls require a specific taste and aren’t eaten widely aside from with salad.
Whether you love them, or simply want to try your hand at growing them, you’re in the right place. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about growing radishes.
Read on below!
About Growing Radishes
Radish, or Raphanus raphanistrum), are small round edible root vegetables that belong to the Brassicaceae family. The vegetable originates from Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years.
The most popular way to eat radish is fresh with salad. Radishes come in various shapes, colors, sizes, and yes, even flavors. Likewise, the time it takes to grow a radish from seed to harvest varies as much as nearly two months.
Most radish is highly pest and disease resistant, in addition to being rather small in size, which makes them excellent companion plants. Further, these little roots are among the best vegetables for new gardeners to start with.
Quick Radish Growing Information
| How much light is needed: | 6 hours or more |
| How much water is needed: | 1 inch per week |
| Is it best to start with seeds or plants: | Seeds only |
| The best month to plant: | April and May |
| Preferred climate/temperature: | 55°F to 70°F |
| Is indoor or outdoor growing better: | Outdoor |
| Do indoor plants need to be pollinated: | Yes |
| Level of difficulty to grow: | Easy |
| Plant height: | 16 inches to 18 inches |
| Time from planting to harvest: | 21 to 70 days |
Tips for Growing Radishes
1. Plant Extra Radish Seeds
When you plant radish seeds, make sure to scatter a few more than you think you need. Seeds are finicky, you never know how many will germinate, or how long they will take to sprout.
So, sprinkling a few extra simply ensures you get the number of plants you desire.
Once the seeds germinate and sprout into plants, you may thin them out and make additional rows or transplant them elsewhere.
2. Keep the Soil Moist but Well-Drained
Possibly the best tip for growing healthy radish is simply keeping the soil damp throughout the entire growing process. However, the trick is that the soil can’t be soggy. Even more, it needs to stay very well-drained but constantly moist.
The best way to achieve this is to use a sandy quick-draining but water retaining soil mixed with organic compost to grow radish in.
3. Use Mulch on Developing Radish
When your radish is still just small reddish or purple balls with green leaves on top, covering them with an inch or so of mulch helps keep them as moist as possible in between watering sessions.
In fact, if you do cover them with mulch, you may need to increase the time in between waterings or reduce the amount of watering per session.
Radish Growing FAQs
How Far Apart Should I Plant Radish Sprouts?
Once radish seeds germinate and begin developing into sprouts, they need thinning out. The sprouts you remove need replanting around 2 inches or so apart from each other. In addition, the extra sprouts may also get planted in between other various vegetables in other areas of the garden.
Why Are My Radish Tops Big and Bottoms Small?
The main reason that radish tops grow to extreme heights (18 inches or higher) while the bottom (the root itself) doesn’t develop much at all is too much nitrogen. Thus, fertilizers containing large amounts of nitrogen need to be avoided in the area of the garden where you plan to grow radishes.
What Crops Should I NOT Plant Radish Near?
There aren’t many vegetables that radishes can’t be planted near, however, there is one: potatoes. Radish and potatoes compete for light, moisture, and nutrients. That means, more often than not, only one of the two crops will thrive if planted too close to each other.
Suggested Reading: How to Grow Carrots: Gardening Guide
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