Radish

Plant of The Month Info Card

Radish (Raphanus sativus) are my favourite “filler” plants because they grow quickly and don’t take up much space. Radish are great for filling in the gaps between other plants or sowing alongside them as they will be ready to harvest well before your other vegetables need the space. The whole plant can be eaten root to shoot making it an excellent source of food.

Radish is easy to grow and can be grown for most of the year if given the right environment.

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PLANT

Spring, Summer, Autumn. All year round in moderate climates.

SOIL

Rich fertile compost and well-drained soil.

LOCATION

Sunny Position 6rs. Shade from hot afternoon sun in summer.

CARE

Water regularly. Uneven or excess water may cause roots to split.

FERTILISE

Feed with compost and with liquid seaweed fertiliser.

PESTS

Slaters, slugs may get young plants.

HARVEST

From 28 days. 4-6 weeks.

REPRODUCE

Let some plants go to flower then collect seeds.

Why Grow Radish?

Radish are quick-growing and don’t take up much space. Grow Radish in between other vegetables and utilize the space before your other plants grow.

Here are some of the many reasons to grow Radish:

Easy to grow
Quick to grow seed to table in 4 weeks
The whole plant is edible: Root, greens, seeds pods
Can be sown for most or all of the year
Great companion plants
Vitamins B, C and Potassium
Immune boosting
Anti-inflammatory and detoxifying
Save seeds easily for sustainable gardening

Popular Heirloom Radish Varieties

‘Pink Celebration’– Popular bright pink, small round radish. Harvest 22-60 days. Great fresh in salads.

‘French Breakfast’ – Popular and quick to grow. Longer oval radish that fades from pink to white. Harvest 22-60 days. Mild flavour.

‘Fire Candle‘ – Long tapered root that looks similar to a carrot. 15cm long. Pink-purple with white flesh. Harvest 22-60 days. Mild Flavour.

‘China Rose‘ – A long tapered root that looks similar to a carrot. Pink with white flesh. Harvest 22-60 days. Sharp flavour.

‘Watermelon‘ – Chinese heirloom. White rustic outside and bright pink inside. Slower growing. Standout for salads and garnish.

‘Hail stone – Small round white radish. Harvest 22-60 days. Very mild flavour.

‘Golden‘ – Small round yellow radish. Harvest 22-60 days. Very mild flavour.

‘Black Spanish Long‘ – Black skin with contrasting white flesh. Fun to grow for something different.Strong flavour. Great fresh or roasted. Harvest 22-60 days.

‘Diakon‘ – Large white radish. Mild flavour. Great for pickling and fermenting. 60cm long. Harvest 30-60 days.

How to Grow Radish

During Spring and Summer find a sunny spot with periods of shade so the Radish doesn’t get too hot and go to flower. In the cooler months of autumn and winter plant your radish in a full sun position. Radish and root vegetables tend to do best when sown directly into the garden. Prepare your soil by adding in compost or composted manure. Free draining soil that is not compact will allow the roots to grow. Wet down the soil first and place your radish seeds 3-4cm apart. Sprinkle with a thin layer of soil just enough to cover the seeds. Water again with a light sprinkle. Keep the soil moist and the seeds should pop up within the first few days.

Radish can also be grown in pots or containers.

I like to plant a few seeds around other vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli etc. The radish will be ready to eat before the other plants have grown big enough to shade them out or need the space. This can help you maximise the space you have to produce food.

When to Plant Radish

All Year round in most locations. In some cold climates, they may not grow in the winter. When growing in summer provide some shade or plant between other plants to offer protection from the midday heat.

Care/ Maintenance

Small radish seedlings can be a delicious snack for your garden pests. Check them regularly when they are young. Radish will benefit from some liquid feed or natural fertilizer such as seaweed solution about two weeks into their growth cycle. Be careful not to get it on the leaves as this can burn the delicate growth.

Pests / Disease

Young Radish will be vulnerable to pests such as slugs, snails, slaters and aphids. Check your seedlings regularly.

How/ When to Harvest

Radish are best picked when they are young or just ready. Leaving radish too long will result in a fibrous texture. After about 4 weeks the roots will start to rise out of the soil and you can harvest the larger ones first. If the bulbs start to split harvest them straight away. Radish will split when they get an excess of water. So it can be a good idea to harvest your radish before big rains.

Reproducing

The best way to reproduce radish is to save the seeds. Let some of your best-looking radishes go to flower and then small seed pods will appear. Let them go until they are starting to go brown and hard. Then harvest the pods and let them dry. The seeds will be inside the pods. Split them open and shake out the tiny seeds into a brown paper bag. Save these somewhere dry and cool to replant.

Cooking and Using Radish

Radish tends to be underutilised in the kitchen. They are great fresh in a salad but there are so many other delicious ways to use your radish harvests.

Radish pairs well with: lemon, lime, mint, cucumber, avocado, celery, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, onion, feta, vinegar, chives, dill, mustard, beans, cabbage, sesame, tomato, asparagus

Radish ideas: