When To Plant Radish – The Right Time

When to Plant Radish - The right time

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Last Updated on January 31, 2022 by

Radishes are colorful root vegetables that are easy to grow and you can plant them multiple times but do you know when to plant radish?

Radishes are perfect for new and young gardeners.  They are easy to grow and a fast-growing crop maturing in only 21 days.

Some gardeners even know the secret of growing radishes together with other slow-growing crops like broccoli and enjoying double harvests.

Do not plant radishes among the fastest vegetables to grow because they can be overwhelming.

Quick Facts For Radish

  • Radishes thrive in cooler conditions and can withstand cold weather.

  • Ensure you loosen the soil before planting at least up to six inches deep, a foot or more for longer types.

  • The best time to plant radishes is in April, May, and August

  • Stress from drought can cause the roots to develop a tough texture and poor flavor.

  • Harvest your radishes at least 3 to 5 weeks after planting

  • Daikon roots are long and need a spade to harvest them without breaking them

Quick Facts For Radish

When Do You Plant Radishes?

Radishes have their seasons for both the early and late crops.  Sow an early crop in February in warm soil and protect with cloches.

  • Sow a late crop from March to Mid-August.

  • Sow for winter in July or August.

  • It is advisable to sow radish seeds a little at a time and often, to get a small but continuous harvest. Aim to provide radishes with consistent conditions to ensure they thrive without any issues.

  • Sow outdoors – this can be in containers, on the ground, or in growing bags. However, how deep to plant radish seeds?  Sow your seeds in a short drill of about a cm deep and 2.5cm apart.

How To Plant Your Radish

There are a few important factors that you need to consider when planting radishes

  • Growing Site. Radishes thrive in full or partial sun.  The soil must be loose and well-drained.  Remove the soil lumps, rocks, and roots from radish planting beds.  Obstructions can cause the radish roots to be malformed.  Be sure to add organic matter to the soil before sowing radishes.  They prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8.

  • Planting Time.  Radishes are a cool-weather crop.  Plant your radish seeds in the garden at least 2 to 3 weeks before the average date of the last frost in Spring.  Sow every 2 weeks in spring and fall to get a succession crop.  Radishes will mature in a few days between 21 to 70 days.  Harvest your crop before the weather warms up.  Warm weather results in small roots that are not attractive and juicy like the cold season ones.  In mild winters regions, grow your radishes in late autumn and early winter. These root vegetables can withstand frost.

  • Planting And Spacing.  Sow you radish at least ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart.  Thin your seedlings at least from 1 to 4 inches apart in wide rows depending on the variety.  Allow enough room for winter varieties to give them better growing room.  Space singe rows or mounded ridges up to 10 to 16 inches apart.

  • Container Growing.  Radishes can be grown in containers at least 6 inches 14 cm deep.  Move containers to cool locations if the weather gets too warm.

  • Plant Radish with Companion Plants.  You can plant lettuce, cucumbers, peas, peppers, and nasturtiums.

Caring For Radishes

Watering and Feeding Radishes.  Water your radish adequately but not too wet.  Regular watering results in quick growth, slow growth causes radishes to taste hot.  Use compost manure to feed your soil before planting or side-dress the plants with aged compost.

Sunlight.  Radishes require sun; however, you can cover in midsummer so that they only get 8 hours of sunlight rather than 12 hours.

Eliminate Pests.  Radish grows very fast and pests are not a common problem.  However, they are still attacked by maggots and aphids.  Remove the pest-infested foliage to curb the problem.

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Harvesting Radish

If you plant your radishes in spring, they require about 20 to 30 days to reach the harvest time.

Winter radishes take up to 50 t0 60 days to reach harvest time.

Radishes are ready to harvest when the roots are at least 1 inch wide.  To check if they are ready, push the soil aside or lift a few to decide if they are large enough.  If they are ready, remove both the top and the root.  Do not leave radishes in the ground too long or they will become pithy.

You can store your harvested radishes and store them in the refrigerator for about 1 to 2 weeks.

Where Can You Plant Radish?

Because of their growth speed and size, radishes can be grown anywhere. These root vegetables will be ready to enjoy in as little as 4 weeks.

These vegetables take up minimal space, and you can grow them as a fill-in crop, either within or between rows of slow-growing vegetables like parsnip, or as a quick, in-and-out crop at the beginning or end of the growing season.

Where Can You Plant Radish

Conclusion

Radishes love full sun but do well in part shade as well.  In a hot climate, they prefer full shade especially in the height of summer. During this season, keep the soil moist and you will get a good harvest in no time.

If you are looking to grow radishes, go ahead and do it.  This trouble-free plant will give you genuine pleasure to grow.

Radish is one vegetable that you will be hard-pressed to find another as easy to grow – and entirely edible!  It comes in a variety of different types that are quick to grow with a delightful mix of colors and a variety of flavors.

If you plan to grow yours, the one most important tip you should not forget is to fertilize your soil well in advance because this begins a fast-growing plant will need all the nutrients to thrive and give you a good harvest.

Get new recipes for serving your radish and watch your family and loved ones enjoy your labor of love.  what more can we ask for when we can make fresh salads from our homegrown radish now and then.

Do you have any favorite recipes, varieties, or growing tips? Let us know your ideas in the comments below!

FAQs

What months do you plant radishes?

It is normal to see radishes in the fall and early winter. They can be planted in late summer for a fall crop, or in early spring for an early winter crop. They are very hardy and can survive a cold winter.

"Radishes are one of the best fall crops," said John Gaughan, a horticulture professor at the University of Florida.

"They're easy to grow, they're relatively fast growing, they have a long harvest period." Radishes can be planted in mid- to late July, but most gardeners will tell you it's better to wait until after Labor Day for a good harvest. Gaughan suggests planting two or three varieties of radishes.

"The longer the harvest period, the more tender and flavorful they are." When choosing radishes, look for uniform size and shape and avoid radishes that have any blemishes. Once they're harvested, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with paper towels, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.

How do they grow best?

Radishes are an easy vegetable to grow from seed, and the larger varieties can be delicious. The plants will continue to grow well for up to two months, but there is no reason to harvest them before then. In the springtime, you can transplant a few of your seedlings into garden soil, and allow them to grow for a couple of weeks.

How can you tell if they're healthy?

This is a very difficult question, because it depends on the variety, the size of the root, the time of year, and how much light you give them. Here are some things that you can look at: Look at the leaves - if they're growing normally, they should be healthy and green. Try pulling the leaves off the plant to see if they look healthy.

Why won't my radishes grow?

Radishes need at least six hours of sunlight a day. If they're not getting enough, they won't grow well. You can plant them in a sunny spot with some protection from the wind (like a window) and mulch around them to keep weeds away. You can also try growing them indoors under lights.

Can I plant radishes in summer?

The radishes will do better if planted in early spring, but you can certainly plant seeds for them in the summer.

Can radishes get too much sun?

Yes, it may be a problem if they are growing in a sunny location. Radishes grow in the ground and need to be shaded for part of the day.

Are radishes frost hardy?

Radishes are frost hardy, but they don't have a lot of cold tolerance. If you grow them as a spring crop, they won't be very productive in the fall. Radish seeds are tiny and may not germinate in cool soil.

 

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