RADISH: The Quick Harvest Vegetable

Author: Kerryn Martin  

Radishes are wonderfully diverse with many different colors, shapes and sizes. Plus, most varieties grow quickly and generally take less than a month to mature! That’s right—you can plant radishes now and have a harvest by the end of the month!  Not to mention the fact that you can also eat the nutritious leaves even earlier!   

A root vegetable which can be grown pretty much throughout the whole year - even through the winter in most areas.  

Oh I know, you don't like the spicy taste of raw radish.  Many would also agree!  However, most don't realise that when cooked (steamed or boiled with a little butter and salt) the spicy, hot flavour disappears.  The resulting vegetable is beautifully tender, with a mild, delicious flavour - nothing resembling the hot, spicy, tongue burning, water craving raw root vegetable that most associate with the common radish.  Even kids love it!!!  
 

HOW TO GROW RADISHES?

Location and Soil:

  • Avoid: Planting radishes near other brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, or cauliflower, as they can inhibit growth. 
     
  • Sunlight: Radishes thrive in full sun (6-8 hours of sunlight daily). 
     
  • Soil: Choose a well-drained, loose soil. 
     
  • Soil Preparation: Amend the soil with compost or aged manure to improve nutrient levels and structure. 
     

Planting:

  • Sowing: Sow seeds directly into the garden, thinly, about 5mm deep. 
  • Spacing: Space seeds 2-5cm apart in rows, with 15-30cm between rows. 
  • Watering: Water the soil thoroughly after planting to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. 
  • Germination: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, as radishes germinate quickly (5-8 days). 
     

Care:

  • Watering: Maintain consistent moisture, especially during germination and growth. Do not allow soil to dry out as this will encourage bolting.
  • Thinning: Thin seedlings to 2-5cm apart when they emerge to prevent overcrowding. 
  • Fertilizing: Radishes are light feeders, so they generally don't require heavy fertilization. 
  • Weeding: Keep the area free of weeds to prevent competition for resources. 

Harvesting:

  • Timing: Harvest radishes when they have reached their desired size and are firm to the touch, typically within 4-5 weeks. 
  • Avoid: Leaving radishes in the ground too long, as they can become tough and spicy. 
     
  • Successional Planting: Sow seeds every 2-4 weeks for a continuous supply of radishes. 



Definitely worth a try!  :0)