Growing Radishes

Radish is a cool-season, fast-maturing, easy-to-grow vegetable. Garden radishes can be grown wherever there is sun and moist, fertile soil, even on the smallest city lot. Early varieties usually grow best in the cool days of early spring, but some later-maturing varieties can be planted for summer use.

The variety French Breakfast holds up and grows better than most early types in summer heat if water is supplied regularly. Additional sowings of spring types can begin in late summer, to mature in the cooler, more moist days of fall.

Winter radishes are sown in midsummer to late summer, much as fall turnips. They are slower to develop than spring radishes; and they grow considerably larger, remain crisp longer, are usually more pungent and hold in the ground or store longer than spring varieties.

Radishes are hardy to cold, but they cannot withstand heat. In the South, they do well in autumn, winter, and spring. In the North, they may be grown in spring and autumn, and in sections having mild winters they may be grown in coldframes at that season. In high altitudes and in northern locations with cool summers, radishes thrive from early spring to late autumn.

Radishes are not sensitive to the type of soil so long as it is rich, moist, and friable. Apply additional fertilizer when the seeds are sown; conditions must be favorable for quick growth. Radishes that grow slowly have a pungent flavor and are undesirable.

Till the soil to a depth of at least six inches. Remove any debris that could obstruct the growing tubers, and work in organic matter to ensure the right soil conditions. Soil pH should be 6.5 or higher. Soil pH over 6.8 will help manage club root.

Place seeds 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) deep and 1 inch (2.5 cm)apart, in rows or patches. In soil temperatures of 50 degrees F (10 C) and above, the seeds will germinate in a week or less.<.p>

Radishes need consistent moisture. If the soil dries out during their growth, radishes will become bitter and mealy. Keep radishes evenly moist throughout the growing season. Use a straw mulch to help retain soil moisture.

Radishes mature the quickest of our garden crops, most radish varieties mature in 25-35 days. They remain in prime condition only a few days, which makes small plantings at week or 10-day intervals advisable. A few yards of row will supply all the radishes a family will consume during the time the radishes are at their best.

There are two types of radishes - the milk, small, quick-maturing sort which reach edible size in from 20 to 40 days; and the more pungent, large, winter radishes which require 75 days or more for growth. Plant winter radishes so they will reach a desirable size in the autumn. Gather and store them like other root crops.