How to Grow and Care for Radishes: 5 Care Tips for Radishes

Radishes (raphanus sativus) are a cool-season root vegetable and a member of the Brassicaceae family. Radish plants are biennials—its life cycle is two years long—but the root veggie can also be grown as an annual. The colorful root vegetable has two growing seasons: spring and winter. The most common varieties include round radishes, horseradish, and Daikon. Radishes are chock full of vitamin A, D, K, potassium, and magnesium.

Radishes are divided by their growing seasons: spring and winter. There are many different varieties of radishes within these groups:

• Spring radishes. Common spring varieties include Cherry Belle, Easter Egg, French Breakfast, and White Icicle.
• Winter radishes. Common winter varieties include Black Spanish, China Rose, and Daikon White.

Radishes are cold-hardy plants that can tolerate temperatures as low as 26 degrees Fahrenheit. However, different varieties of radishes have optimal growing seasons.

• Early spring. You can grow radishes in early spring for a mid-spring harvest. Use row covers at night if the temperature drops below the freezing point.
• Early fall. Radish plants can tolerate light frost, making it ideal for sowing in late summer and early fall. You can plant seeds up to two months before the first frost. Avoid growing radishes during the climax of summer—radishes cannot develop if the air temperature is too warm.

Once the weather allows, you can begin planting radish seeds in your home garden.

• Choose a site. Radish plants prefer full sun, but they can tolerate partial shade. Choose a planting area that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day.
• Prepare the soil. Radishes prefer loamy, well-draining soil with an average to slightly acidic soil pH level (between 6.0 to 7.0). If you don’t know whether your soil is acidic or alkaline, you can perform a soil test using one of the methods featured in our soil test guide.
• Plant. Sow the radish seeds in loose soil at least one inch apart, in holes approximately one-inch deep. Drop seeds in the holes and cover with a half-inch of soil. Radishes grow within the soil, so you'll also want to leave at least one foot of space between rows.
• Transplant your radish plants. Though some gardeners may prefer to begin the germination process indoors to control the humidity and temperature of its surroundings, transplanting can be difficult with radish plants. The root ball is very sensitive and should not be disrupted. If you do choose to transplant, avoid disturbing the root ball. Uproot the seedlings using a scoop, leaving a few inches of soil around the bulb for protection. Transfer the plant into holes about two inches deep in your garden bed.

The journey to ripe radishes is far from over once you sow your seeds. Your radish plants will need basic routine maintenance to thrive.

1. 1. Water. Radishes need routine watering to grow, or they run the risk of becoming pithy. Give the plants about one inch of water per week, depending on the soil moisture. If the topsoil feels too dry, add an extra inch of water. When the weather is cooler in early spring or fall, water your radishes about once a week, if there is no rain. Increase to two or even three times per week if the air temperature increases.
2. 2. Succession plant. You can continue to sow seeds every 10 to 14 days throughout the growing season for a steady supply of radishes. Succession planting will give you a continuous harvest of radishes through the fall.
3. 3. Companion plant. Radishes make a good companion plant, meaning you can plant them near other vegetables, such as beans, onions, cucumbers, and parsnips. There are many benefits to companion planting, like improved plant growth, pest control, and maximizing garden space.
4. 4. Use a natural or organic pesticide. Radishes are prone to pests like root maggots, aphids, and flea beetles. Critters or insects snacking on your vegetables are an inevitable part of maintaining your own garden. For pests, use an organic or noninvasive pesticide.
5. 5. Add a layer of mulch. Mulching the top layer or adding fertilizer of your soil can also give your radish plants a head start in growth.

Radishes grow rapidly—you can harvest them about a month after planting. You'll know your plants are ready once the vegetable is about one-inch thick. You don’t need tools to harvest radishes—just pull the vegetable from the soil from its greens. Use a sharp tool to detach the radishes from its stem and root tail. Wash your radishes thoroughly before eating.

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