GROWING RADISHES & CELEBRATING
Exciting times over here for us! Not only are we celebrating a birthday in the family, but today is the day we are finally going to pluck out our very first radish.
It should be noted that this is very overdue, considering radishes are typically a quick turnaround crop. It’s been 34 days for us – seeds were sown on June 12 – which is about day 10 days longer than expected. Oh well! I think because so many seeds were planted close together, it made it tough for them to grow to a good size. There was probably a lot of competition for nutrients, which stunted the growth of the group.
Note to self: next time, plant less seeds at a time.
Why plant radishes from seed?
- I personally love the spicy taste
- As mentioned above, it’s a quick turnaround crop. The packet quotes 25 days until harvest, which is great for beginners because it’s a huge confidence boost to get something quickly
- They’re loaded with Vitamins E, A, C, B6, and K
- Radishes are high on antioxidants
- They’re a powerhouse of potassium – which is good for lowering blood pressure
- Great for getting fiber into your diet
4 common problems with growing radishes
radish problem 1: EXCESS NITROGREN
The soil might have too much nitrogen and neutral acidity will slow the form of radishes. One quick fix to this might be to add mulch, in hopes that the mulch absorbs some of this excess nitrogen.
Note: radishes do well in soil that has a pH of 5.8 to 6.8
radish problem 2: soil isn't loose enough
The soil might be too compact. Remember, radishes are a root vegetable and need room to expand and grow their roots.
radish problem 3: overcrowding
Also overcrowding can be an issue. Overcrowded radishes don’t have the space they need and are also competing for nutrition, which basically means that no plant has the proper resources to grow strong (i.e. no winners). Be sure to thin your radishes when they get to about 2 inches tall.
radish problem 4: weather
Weather could be the reason – especially in established beds. Radishes thrive in cool, moist weather. While they do need full sun (6+ hours), radishes tend to bolt when the temperatures exceed 80 degrees F. With these temperatures, radishes focus on forming flowers, not roots.
our radish set up:
- We have 32 radishes across 2 square foot garden plots
- We have 12 radishes in a 10” terra cotta pot
So far, our square foot garden radishes are looking the best!
Note: everything was sown from seed, directly in the soil.
We have been enjoying our basil for awhile now… I don’t even remember when I started picking the leaves off to eat. But pulling out a radish feels like the first vegetable we’ve grown because it’s all underground (not already out like the basil) so it’s kind of surprise to see how big it is. We are not a point where we can pull our carrots or beets yet…
how do you know when your radishes are ready?
You know your radishes are ready when you see the bulb breaking through the surface. Per the Spruce, the bulb should be showing about 1 inch!
You can pull up or gently move the soil around the radish.
my 3-year old pulled the first radish & her reaction was Pure Joy
We were able to pull 5 strong looking radishes this first time and we are so proud! Our family ate them in a salad we whipped up (cucumbers, radishes, red onion, sour cream, salt and pepper).
I love having radishes in the garden. I definitely want to keep this up and grow more. To be honest, I don’t know how much hope I should leave for this initial planting… we are getting later into the season and nothing else looks ready (again, we surpassed 30 days already).
RADISH GAME PLAN MOVING FORWARD:
- Experiment with seed starting in a seed starting kit, then transferring after 10 days (or so)
- Sow directly into the soil again (exactly what I did the first time) to compare to the seed starting method
- Try planting in areas with less sun and see if this helps. Texas is so hot in the summer!
- Plant less seeds at a time
- Thin radishes as soon as they get past 1.5″
I know it’s a little too late in the season for the cooler-weather crop, but I have to try again! Let me know if you’ve had luck starting radish seeds, then transferring. I would love to hear your tips on maximizing radish production.