Growing RADISHES - How to Grow Radish for Spicy Salads
RADISH - ADVICE ABOUT CARE AND CULTIVATION
Radishes
originally come from China, then spread and reached the Mediterranean
countries.
Radishes are a staple food in Japan and China.
The radish may be grown successfully all the year round by sowing the seed in a hot-bed in frames from October to February and in the open ground at fortnightly intervals during the remainder of the year.
WHERE TO GROW RADISHES
Soil - Radishes thrive best in a light and slightly limed loam, manured for a previous crop.
Radishes like sun, but also prefer cool conditions.
If radishes are grown in full sun they will very quickly run to seed or bolt during the summer months.
Growing radishes alongside vegetables such as peas or beans can help to prevent bolting as the other plants will provide some shade.
Sheltered positions facing south are best for early crops of radish.
SOWING RADISHES
Sow radish seed thinly in drills I inch deep, from 3 to 4 inches apart for long radishes, and from 4 to 6 inches apart for the larger sorts, such as the Spanish radish.
Any radish seedlings that press on their neighbours should be at once thinned out.
Early radish sowings will need to be protected from frost by a covering of litter, but this must be removed every mild day as soon as the plants appear above ground.
When the weather is hot and the ground dry, water before sowing radish.
Some days before harvesting radishes, water the beds well and keep the soil moist until the radish crop is finished.
ADVICE ABOUT CARE OF RADISH PLANTS IN THE GARDEN
Radish plants require little attention once they have passed the seedling stage - their main requirement is regular watering.
Ther is no need to apply additional fertiliser to radishes.
Radishes are a brassica and can be susceptible to clubroot, although generally they grow too quickly to be affected.
Two pests do attack them - slugs and flea beetles
DIFFERENT VARIETIES AND TYPES OF RADISH
Red Globe Short Top (early use), French Breakfast (summer use), Turnip Red, Turnip White and Black Spanish (winter use). Japanese mooli radishes., Rudi, a globe shaped dark red radish, Tsukushi Spring Cross (winter hardy)
OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES ON GARDEN GROWER
How to grow Radish, when to sow radishes, sowing and care for radishes.