Growing Radish

Raphanus sativas : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P P P     P        

(Best months for growing Radish in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 3 - 5 cm apart
  • Harvest in 5-7 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Chervil, cress,lettuce, leeks, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes
  • Avoid growing close to: Hyssop, gherkins

Your comments and tips

08 Dec 08, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been trying to grow radishes for over 2 months now and I haven't had a single good crop. Either no round radish root at all or a very small pathetic root. What am I doing wrong??
03 Feb 09, Christopher (Australia - temperate climate)
My problem is same as 08 Dec Paul...even when temp was below 25deg.Have tried poor soil...no fertilizer...but all tops & no roots
26 Feb 09, KEVIN HERON (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I know its too late now..but when your tomato season begins, purchase a punnet of your favourite tommies.. then when the laterals are about pencil thickness,,intead of pinching them off.. buy a carton of beer (cans) when empty, cut the bottoms off, fill with garden soil, and stick the laterals in..water keep moist and you will get 20/30 tomato plants from one punnet..:) not only do you get loads of your favourite tommies,,!! you also enjoy emptying the cans...
26 Feb 09, Val (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I cannot grow radishes. They always end up all tops and nothing underneath. What am I doing wrong as they say any idiot can grown radishes.
06 Mar 09, Robert (Australia - temperate climate)
As a commercial grower of radish (primex), I always remember the advice given to me many years ago, that being to never fertilise radish. As radish is one of the fastest growing vegetables, too much fertiliser causes the leaves to outgrow the root. Long leaves have no shelf life, just look in your local supermarket. I actually apply a VERY light application of Nitrophoska Blue which gives the leaves a beautiful velvety texture. I pick the radish when they are the size of a ten cent piece and leaves about four inches long. One of the great pleasures of my life is washing the bunches of radish and packing them in boxes of thirty for sale knowing that some-one is going to enjoy eating them as much as I enjoy growing them.
21 Mar 09, Klaudia (Australia - temperate climate)
my radish leaves are turning yellow - what could be the reason?
17 Apr 09, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
Interesting what Robert said. I even spoke to yates and they told me to go easy on the liquid fertiliser/Nitrogen and appy a sprinkle of Superphosphate between the rows but this has made no difference whatsoever. Are we justing getting crap seed growing stock these day?.............because I grew radish as a kid and never had these problems as I would just dig up the ground and stick seeds in and they would grow just fine. What about sunlight? Surely other people here with same problem can't have their garden in a spot that doesn't get enough sun!?
25 Mar 16, Sustainable Susan (Australia - temperate climate)
Have you tried checking the composition of your soil?
29 May 09, Stefan (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
Maybe a tip from the Bavarians: slice the radish thinly and sprinkle with salt. This will neutralise the bitter taste, and the salt will wash out with the liquid. You will need about a tea spoon of salt per 300mm (=foot) of radish. The connoisseur will do ONE spiral cut along the whole length of the radish with about 1mm pitch.
02 Sep 09, dan (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
How long does it take for radishes to seed?
Showing 11 - 20 of 144 comments

I have grown them for 40+ years and I think it has to do with watering and weather. Better grown into/in the winter - a more even growing conditions - smaller variation of temp and water in the soil. If grown in the hotter weather they can dry out a bit and I think this makes them hotter. Try and grow quickly. Pick as soon as they reach the required size. They will keep in the fridge for weeks.

- Mike

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