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

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22 Dec 19, Madison (Australia - temperate climate)
This is my first time growing radishes, and I found that most of the leaves had been eaten through or had tough brown/yellow streaks. I believe it may be some sort of disease or they have been attacked by pests.
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27 Dec 19, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
when it is wet and rainy the bugs and insect breed more, or that is their breeding time. I'm sub tropical and I try to grow radishes March to Oct. I'm finding I grow the best radishes late autumn winter. And try and have the soil a bit firm when planting radishes. I find if the radish has germinated and is growing and the soil is then compacted a bit by rain/watering you end up with radishes that look like a number 8 instead of a nice circle round.
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11 Oct 19, Danny (New Zealand - temperate climate)
why are my radish going to seed? Have very big top and no radish.. have done for about 3 years .
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14 Oct 19, anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
If they have very big leafy tops you are over fertilising BIG TIME. Plant radish after a leafy crop so that a lot of the N has been used. My experience is to grow radish into winter -sub tropical.
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22 Sep 19, Gerty (USA - Zone 7b climate)
My radishes came out too small or not developed a full bulb/root at all. I used a peat based potting soil and compost + vermiculite also amended with fish/kelp emulsion. I am growing them in 6 inch deep flats with proper drainage holes. The variety is Cherry Belles, Rover, French Breakfast. Planted them in late summer for fall.
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25 Apr 20, Dr. Peeper (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Sounds like your soil is too rich, probably in nitrogen.
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11 Jan 19, paul stanley wood (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
why not try the white long asian type i find them better they last longer in the fridge crisper
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14 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
That is a daikon radish . (More info here - www.gardenate.com/plant/Daikon?zone=3)
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28 Oct 18, Mandy McGuane (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi!! Would anyone be able to give some advice as to why my radishes when I picked them today, found that the base of them were split and not very healthy looking, rough skin? Could there be an issue in the soil? Thanks in advance.
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28 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A bit of a contradiction - splitting maybe too wet and tough could be too dry. I find I grow the best radishes in the winter - a light watering each day.
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Showing 41 - 50 of 144 comments
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A better suggestion is a Styrofoam box used for corn or zucchini - if you can find bigger boxes the better - you can grow more at a time. Go to Foodworks, IGA or any supermarket and ask if they have any. Put newspaper, shade cloth or bubble wrap on the bottom - then about 25 mm of small pebble (the beach) - then another layer of paper, shade cloth or bubble wrap with some holes in it. Mix up some soil, sand, compost/manure and potting mix/seed raising mix. Put that in the box and give a good watering. Plant the radish and sprinkle some soil/ potting mix/seed raising mix over the radish. Keep out of the sun until they germinate or put some shade cloth or something similar over them until they germinate. With this free draining soil and shallow soil depth they will need watering each day and plenty of sun. Have 2-3-4 boxes and have a succession of plantings. This method can be also used to grow lettuce and baby spinach - plant very densely and cut the young leaves about 25-50 mm up the plant and they will reshoot - multiply cuttings. You can buy seeds on the internet 100-200 seeds for $1.

- Mike

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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