Helpful information
Timing: All year round (depending on variety)
Where to do it: Outdoors, indoors
Garden space: Large garden, small garden, balcony, indoor space
Timing: All year round (depending on variety)
Where to do it: Outdoors, indoors
Garden space: Large garden, small garden, balcony, indoor space
Radishes are root vegetables, i.e. the part of the plant that grows underground is edible. The most common idea of what a radish looks like is small, round and reddish-pink. There are, however, a range of radish colours available - white, yellow, purple or even black. Some are almost oval in shape!
Radishes generally have a peppery taste, which can be quite strong. There are some varieties that are milder and sweeter than others.
Health benefits of radishes
Radishes contain several vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamin C and riboflavin. They also contain a number of antioxidants. They can be part of a healthy diet.
The root of the radish may look like the star, but you can also eat radish leaves. These can be eaten raw or cooked.
Growing radishes from seeds vs plug plants
Because radishes are so quick to grow, they are great to grow from seed. You can find radish seeds in garden centres, supermarkets and online.
Radish seeds are small and some people may find them fiddly to sow. As an alternative, you can also find radish plug plants. These are small plants that have already been through the first stages of germination and growth.
Varieties of radish
You can find varieties of radish that you grow and harvest in spring and summer, as well as varieties that can be grown in autumn and winter. Here are a few popular ones.
Spring and summer:
Radish ‘Cherry Belle’ – round, red and mild tasting.
Radish ‘French Breakfast’ – long shaped, with a strong flavour
Radish ‘Scarlet Globe’ – bright red colour, crisp texture
Autumn and winter:
Radish ‘Black Spanish Round’ – pure black skin, spicy flavour
Radish ‘Mooli’ – long, white roots with a mild flavour. Also known as Daikon radish, this can be used to make kimchi
Radish ‘Oriental Rosa’ – long, red-pink roots and a spicy flavour
Horseradish is not strictly a type of radish, though it sounds like it. They are more like cousins, as both are in the Brassicaceae family, which also includes mustard, cabbages and turnips.
With some seeds, you can plant in seed trays or smaller pots first and then prick out into larger pots or into the ground. Radishes – like many root vegetables - do not like being transplanted (moved) from one place to another. You are better off sowing seeds directly into their final destination.
Depending on the time of year, that could mean directly sowing radish seeds into the ground. Many varieties of radish will also be happy growing in a pot or container, which makes them perfect plants if you have a patio garden or a balcony.
Try to choose a warm, sheltered spot in the garden for your radishes.
Radishes can also grow successfully indoors. Position them on a sunny windowsill where they can germinate.
When sowing seeds, read the seed packet for advice on how deep and how far apart to space your seeds.
Water your radish seeds well after sowing.
I love sowing seeds ... and seeing them grow and change.
Katy, Gardening Club member
Radishes are pretty low maintenance. They do need regular watering to grow to their best.
As your radish plants germinate, you may find you have accidentally sowed some too close together. If this happens, you can thin them out. This just means gently removing a few plants, so the ones left have enough space. You can try replanting the ones you remove somewhere else. But, as mentioned above, radish plants don’t much like being moved and these ones may not survive.
Radishes are generally ready to harvest between four to six weeks after germination. Check the seed packet for the expected harvest time.
It’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on below the soil, but you can use the leaves as a guide. If the leaves are getting big – several inches tall – it’s likely the radish is growing well under the soil too.
One way of checking on a radish is to gently rub away the top of the soil below the radish leaves. As the top of the radish becomes visible, you should get a good sense of how large it is. If it has grown to a good size, you can harvest it by pulling out the whole plant.
Sometimes radishes pop themselves up above the soil surface! In this case, you may as well harvest them even if small, as they are unlikely to grow much larger.
You can keep harvesting your radishes regularly. Try not to leave them in the ground for too long, as they can become woody.
Now, you can choose how to use your radish!
Radishes are perfect added raw to salads.
You could also try using them cooked in a recipe, for example:
Or, if you are growing mooli / daikon radishes and are feeling adventurous, you could make your own radish kimchi!
Watching plants grow that I can then use for cooking warms the soul.
Sean, Gardening Club member
Enjoy the results of your harvest and feel proud of yourself for growing your own food.
Salad leaves include a range of nutritious food crops. Quick to grow, salad leaves are suitable for all manner of garden spaces, including indoors.
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