How to Grow Radishes
Instruction & Advice for Growing Radish Plants
in Your Vegetable Garden
| Nutrition | Watering Instructions | Harvesting |
| Climate | Fertilizing Instructions | Storage |
| Soil | Challenges | Tips |
| Planting |
*** EASY TO GROW ***
Radishes grow in a variety of shapes and lengths, depending upon the variety you select. It is best to grow this vegetable in cool gardening periods as radishes tend to go to seed quickly in hot weather.
NOTE: This vegetable makes for a great gardening project for kids, as it's easy to grow, relatively problem free, and has a short growing cycle!
Gardening Advice Tip: Consider reviewing the companion planting guide when picking a location for the radish patch in your garden.
Nutrition Information: (back to top)
Under optimal growing conditions, radishes offer: Dietary Fiber, Chromium, Manganese, Riboflavin, Vitamin C, B6, Calcium, Magnesium, Folate, Copper, Potassium
Climate & Growing Conditions: (back to top)
Radishes will grow well in nearly any climate.
How to Prepare the Garden Soil: (back to top)
Plant your radish garden in a shady, moist location. This vegetable will grow best in a spot that was prepared with a fertilizer, compost, or well-rotted manure in the previous season (or for a previous crop).
The secret to success for this vegetable is to have fine, rich, friable (loose and crumbly) garden soil. This allows the roots to grow quickly, providing the best texture and flavor. Rake the soil several times to break up clumps. The ideal garden soil pH for radishes is between 6.0 and 7.0. (Instructions for testing your garden soil pH level)
How to Plant Radishes: (back to top)
Do not plant a large radish crop all at the same time (unless you're gardening for profit and can dispense large quantities of radishes quickly).
It's far better to plant small crops of radishes every 2 weeks. This way you keep a constant supply of fresh radishes at their peak in taste for your family.
Plant radish seed in the garden as soon as the garden soil can be reasonably worked. Plant them very shallowly in the garden soil, only ¼” deep, 1/2" appart, with 6" between rows. You should expect to see seedlings appear in about 2 weeks. Once you see a 2nd set of leaves, thin the plants to 2” apart, so they have plenty of room to grow (they don't like to be crowded!)
Gardening Advice Tip: Radishes grow quickly, so they can be placed among other slow growing vegetables to save space (see companion gardening). Lettuce is a favorite for companion gardening with radishes.
How to Water: (back to top)
Keep soil moist but not soggy during the growing stage.
Note: if you experience a dry (or hot) spell, be sure to keep your radish crop well watered, and shaded if possible.
How to Fertilize: (back to top)
Radishes perform best in a garden bed that was previously fertilized for another crop. If that's not available, dig in a complete fertilizer and/or compost as far in advance as possible.
Once the radish seedlings are established, you can feed the soil around the plants with a dose of liquid fertilizer every week.
Note: Too much fertilizer makes for a lot of leaves, and disappointingly small roots.
Gardening Challenges: (back to top)
Radish seedlings can be a favorite snack for birds. Protect them by lightly covering with a fine mesh netting or cheesecloth, supported on sticks, string or structure so that they're suspended off the plants.
How to Harvest Radishes: (back to top)
Harvest radishes by lifting from the ground, when they're of a size that's palatble to you. The younger the plant, the more sweet the flavor.
Note: Don't leave radishes in the ground too long (or in hot weather) or you'll find that they get bitter, woody and have a hot flavor.
How to Store
Radishes: (back to top)
Radishes don't store well for extended periods of time, nor do they freeze or dehyrdate well. It's best to pick them as needed and use them fresh. They will store for a period in your refrigerator's crisper. Trimming the greens from the top can extend their life in your crisper.
Gardening Advice Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a fun story) to share about your radish growing experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
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