How To Grow Radish

Common Name: Chinese radish, Japanese radish, Oriental radish

Botanical Name: Raphanus Sativus

Indian Names: Muli (Hindi), Mulangi (Kannada, Tamil)

Vegetable type: Cruciferous

Varieties: April Cross, Bunny Tail, Cherry Belle, Champion, Red King, Sicily Giant, etc.

Radishes are enjoyed around the world, usually in their fresh form in salads, and cooked in various dishes, mainly in Asia. They are known for the fact that their usefulness is not only in their roots and stalk, but also in the leaves as well. Their health benefits are widely documented and are extremely high in Vitamin C, B6, Potassium, Fibre, Folate, and much more.

Note: You can buy almost a dozen varieties of radish seeds online from the GreenMyLife online store – delivered anywhere in India.

They are also known to have therapeutic effects for a large number of common diseases ranging from fever, constipation, and high blood pressure, to serious conditions such as jaundice, piles, diabetes and more. Let’s take a look at the main features of the radish plant.

Plant Features

Life-Cycle: Annual

Height: 20-100cm (8-39in.) (depending on variety)

Width: 5-30cm (2-12in.)

Flowering season: Late spring, mid-winter

Flower: Multiple purple or pink flowers, which grow on the racemes

Foliage: Circular, horizontal leaves on the ground level, along with smaller top leaves

Plant/Growing Details

Sunlight: Partial shade to full sunlight

Water: Needs moist climate to grow, loamy soils

Sowing:

-Season

Radishes are a cool-season crop. They should be sown during the beginning of the cold weather season depending on the part of the world you live in, and harvested before the warm season begins, as bolting(small root size) can occur if the climate is too warm.

-Method

Seeds should be sown ½ an inch (1.2cm) deep and 1 inch (2.5cm) apart. Thin the seedlings 1-4 inches (1.2-10cm) apart, and space the rows or mounded ridges with 10-16 inches (25-40cm) between them.

Care: Optimal temperature for a healthy radish plant is 10-18 degrees Celsius, with a soil pH of around 6. Make sure to keep a cover of organic nutrients around the base of the plant. Radishes will go to seed if planted during summer months, due to longer days, so keep them covered in the summer, and make sure that they are watered evenly. It can be grown with a companion plant, and it is seen that it thrives when grown alongside cucumber.

Pests: Aphids and root maggots are the main cause for disease in radish plants. These can cause a variety of diseases such as scab (brown circular regions on the root), black root (black discoloration and constriction of root), wilting, etc. These can be treated by rotating crops frequently, and inspecting the plants regularly to check for any infestations.

Harvest: As radishes can either be grown in the spring or in the winter, the days for harvest differ. Spring radishes are ready for harvest within 30 days, while radishes grown in the winter require 50-60 days for harvest, due to the general frost layer that covers the soil. You can tell the radish is ready for harvest when the roots are 30 cm across, and the whole plant can be lifted up. Make sure to harvest before the warm season.

Propagation: Radishes are primarily propagated by seeds, sown, and harvested at the appropriate interval. However, propagation by replanting the radish bulb is also possible, but not ideal, as this method takes more time than the more mainstream way of seed propagation.

Radishes are a common staple in most gardens, as they grow quite fast in the spring, and are used widely in cuisine. With so many varieties and varying tastes for each one, it’s up to you to decide which one will suit your palate. So give these seeds a whirl, and add some healthy crunch to your salads!

Note: You can buy almost a dozen varieties of radish seeds online from the GreenMyLife online store – delivered anywhere in India.