How to Grow Radishes

An edible root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that most of us enjoy was not quite edible until it was domesticated in Europe in pre-Roman times. Today it is cultivated world over in varying sizes as well as color (red, pink or white). A radish plant grows very quickly and can be planted successively throughout the year. Their types are classified seasonally; fall, winter, spring and summer. Almost each seasonal radish is sown and harvested within the same season. The root vegetable comes in varying sizes; round or elongated, and colors; red, pink, white or yellow radishes with greens leaves that are bright, firm and compact textured. A common garden crop, radishes are easy to grow, easy to harvest and easy to munch on!

Growing Radishes

As said earlier radishes can be grown all year round, except extreme winters. But if you understand the basic requirements for growing radishes and one is very fond of it, you can grow them indoors as well. As they are quick to grow they are mostly favored as 'kid's garden projects' in many schools.

From Seed
Radishes are only grown from seeds. Radish seeds are lentil sized grains, so sowing them individually will not be a problem. Prepare vegetable beds with soil maintained at a pH of 5.5 to 6.8. The soil should be well draining and located at a sunny spot. During summers, choose a partially shaded area. Too much heat will make them too pungent. As the roots develop, the soil should be able to accommodate them. Dig the soil deep to a depth of 15-20 cm, and clear it off all stones, gravel and weed. Add organic matter and bonemeal.

Before sowing the seeds, one needs to soak them in water for not more than ten minutes. Radish seeds can be sown in between other vegetables too, as they are quick to grow. Or one can just have a radish bed. Sow radish seeds half inch deep, spacing them two inches apart in mounded rows that are separated about ten inches apart. To have a successive yield, one can space a week's duration between row seed sowing(rotate crop). Water between the rows, the seeds will germinate within a week's time. Space them out individually once they reach a six leaf stage.

Indoor Cultivation
Radishes are perfect for container gardening, as they are small and don't take much time to reach the harvest stage. Decide upon the number of radishes you plan to grow, and bearing in mind their eventual size, choose a pot or a container. The pot should have adequate holes to drain off excess water. Although the root bulbs require moisture to mature well, too much retained water will set rot in them. Use the same type of soil, and thinly spread the seeds over them. Moisten soil and keep it covered until the seeds sprout. If you feel too many seedlings have sprouted, thin out the excess. Growing too many plants within the same container will not amount to a good healthy yield.

Make sure the soil is always moistened, weed free and feed well with appropriate fertilizers just once more after its sowing. Be very careful to avoid compacting the soil around the radish. Radishes are usually ready to be harvested in about a month, depending on the variety, and must be done only upon maturity. Too young or too mature radishes taste awful. Rich in vital nutrients, fresh radishes should be part of your diet.