Radishes (Raphanus sativus)
(Approximately 80 seeds
per gram)
Radishes
are generally very easy to grow. They are both fast to appear and
fast to mature. Radishes are a perfect choice for a child's
first garden. They perform best when sown in spring or late summer but
with care can be planted from February to September in most areas
(Northern hemisphere). Plant small
amounts, five to seven days apart for a steady supply. Radishes do
prefer cool weather and become pungent (hot) with warmer
weather. They are also likely to bolt (go to seed) in warmer
weather.
Plant seeds directly outdoors in as
soon as soil can be worked and soil temperatures are about 45F. Plant ½ inch deep, ½ inch apart in
rows at least 8 inches apart. Firm soil and keep moist until
seedlings appear. Radishes have shallow root systems do keep
watered. Harvest as soon as roots reach
desired size. They become woody with age.
Radishes are a great snack food as
they have about 100 calories per pound and contain vitamin C.
Black Spanish
Round
60 to 80 days — Large turnip-shaped globes that reach up to
three
inches in diameter with tall tops. Skin is blackish colored and
the flesh is solid, crisp, and pungent (hot). As they are
generally used for winter storage, sow in July or August, and
store in moist sand after harvested. This very old variety dates
back prior to 1824. It has likely been in cultivation for
hundreds of years.
Champion 20 days — Bright red, one to one and one-half inch, globe
with mild flesh. If they are grown to a larger size, they
hold up well and don't quickly become pithy.
'Champion' was an "All-American Selection®"
winner in 1957.
Cherry Belle
22 days — A quick
growing, globe shaped radish with bright red skin and crisp, firm, white
flesh.
China
Rose
40 days — This Chinese winter radish was originally introduced
to Europe by Jesuit missionaries. They grow five to seven inches in
length and two inches in diameter with smooth, pinkish-rose colored
skin. Sow in Spring or Fall. A good keeper.
Comet 25 days — Deep-globe shaped to round, with bright red skin
and white flesh that stays firm and crisp in late spring.
Best if used in the 3/4 to one inch size range. A very early
variety making it useful as a main crop as well as for mid-summer
plantings.
'Comet' was an "All-American Selection®"
winner in 1936.
Early
Scarlet Globe 20 days — A very early variety with bright red skin and
white flesh. This variety also does well in frames and
greenhouses for forcing.
French
Breakfast 20 days — These radishes are oblong with a blunt tip.
The skin is scarlet with white tips and they have crisp, white
flesh. They have a great, mildly pungent taste.
Introduced prior to the 1880s.
German
Giant 29 days — A round red radish with crisp, white and
pungent flesh. Does not get woody or spongy and can be
harvested from golf ball size on up.
Hailstone
(White
Globe)
25 days
— You can plant
these in spring or fall and harvest pure-white skinned globe
shaped radishes. The flesh is firm and stays that way for a long
time.
Minowase
60 days — The roots of this Japanese variety are large, three
inches in diameter by one to two feet in length. They are
white, very smooth, tender and not very pungent.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program accession number
PI 601220. PVP expired in 2003.
Sparkler
(Brightest
White Tip)
25 days — Bright
red skin with a white tip that covers the lower third of the
globe. One to one and a half inches in diameter with white flesh that is juicy
and sweet.
White
Icicle
28 days — The roots are five to six inches long, tapered, about
three quarters of an inch in diameter. The flesh is pure white and thin skinned.
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