Radishes
Radishes are one of the quickest veggies to grow in Minnesota. Some varieties can be harvested in as little as 28 days. Radishes are in the Brassicaceae plant family along with cabbages, mustard, collards and broccoli. There are two types of radishes, quick growing spring varieties and slower growing fall varieties. In your Tiny Field kit, you will have a quick spring variety.
Radish seeds are so fast to grow, they can be planted around slower growing and vining plants to increase your harvest per square foot. They make great row markers when planted every foot along slow to germinate carrots or at the beginning and end of rows. They are a good candidate for succession planting.
Radishes hate the heat. They prefer temperatures in the 70s. Stop sewing radishes when the daytime temperature regularly reaches 65 degrees. When it gets too hot, radishes tend to stop producing their tasty roots and bolt.
Bolting: a plant’s natural attempt to produce seed. When temperatures heat up, plant push to flower and put less energy into producing roots or leaves.
Plant radishes in loose well draining soil. Don’t add high nitrogen amendments like manure compost or high nitrogen fertilizer as they promote leafy greens over full roots. Water thoroughly, but not so much they stand in water. This can cause the roots to split. Once germinated, thin plants to 1-2 inches apart.
Knowing when to harvest radishes is the toughest part of growing them. They are best when they are young and tender. When the top of the radish begins to push its way out of the ground, that’s when they need to be harvested. Harvest all the radishes when they are ready, whether you need them or not. Cut off the leaves without cutting the root and store in a plastic bag or reusable container in the refrigerator. Radish leaves are good sauteed like spinach.
If your radishes do bolt, pull the unused plants and compost or dispose of them. Alternatively, you can let a couple radishes go to seed and harvest the radish seed pods. They look a little like beans and can be harvested when they fill out but are still pretty young and tender. Eat them whole or chopped in salads or saute in stir frys.
Radish ready for harvest
Radishes:
Plant 1/2 inch deep
Thin to 1-2 inches
Germination time 4-10 days
Radish seedlings with their first leaves