Hardy, delicious, crunchy. Fresh radishes are a staple of the vegetable garden. Being one of the fastest crops they are perfect for beginners and for accompanying slower to mature crops. They are very hardy, making them one of the first seeds we can successfully grow in our season.
Radishes, Raphanus sativus, were first cultivated in China and moved westward across Eurasia thousands of years ago. Being in the Brassica family there are both annual and biennial varieties. The first being the fast maturing, smaller radish colored red, pink, or purple. These are intended for fast and consistent sales planted throughout the season. The second type is the slower maturing daikon type, best planted in late summer for a fall harvest and winter storage. These radishes are much larger and come in a wide variation of colors.
Planting
Table radishes can be planted in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. I plan to sow 10-15 seeds per foot. Being small they can be planted as close as 6” between rows, though I keep it to a minimum of 8” for easier cultivation. They only take a couple days to germinate. For a consistent supply of roots, plant radishes every two weeks.
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