Radishes are plants that ripen very quickly (with some types of radishes taking as little as 3 weeks from seed to harvest). This plant is a very hardy plant, and also requires very little land in your garden. The slightly spicy taste of horseradish will add flavor to soups and salads. To start growing turnips successfully, read step 1!
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Part 1 of 3: Preparing to Plant
Step 1. Decide what type of radish you want to grow
Like many other plants, there are many varieties of radishes to choose from, whether hybrid or open pollinated. If you're just starting out in gardening, consider growing Cherry Belle radishes; This type of radish will ripen in just 22 days and has a delicious mild taste.
- Spring radishes are the most popular type of radish (same as Cherry Belle radishes, which are red on the outside and white on the inside). You should only need to make sure to plant this type of radish in the spring or fall. This type of radish is also the fastest growing radish.
- In particular, summer radishes are similar to spring radishes, only summer radishes tend to grow more slowly, and take about 6 - 8 weeks to ripen.
- Winter radishes are larger and stiffer than spring radishes and summer radishes, and take longer to grow. Winter radishes are best started in late spring or late fall so they can be harvested in winter. Winter radishes include Daikon and Champion types. Daikon, which can grow up to 18 inches, takes 60 days to mature.
Step 2. Choose the right place to plant
Radishes should be planted in an area that gets full sun or partial shade, and loose soil that has good drainage. Remove rocks from the planting area, as the radish roots will split into two branches around the rocks blocking them. Add organic matter to the soil before planting.
- Make sure your radish plants get sunlight. Because if you don't, the radishes will grow big at the top and very small at the roots. However, you need to remember that the hotter the soil, the hotter the radish will be. This is one reason why you shouldn't plant turnips in midsummer. Another reason is that radishes will actually form seeds if they receive too much sun.
- Radish planting areas should be free of rocks, have good drainage, and have a pH value between 5.8 and 6.8. You will need to add a lot of organic matter (such as compost) to the planting area.
Step 3. Schedule turnip planting times
Radishes are cool temperature crops that are best planted in the spring and fall. Planting radishes during the hottest months of summer will result in radishes not growing properly. You can plant turnips 2 weeks before the last frost of spring, as turnips are frost resistant.
- Stop growing turnips when the weather starts to get hot. This means that if the air temperature in your vicinity reaches 15 degrees C or more for several days in a row, you should postpone planting radishes until the temperature cools down.
- Spring radish planting schedule includes germination in about 5 days, and harvesting in 3 to 4 weeks.
- Because radishes grow very quickly, they are suitable as hedges in your garden. So consider planting another slow-growing plant among the radishes.
Part 2 of 3: Growing Radishes
Step 1. Plant the radish seeds
Plant 1.25 cm deep and space them 2.5 cm apart. When the radishes start germinating, choose a strong plant and pull out the smaller ones, until the plants are about 2 inches from each other. Thus the radish has a large enough space to grow. Rows of radish plants should be spaced about 30 cm apart.
- You will need to prune the radish plant when it has grown to 1 inch in height. Cut the head with small scissors, into the soil.
- If you are growing large radishes, you will need to plant the seeds at a depth of 2.5 to 5 cm.
- Radish is suitable as a companion plant. Because radishes have the ability to repel insects and grow faster. Plant radishes with carrots, sweet potatoes and cabbage.
Step 2. Water the radishes as they grow
Keep the radish planting area moist, but not submerged in water. Frequent watering of radishes will provide rapid growth; if radishes grow too slowly, they will taste spicy and woody. Add compost to the radish planting area as desired.
If you don't water it evenly (for example, don't water for a few days and then give it too much water) the turnips may crack
Step 3. Harvest the radishes
Radishes are ready to be harvested when the roots reach about 1 inch in diameter, although you will have to look at the seed packaging to know when your turnip plant will be harvested as well. To harvest radishes, lift the entire plant from the soil with your hands.
- You can also press the soil to see if the tubers have sprouted. If you can get your hands on horseradish meat, try the taste. The taste of radish you can use as an indicator of the readiness of the radish to be harvested.
- Unlike other root crops, radishes cannot be left in the ground, as they will become tough and have a sharp taste.
Step 4. Clean and store your radishes
Scrape off the excess soil from the radish body by hand, and store in a cool, dark place for up to 2 weeks. Wash the radishes with water before eating them.
Part 3 of 3: Troubleshooting Radish Plants
Step 1. Solve the fungus problem
There are several types of mold that can kill your horseradish plant or make it taste bad. There are usually clear signs of a fungal attack so you can identify and treat them immediately.
- If pale yellow or gray spots appear on the radish leaves, then you may have leaf spot, also known as Septoria leaf spot, which is a fungal disease. If your radish is experiencing this, make sure that the radish growing area still has good drainage (meaning no standing water there), and add organic matter (such as compost). Remove infected radishes. To avoid this problem, change your crop, so you don't plant turnips in the same planting area every time. And keep your garden free of debris (dead plants, or weeds you've uprooted, etc).
- If pale green spots are starting to appear on the top of the leaves, with a purple downy hair on the underside, then you may be dealing with downy mildew, a type of fungus. Get rid of infected plants and make sure that you don't splash too much water on your plants. Prevent your plants from being overcrowded by trimming the radish leaves. To avoid downy mildew, make sure you rotate your plants, and keep the garden free of debris.
- If the radish leaves turn yellow, if the leaf margins turn brown and curl upwards, if the base of the stem turns dark brown, black and slimy, you may have blackleg, a fungal disease. Add organic matter such as compost to the planting area and ensure good drainage (the soil doesn't hold too much water and you don't overwater). To avoid this, be sure to rotate your plants.
Step 2. Deal with nuisance insects
Mold isn't the only problem for your radishes. Some types of insects can attack your plants and eat them so that your plants die. You can often avoid these insects by keeping your garden clear of plant debris and weeds. But if bugs do start appearing, here are some ways to deal with them:
- If your leaf color is faded and you notice canals and holes in the roots, root caterpillars may be attacking your plant. These small caterpillars are gray or white in color, and are legless. Flies lay them on the ground around the plant. To fix this, add lime or wood ash to the base of your radish plant. Wait for the weather to become drier so you can avoid the caterpillar life cycle.
- If you notice small holes appearing on the radish leaves, you may be dealing with a flea beetle. This little animal is bronze or black and measures 1/16 of an inch. If you experience this attack, scatter diatomaceous rock, a type of soft sedimentary rock that crumbles easily into a fine, dark white powder. You can use this powder as a natural insect killer. You'll also need to cultivate the soil frequently, so that you inhibit the beetle's life cycle.
- If your radish plant has whitish or yellowish spots, the leaves are damaged, or if your plant is wilting, you may have a harlequin bug. These insects are black with red or orange patches, which suck the sap from the radish plant tissue. Pick up and destroy the insect along with the eggs. To keep them out of your garden, keep them clean of anything that could harbor insects, such as plant debris or weeds.
- If your radish leaves turn a dull yellow color, if they are curled and brittle, your radish plant may be suffering from Aster Yellow, a mycoplasma disease spread by leafhoppers. If this happens, remove infected plants, and control the planthopper population by removing weeds and removing debris.
Step 3. Check the planting area
The temperature, type and how much water content of the planting area has a big role in determining the growth of your radish plants. Remember that you need to water it evenly (not too much), adjust the pH of the soil.
- If your radishes taste too hot, it may be that the soil is too dry or the temperature is too hot (above 32 degrees C). To protect the roots and cool the soil, add 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch. Water your turnips 2 to 3 hours at a time and wait for the soil to dry to a depth of 4 inches.
- If the radish root tastes sharp and woody, the soil temperature may be too high and the water content uneven. Make sure the radish roots are covered with soil or warm to keep them cool and water them evenly. Also make sure to harvest the radishes as soon as they are large enough so they don't grow too big and crack.
Tips
- Radishes can also be grown in pots, and can even be grown indoors with the right conditions.
- If your radishes aren't growing well, don't get rid of them right away. Once the flowers have finished growing, the radish plant will produce seeds that are spicy and crunchy if you pick them up when they are green and tender.
