Turnips are actually quite easy to harvest and the problem only arises if a turnip is left in the soil too long after it is ripe. However, if the radishes are left in the soil past their maturity, you can still harvest the seeds later.
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Part 1 of 2: Harvesting Radishes
Step 1. Give the radishes time to ripen
Many types of radishes ripen quickly, taking only about three weeks before they are ready to be harvested and eaten. Leave the radishes in the garden to ripen, but when they are ripe, harvest them immediately.
- Spring radishes will ripen more quickly and tend to deteriorate quickly if left in the soil for a few days, longer than necessary. Winter radishes can be a bit neglected as they take longer to ripen and take longer to rot in the soil.
- Winter radishes can usually maintain their quality throughout the cool autumn weather. Some types of radishes can even be stored in the garden under a thick layer of straw mulch during the winter.
- Although each type of radish can ripen at its own time, overall, spring radishes will ripen in 20-30 days and winter radishes will ripen in 50-60 days.
- If the radish rots in the soil, it will have a hollow, unappetizing texture and a spicy taste.
Step 2. Check the horseradish root
Ripe radish roots are about 2.5 cm long, or slightly shorter. Remove any soil adhering to the roots, next to any leaves protruding from the soil, to check for size.
- You can clean the soil with your fingers or with a small earth rake.
- Radishes with 2.5 cm long roots should be harvested. If you notice roots that are too short, cover them again with soil and allow the radishes to continue growing until they are ripe.
- Because spring radishes ripen quickly, you should start checking the roots often before they are ripe.
- If you plan to harvest winter radishes in the fall, do so before the soil freezes. If you want to store them for winter, wrap them in thick straw mulch and harvest before the radishes show any signs of new growth in late winter or early spring.
Step 3. Remove each radish from the soil
Harvesting radishes is quite easy. To get them out of the soil, hold the turnip by the underside of the leaf and pull it up. You'll need to shake them gently to get them out of the soil, but most radishes will come out a little bit and not just because of the pressure from above.
- Harvesting turnips as soon as they are ripe is important, even if you don't plan to eat them right away. Radishes will last longer in the refrigerator than in the soil.
- If the radishes are lean enough, then you can harvest one radish without damaging other radish roots next to it. This is important because some turnips are ready to be harvested before others.
Step 4. Cut and save the radish leaves
Cut the radish leaves from the top of the radish using scissors or a sharp knife. If desired, these leaves can be cleaned under cold running water and stored for cooking purposes.
- If you want to keep the radish leaves, clean them under running water and rub off any visible dirt with your fingers. Dry with a tissue when you're done.
- Put the clean and dry radish leaves in a sealed plastic bag. Cover the plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for three days.
- Radish leaves can be added to salads or other dishes that call for green leafy vegetables.
- If you don't want to keep the radish leaves, you can throw them away right away.
Step 5. Wash and store in the refrigerator
Once the leaves have been cut from each radish, you can wash the radishes under cold running water. Place the cleaned turnips in an airtight plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for two weeks until ready to use.
- You can scrub off most dirt and grime with your fingers, but for stubborn, hard-to-clean dirt, use a vegetable brush to gently scrub the surface of the radishes when you wash them under running water.
- Make sure the radishes are completely dried with paper towels before storing.
- Put the turnips in the vegetable drawer if your refrigerator has one. This drawer will maintain the ideal temperature and humidity conditions, thereby keeping the turnips to last longer.
Part 2 of 2: Harvesting Radish Seeds
Step 1. Choose which radish plants will seed
When the radish will have seeds, it is no longer good to eat. Therefore, you should set aside some radishes in your garden for a specific purpose, namely to allow the plant to germinate.
Of course, radishes left in the soil past their maturity can be stored in the soil and used for seeds. It helps to preselect a few radish plants for that purpose, but that doesn't mean radish seeds should be limited to just these plants
Step 2. Leave the radish crop selected
Continue to care for the seed radishes when you have them, however, leave them alone. It takes several weeks to pass through maturity before flower buds and finally seed pods appear.
As the radish seeds continue to grow past maturity, one or two leafless stems will appear. When this stem grows long enough and strong enough, it will appear small shoots. From this shoot, seed pods will emerge quickly. Seed pods will grow, with a long and pointed shape
Step 3. Collect the seed pods
Use a sharp knife or plant shears to cut the seed pods from the plant when the shoots fall off.
If you only want to harvest the seeds for use in the next season's harvest, you should consider waiting for the seed pods to start turning yellow and dry on the plant before picking them up. Waiting will make it easier for you to harvest the seed pods from the plant and you may be able to do this by hand
Step 4. Enjoy the seed pods now, if you like
You can wash fresh radish seed pods and mix them into a salad if you like. The seed pods are edible and are similar in appearance and texture to peas. Radish seed pods can be added to salads or enjoyed raw and eaten as is.
Radish seeds can also be grown while still fresh. To do this, you will need to open the seed pods before drying. Collect seeds and grow them like making bean sprouts
Step 5. Dry the seed pods if you wish to collect the seeds
If you wish to harvest radish seeds for later use, hang the seed pods in a dry location and allow them to dry until they become a yellowish-brown color.
Of course, if you allow the seed pods to dry on your plant, you can skip this step and move on to the next step because the radish seeds are dry enough without waiting any longer
Step 6. Open the seed pods
At this stage, the seed pods are fragile enough to open without special tools. Use your thumb to split the seed pod and open it. Gently remove the seeds inside using your fingers.
- Line the work area with a clean paper towel to catch the seeds that pop out when you open the seed pods.
- Radish seeds should have a pretty brown color when dry enough. It should be dry when you open the seed pods, but if the seeds are still yellowish brown, they will need to be dried again. Dry the radish seeds by spreading them in a single layer on paper towels and placing them in a warm, sunny location. The radishes will dry within a day.
- Another option is to leave the radish seeds in dry pods and open them the same way before you planted them. However, this requires more storage space, but the seeds will be protected better in the long run.
Step 7. Save the radish seeds
If the radish seeds have not dried completely, allow them to dry before storing. Once dry, place them in small envelopes or airtight jars and store them until you are ready to plant them.
- The best containers to use are small paper envelopes. The envelope should be small, but large enough to hold all the seeds with little space left. Make sure the envelope is tightly closed and secure once the radish seeds are inside.
- Any container you use should be labeled with a description of the contents and the current storage date.
