March 2, 2025, 3:03 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
If you are new to gardening, you are more likely to choose low-maintenance varieties such as tomatoes or radishes to start with. Tomatoes should be grown in advance and the young plants planted in the garden or in a box on the balcony. But do you also need to start radishes indoors?
Home-grown vegetables taste much better than store-bought ones. The pleasure comes not only from the taste but also from the feeling of having created something yourself. All the work and diligence go into the taste experience. Radishes are popular and easy to care for, and thanks to their short germination period, they are ready to harvest quickly.
Can You Start Radishes Indoors?
In principle, any vegetable that is grown from seed can be propagated. The question is whether it makes sense. Radishes have a short germination period of around 14 days, are cold-tolerant to a certain extent, and are generally uncomplicated to grow. It is not necessary to start them early and transplant them. On the contrary, pricking out can even be disadvantageous, as their roots are very delicate and sensitive.
Ideally, radishes should be sown directly outdoors or in a balcony box. The seeds should be sown approximately two to three centimeters apart and about one centimeter deep in the soil. The individual rows of seeds should be at least ten centimeters apart.
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Considerations for Starting Radishes Indoors
Starting from February, radishes can be easily grown on the windowsill. However, there are a few things to bear in mind.
- It is important to have the right equipment on hand. These include sowing pots. There’s no need to purchase them. Old trays from grapes or tomatoes, for example, are just as suitable. Yogurt pots can also be used, but you should make a few holes in the bottom so that excess water can drain away. We recommend using potting compost. For instance, it contains fewer nutrients than typical vegetable soil. This is also important as you should not “spoil” the young radishes. Providing them with all their needs from the beginning may lead to improper development and underdeveloped roots.
- Radishes like it warm but not stuffy. If you don’t have a mini-greenhouse, you can improvise by stretching cling film over the sowing containers. It’s essential to make a few holes to ensure the plants can breathe and to prevent mold growth.
- When sowing, make sure that the seeds are far enough apart. This spacing allows for the seedlings to be transplanted outdoors later without causing damage. This saves pricking out and prevents the sensitive roots from being damaged.
- As soon as frost is no longer expected, the young radishes can be planted outdoors. Plant them approximately five centimeters apart to avoid crowding as they grow.