November 30, 2024, 3:58 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Radishes are one of the easiest vegetables to care for. Hobby gardeners only have to meet a few requirements.
Radishes are quick to grow and are, therefore, very popular for a good reason. They are also very low in calories and contain a wide range of nutrients. These include vitamin C and iron. If you want to grow radishes yourself, you don’t need a garden bed, as the red tubers also thrive in a pot or tub on the balcony. Nevertheless, it is important to take proper care of them.
Overview
Radish varieties at a glance
Radishes come in a variety of types, each bearing fruits of different colors. The best-known variety is the one with dark pink to purple fruits. However, they also come in white, pink, red, yellow, and yellow-brown. Striped varieties in white and red are also common. While the color of the skin differs, the flesh of all radish varieties is always white.
Varieties for the spring/early bed
- Boy
- Fanal
- Tarzan F1
- Cyros
- Saxa
Varieties for summer/autumn
- Ilka
- Parat
- Riesenbutter
- Carnita
- Champion
- Raxe
- Sora
- Rudi
Sowing and planting radishes
Home gardeners can sow spring radishes in a cold frame from late February to early March. In the garden, you can start sowing and planting from March onward – as soon as the soil is dry and frost-free. Optimal germination occurs at temperatures between 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, as radishes germinate particularly quickly in this range. Sowing should then be carried out in the following steps:
- First, make seed furrows about one centimeter deep in the bed. There should be about 15 centimeters between the grooves.
- Then, place a seed in the groove every three to five centimeters.
- Then, cover each row with a thin layer of soil.
- Finally, water the seeds with a light spray. Make sure that the seeds are not washed out of the soil during watering.
The ideal location and soil
Amateur gardeners should plant radishes in a sunny and airy location. They need medium-heavy and humus-rich soil, which is also best kept evenly moist.
| Good bed neighbors | Bad bed neighbors |
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The right care for radishes
If you want to plant radishes in the garden, the right soil is particularly important. First and foremost, the red tuberous vegetable needs loose soil. Hobby gardeners should, therefore, carefully loosen the bed from time to time with a hoe.
Watering
The bed should be kept consistently moist for optimal radish growth. It is, therefore, advisable for hobby gardeners to water every three days. In dry and hot weather, however, they need more water and should, therefore, be watered every day. The olla, an ancient gardening tool, can help ensure a consistent water supply.
Note: The taste of the ripe fruit depends on the watering. If radishes receive insufficient water, they will have a sharp taste. If they suffer from drought for a longer period of time, the fruits can even become furry or hollow.
Fertilization
If the soil is well loosened, radishes do not need any additional fertilizer. For those who prefer fertilization over hoeing, it’s important to avoid fresh compost, as radishes are sensitive to it. A vegetable fertilizer is the better choice.
Propagation
Radishes not only thrive in garden beds but can also be successfully grown in pots on balconies or patios. To do this, sow the radish seeds about one centimeter into the loose soil from March to early September. The distance between the seeds should be three to four centimeters. Then, cover them with soil, press them down, and water them regularly.
Frost protection
During frosty conditions, it’s beneficial to protect the seedlings by covering them with fleece.
When can you harvest radishes?
Spring radishes
If you plant or sow your radishes in spring, you can only start harvesting after about eight weeks. Depending on the variety, you have around ten days to get the fruits out of the ground. If you leave them in the ground for longer, they will become furry.
Summer radishes
Radishes sown or planted in summer, on the other hand, can be harvested after just three to four weeks. Home gardeners should act promptly, as there is only a four-day window for harvesting.
How do you harvest radishes?
Harvesting is straightforward: gently pull the tubers from the soil, wrap them in a damp cloth, and consume them immediately, or refrigerate them for short-term storage.
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Common diseases and pests of radishes
One of the most formidable adversaries of radishes is the flea beetle. An infestation is indicated by holes in the leaves. If you hoe the bed frequently and ensure regular and sufficient watering, you can prevent it from spreading. Cabbage flies and slugs also often target radishes. The best way to fend off both pests is to use netting loosely stretched over the beds.