I figured there was a reason why nobody had already started a radish thread—the interest just isn't enough—but still thought I'd try, since I'm an avid radish grower.

My favorite part isn't even the harvesting, but the growing process. They're so easy to grow, and so fun as well. Last year I got a good harvest of 'Early Scarlet Globe.' The taste was ok, but they grew very well. I only had to manually water them once (when giving them fertilizer). Once I placed the germinated seeds into the ground, the weather took it from there, excluding me fertilizing them once, as mentioned above.

I'd like to see some traffic here. I'm interested in trying watermelon radishes.
And has anyone REALLY had one of the super fast radishes grow to full size in 25 days or whatever the seed packet states?

The humble radish deserves it's on thread.

Radishes are *loaded* with vitamins. I've thrown them sliced up in stir-fries, not a lot but a few...they add a little taste which seems to add some depth or solidness to the other vegetables...the loud radish taste is reduced greatly, though. The greens are super-greens, though again have a rather loud taste. Whereas we cook a big pot of collards we cook a much smaller amount of radish greens and eat smaller portions of it. The greens are also good in stir-fries!

The last ones I grew were Cherry Bells and they grew great with little trouble.

Fast and easy to grow, tasty with some spiciness, and very healthy. Win, win, and win!!!

Deeby said: I'd like to see some traffic here. I'm interested in trying watermelon radishes.
And has anyone REALLY had one of the super fast radishes grow to full size in 25 days or whatever the seed packet states?

Yes, actually that's true, Deborah. Mine grew to full size in 27 days, and I left two plants to flower and bear seed pods so I could harvest the seeds for the next year.

Ed, I agree whole-heartedly. Radishes are great in salads as well. To be frank, though, I like them best by themselves, lol.

Oh, yeah! They do work nicely in salads....I fugodabout that!!!

I like chomping on them, too. I wonder how they would be sliced up and pickled with some peppers???

Really spicy!

The salad radishes are very easy to grow and many of them are very fast when conditions are right. Early Scarlet Globe is one of the best earlys. Rudolf Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Rudolf') is early with very compact tops. Sparkler Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Sparkler White Tip') a little longer and trickier to grow (bolts and splits when conditions are not suitable) One of the prettiest tho.
If you willing to wait a week Other colors are great. Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Amethyst')

The salad radishes are very easy to grow and many of them are very fast when conditions are right. Early Scarlet Globe is one of the best earlys. Rudolf Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Rudolf') is early with very compact tops. Sparkler Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Sparkler White Tip') a little longer and trickier to grow (bolts and splits when conditions are not suitable) One of the prettiest tho.
If you willing to wait a week Other colors are great. Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Amethyst')
Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Ping Pong')
My favorite Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Pink Beauty')
Long types: Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Pink Beauty')
Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Icicle Short Top')

Watermelon is an Asian radish, commonly used as a winter radish. Greens similar to turnip greens and roots can be cooked like a turnip.

Thanks for the information, Dillard. Some of those will definitely be put on my want list for 2023. This year it's between Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Cherry Belle'), Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Champion') or Winter Radish (Raphanus sativus 'China Rose') (I'm only doing two out of the three). I'm thinking of going with 'Cherry Belle' and 'Champion'.

So you really do get those fast ones! I sure don't-I get red strings. I give up and use them as sprouts.
Dillard, that amethyst one would be fun for me, amethyst is my birthstone.

Deeby said: So you really do get those fast ones! I sure don't-I get red strings. I give up and use them as sprouts.
Dillard, that amethyst one would be fun for me, amethyst is my birthstone.

Deeby, here are some reasons that I've read that may cause long, skinny radishes:
*Excess nitrogen....too much nitrogen and you get nice greens but not much root. Radish needs more potassium than nitrogen. A little wood ash might help. Use a regular fertilizer with a low nitrogen content.
*Full sun to partial shade.
*Too high of a growing temperature...favorite temp is 60-65F. Sure they can grow in higher temperatures but higher temps can lead them to think about bolting and forego root-formation. TAMU says that from 80-85F+ radish roots may not form properly.
*Overcrowding...thin to 1 inch apart when plants are one to two inches tall. There's a finite amount of water and nutrition around each plant and if they're shoved up against each other they're battling each other for survival. And, naturally, there's the aspect of having physical room to grow.
*Soil type not radish-friendly....like other root crops no rocks or clumps. I would think the root would bulk-up and just be deformed if rocks and clumps are an issue and all other cultural factors are ok. In other words, unless the soil is akin to cement I don't think the soil-structure itself would cause skinny radishes. Sandy(ish) soil in the garden works great but in a container it may/will pack down tight and restrain root growth.

Ed, I plant only in containers and I use organic potting mix.
I've tried planting more deeply than recommended. From that I've had sizeable radishes only once.

Organic potting mix...probably has a bit of manure(nitrogen) of some sort in it. Do you also fertilize? Do you thin them early to an inch apart? How well do the greens make...nice and green? I wonder if you were to add some sand to the potting mix if the structure would be more favorable for radish?

Planting deeply, from what I understand, can prevent the radish roots from "popping out" or whatever...pushing the top of the root out of the ground. I read somewhere that an experiment with planting an inch deep and an inch-and-a-half deep. Seems this prevented popping out but also the radishes performed better than others that were planted at the 1/2" recommended planting depth.

They never get mature enough to feed. I am however guilty of not thinning closely enough. I pull and eat the strings and little leaves as sprouts.
I like thinly sliced REAL radishes in sandwiches and grated on top of a tostada.

Deeby said: They never get mature enough to feed. I am however guilty of not thinning closely enough. I pull and eat the strings and little leaves as sprouts.
I like thinly sliced REAL radishes in sandwiches and grated on top of a tostada.

Maybe the potting mix has too much nitrogen in it?

Potassium as well, maybe?

Deborah, I don't know if this helps, but I grew my Early Scarlet Globes in full sun (maybe 6-8 hours) and the rain kept them relatively moist. I grew them in a big container that was halfway in the ground, so after they grew really big, their roots were in the ground. I only fertilized them once, which seemed to be enough.

Now that we have coved salad radishes fairly well, lets look at winter radishes. A few of them grow well as a spring planting but most do best as a fall planting. These usually take about 60 days and can be quite large. They have a lot more foliage for greens. https://ediblecapecod.edibleco....
Here are two that I have grown that can be spring planted. Watermelon (30days) Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Red Meat')
New White Spring (60 day) Small Daikon average about a lb, Daikon Radish (Raphanus sativus 'New White Spring')
Fall planting only (bolt when spring planted) Daikon Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Minowase Summer Cross #3')
Daikon Radish (Raphanus sativus 'Tae Baek')

Ok, thanks Dillard. Would I plant 'Red Meat' in April? Over here in SD we need all the spring and fall crops we can get. I didn't even know there were radishes that could be harvested in winter.

It is susceptible to frost, so you should plant so that it emerges after your last expected killing frost.