My radishes didn't radish! Any idea why they didn't grow as radishes normally would?

I would guess they were spaced too closely together.

concur, possibly soil temps too high. Radishes are definitely a cool weather crop. They do need space. but more important is cool soil. You may be cool enough to grow in the summer, but I cannot grow them between May and September.

Definitely a spring crop here. You can always let the plants grow on and flower and collect the seeds for next spring.

Shadegardener said:Definitely a spring crop here. You can always let the plants grow on and flower and collect the seeds for next spring.

Or just eat the seed pods if you're impatient like me. ;) (Realistically you'll get waaay too many seed pods to keep all if the seeds!)

Kvent42 said:My radishes didn't radish! Any idea why they didn't grow as radishes normally would?

Mine did that. This summer has been too hot. Well, my big white ones did that. The cherry ones were still OK, but they are persnickety things. Their seed pods are the best part of them anyway so get some stakes and prepare to tie up a bunch of long long branches to collect some rat tails!

What exactly do you do to prepare the seed pods you eat?

Kvent42 said:What exactly do you do to prepare the seed pods you eat?

I just eat them raw, though a whole pile can get a little overwhelming. I also cut them up raw for adding spice to salads or salsa. I will also sprinkle them in with green beans and steam those both together, or put them whole into stir fry. They go great with some potatoes and radish greens.

You can sprout them like alfalfa seeds also.

OH! Dip them in hummus!

My radishes did the very same thing here in Michigan. I blame it on very hot summer. They like colder weather. If I would have gotten them in the ground earlier I think I would have had some.

Can a second crop of radishes be grown when the weather cools down???

Hemlady said:My radishes did the very same thing here in Michigan. I blame it on very hot summer. They like colder weather. If I would have gotten them in the ground earlier I think I would have had some.

Can I second crop of radishes be grown when the weather cools down???

Absolutely!

Thanks, I thought so but I wanted to make sure.

Checked the radishes this morning and I actually got 2 white icicle radishes.

Hemlady said:My radishes did the very same thing here in Michigan. I blame it on very hot summer. They like colder weather. If I would have gotten them in the ground earlier I think I would have had some.

Can a second crop of radishes be grown when the weather cools down???

Oh yes, sow when the weather cools down some.

Kvent43 said: "My radishes didn't radish! Any idea why they didn't grow as radishes normally would? "

Same thing happened to me when I tried to grow radishes this summer. Everyone says its the heat.
It's almost fall and the temps have finally moderated so I'm trying again.

I planted some Daikons at the wrong time (too warm?) and got no roots, just bushy top growth.

But they put out a huge crop of seed pods, and those are more tasty than the roots!

Crumbs! I forgot all about sowing daikons. Is it too late for zone 5? Of course, it's in the 80's this week but we could have our first frost in a month.

Cindy, the only one in my notes says "52 DTM". If your first frost comes 3 weeks late, you're golden.

Lots of things taste better when small, but are baby Daikon radishes big enough to find, let alone eat?

I had to spot-check 6 varieties in the Plant database before finding any information other than names.
Is it a "winter" variety or a "summer" variety?

"Mino Early" matures in 40 days

This entry lists a few related threads:
Daikon Radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatu 'Miyashige White Radish')

If we knew their cold-hardiness for over-wintering, you might hope for that, and get an early start next spring or else lots of seeds.. But, gee, Zone 5? That would seem ambitious. Maybe under plastic, but is the gamble worth the work?

If you have the open space and the soil is already clean and raked, you could try it ... and then be really interested in evening low temperatures for a month or two. Dig 'em up right before a hard frost is predicted ... but just how cold hardy are they?

Here's what Territorial says, but bear in mind hey target the pacific Northwest (coastal AND inland):
Minowase Summer Cross No. 3 Daikon Radish
"Best sown from June through early August."
"The season may be extended from February through October by sowing in cold frames or a greenhouse"

(But note "summer" in the variety name.)
And October, let alone "early August", isn't late September.

This year might not be a Daikon year for you!

I often find that the best planting date is 6-8 weeks before I thought about checking the calendar.
Which reminds me ... garlic ... I guess I'm not late yet.

Thanks, Rick. I think I'll have to skip the daikon this year. The seed I have is either spring or fall (despite what Burpee says). Our weather turned hot fast in the spring and the heat is still lingering here.