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.
