How and When To Plant Radishes

Radish has several beneficial properties for our health. It works very well to help maintain proper liver function, controls blood pressure and helps cleanse the kidneys and urinary tract. As nutritional information, it contains a very low amount of fat, with 0.1 grams per 100. In addition, it is a good source of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins C, B and K and minerals such as sodium, phosphorus or magnesium, among others. Others. At Don How’s we will teach you how and when to plant radishes.

Originally from Eurasia and the eastern Mediterranean, the radish or turnip is a plant known to all. Belonging to the Raphine’s genus within the Brassicaceae family, it is cultivated around the world for its edible root, which can be white, red or black.

Due to its slightly spicy flavor and crunchy texture, you can use radish in a myriad of ways. From sautéed or roasted, like almost all vegetables, to stewed or in the form of chips and even as a sauce.

Due to its short cultivation cycle and the little space it requires, it is one of the easiest options for gardeners. This cultivation cycle varies between 3 and 6 weeks, depending on the variety of radish that we choose. If you are interested in knowing how and when to plant radishes, we will explain it step by step later. Thus, you will be able to grow them even in your own home or garden.

What do you need for and when to sow radishes?

To plant and grow radishes, you will need the following items:

• Land.

• Toilet.

• Radish seeds.

Instructions for and when to plant radishes

As we explained before, the radish is a plant with few needs in terms of space. You will need the soil to have a minimum depth of 10 cm. This should be a well-drained, nourished soil, like any garden soil. The universal substrate is also valid, which you can find in countless stores. Radishes can be planted during almost any time of the year, although the most suitable ones are usually spring and autumn.

Planting

First, make furrows in the ground where you are going to plant the radishes, 1 to 1.5 centimeters deep and 8 to 12 centimeters apart. Then place seeds inside the rows, spacing each one about 5 centimeters apart. Cover them with soil or substrate and water them so the soil stays moist.

The cares

Radish plants will start around 10 days after planting, reaching optimum harvest stage 3-6 weeks after planting.

Make sure the soil is always moist, but without watering it excessively. If you don’t water the plants enough, your radishes will taste more pungent later. On the contrary, if you water them too much, you can cause diseases, rot or the radish to break. In addition to humidity, it will be important that your plants receive a regular amount of sunlight, at least 4 hours a day.

In addition to irrigation, you must take into account pests (especially aphids and larvae) and weeds, checking these aspects about twice a week. The most common pests and diseases are:

• Cabbage worm: Normally, removing them from the leaves is enough.

• Snail: the best method to remove it is also usually manual.

• Aphid: a good (and ecological) remedy is to spray a mixture of water and biodegradable soap on the leaves.

• Downy mildew: this is a fungus that produces yellowish spots on the leaves of the plant, which turn brown and eventually dry. A natural remedy can be spraying an infusion of garlic (50 grams of garlic in a liter of water) diluted in one part for every 4 of water on the leaves. It should be applied in full sun and for several days in a row.

Harvest

To know if your radishes are ready, you will have to remove a little soil from around the plant and check its size. Around 2-2.5 centimeters in diameter is the most optimal to be harvested. To do this, you will have to pull the radish up, holding it by the bottom of its leaves. If the soil is too compressed, you can help yourself with a small shovel. Once your radishes have been harvested, you will have to wash them with water to remove the excess soil, and they will be ready for consumption.

Tips for and when to plant radishes

• If you repeat the planting every 15 days, but planting only a few plants, you will have fresh radishes throughout the season.

• It is advisable that you consume your radishes within 15 days of harvesting, so that they still retain their flavor and texture.

• Freshly picked radishes and smaller ones have a less pungent flavor and contain more nutrients.

• There are more than 50 varieties of radishes. Try their different flavors and sizes in the infinity of recipes in which they are included…