How to Grow Radishes

Helpful gardening guides

• How to Start a Garden

When to plant

Match these relative steps to your local seasons. Where frost applies, use the last freezing night in spring and the first in fall. In frost-free climates, follow trusted local seasonal guidance.

• Sow outdoors 0 to 2 weeks after the start of your growing seasonSow as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. Sow again when fall weather cools.

• Ready to pick about 25 to 35 days from sowing.
• For a steady supply, sow a few more every 5 days.

What you need

• 
  How to start itFrom seedYou can sow it straight into the ground.
• 
  How deep to plant0.25 to 0.5 in

• 
  How far apart2 to 4 in

• 
  How deep the roots go6 inUseful when picking a pot or planning a raised bed.

Step by step

1. 1Loosen the soilPrepare at least six inches of loose, stone-free soil so roots can grow straight.
2. 2Sow a short rowPlant a quarter to half an inch deep as soon as soil can be worked.
3. 3Thin earlyLeave about 2 to 4 inches between roots, depending on the variety.
4. 4Keep moisture evenWater deeply when rain is short. Do not let the bed swing from dry to soaked.
5. 5Sow another small rowRepeat about five days later if you want a steady harvest instead of one large batch.
6. 6Pull promptlyCheck the shoulders and harvest at the variety's useful size before heat or age toughens the roots.

Common mistakes

• Skipping thinningCrowded seedlings make leaves but tiny roots. Thin early so each root has room.
• Letting moisture swingDry soil followed by heavy water can crack roots and spoil their texture.
• Leaving roots in hot soilOld or heat-stressed radishes become hot, woody or hollow. Pull them promptly.

Water

Average thirst

Keep soil evenly moist, not wet. If rain is under about one inch a week, soak the bed well and check sandy soil more often.

• Too dry
• About right
• Too wet

• If it goes drySuffers quickly when dryRoots become hot, tough or slow, and sudden water after drought can split them.
• If it stays wetDislikes sitting wetSoggy soil can rot roots and crusted soil can block seedlings.

Harvest

You will know it is ready when: Spring radishes are often ready when the shoulder is about one inch across. Use the variety size and pull before roots turn woody or pithy.

Loosen the soil and pull by the leaves. Slide a fork under long daikon roots instead of snapping them.

• Keeping itKeeps 7 to 14 daysRemove the tops, wash and dry the roots, then refrigerate them in a bag for about one to two weeks.

Questions people ask