Eating Garden

How to Grow Radishes

Raphanus sativus

A quick, cool-season root crop that is ready in weeks when soil stays loose and moist.

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At a glance

  • Difficulty

    Easy

    1 of 5 · More shovels, more care

  • Sunlight

    Full sun

  • Water

    Average thirst

  • First harvest

    25 to 35 days

    from sowing

  • Growing in a pot

    Suitable for pots

  • Plant spacing

    2 to 4 in apart

More about this plant

Sow a short row in cool weather, thin early and keep the soil evenly moist. Pull spring radishes promptly before heat or age makes them hot, woody or hollow.

  • Grows for one season.
  • Can grow in raised beds, the open ground.
  • Fine in a small space.
  • A good one to grow together with children.
  • Ready to pick quickly.

Make it your plan

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What are you starting with?
Where will it grow?

Your plan, starting Nov 10, 2026

Estimated harvest: Dec 5, 2026 – Dec 15, 2026. Add your location to compare this date with local planting windows. Your chosen date stays the same.

Add your location to compare this date with local planting windows. Your chosen date stays the same.

Estimated first harvest

Dec 5, 2026 – Dec 15, 2026

Counted from sowing. Variety, plant age, weather, and care can change this estimate.

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.

Cool spring or fall weather. Radishes tolerate frost, but rising heat can make the roots spicy, woody, fibrous or hollow.

First, gather a few things

  • Radish seeds
  • A draining pot with room for the roots
  • Potting mix that drains well
  • A watering can or hose

Get ready

Do these before you put the plant or seeds in place.

  1. Start here

    1. Loosen the soil

    Prepare at least six inches of loose, stone-free soil so roots can grow straight.

Start or plant it

Follow the steps for the way you chose to start.

  1. 1. Sow a short row

    Plant a quarter to half an inch deep as soon as soil can be worked.

Water

Check the soil first. Heat, rain, and pots can change how often this plant needs water.

  1. 1. Check before you water

    Push a finger about 1 inch into the soil. Water when it feels dry there.

  2. 2. Water the roots

    Water slowly at the base until the soil feels moist a few inches down. For a pot, water until a little runs out of the drainage holes.

    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.

Need help judging moisture? Read how to check the soil and water the roots.

If the plant looks unhappy

  • Too dry

    Roots become hot, tough or slow, and sudden water after drought can split them.

    If the soil is dry, water deeply and check it again tomorrow.

  • Too wet

    Soggy soil can rot roots and crusted soil can block seedlings.

    If the soil is wet, wait before watering again and check that excess water can drain away.

While it grows

Check on your plant and do these jobs as they come up.

  1. 1. Thin early

    Leave about 2 to 4 inches between roots, depending on the variety.

  2. 2. Sow another small rowOptional

    Repeat about five days later if you want a steady harvest instead of one large batch.

Looking after it

  • FeedingRarely needs feedingBegin with loose, fertile soil. Radishes grow so quickly that extra feeding is rarely useful when a soil test is healthy.
  • NitrogenToo much nitrogen gives leaves instead of food
  • ThinningThin seedlings to 3 in apartCrowded seedlings stay small. Pull the weaker ones and keep the strongest.
  • MulchA light mulch holds moisture and keeps the surface from crusting.

Pick and store it

Use the plant's signs of readiness, then harvest gently.

  1. 1. Check if it is ready

    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.

  2. 2. Pick it

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

  3. 3. Keep it fresh

    Remove the tops, wash and dry the roots, then refrigerate them in a bag for about one to two weeks.

More picking tips

  1. 1. Pull promptly

    Check the shoulders and harvest at the variety's useful size before heat or age toughens the roots.

Common problems

    Common mistakes

    • Skipping thinning

      Crowded seedlings make leaves but tiny roots. Thin early so each root has room.

    • Letting moisture swing

      Dry soil followed by heavy water can crack roots and spoil their texture.

    • Leaving roots in hot soil

      Old or heat-stressed radishes become hot, woody or hollow. Pull them promptly.

    Companion plants for radishes

    Some of this is measured in trials and some is long-standing garden practice. Each note below says which it is.

    Good together

    Extension programs recommend this pairing:

    • CarrotRadishes and carrots can be sown side by side to save space in the bed.Recommended by extension programs
    • LettuceDeep-rooted radishes and shallow-rooted lettuce draw on different soil layers, so they can share a bed.Recommended by extension programs
    • Sweet cornFast radishes can grow between widely spaced sweet corn and be pulled before the corn shades them.Recommended by extension programs
    How to choose companion plants

    Questions about radishes

    Tap a question to see the answer.

    Will radishes grow where I live?

    Cool spring or fall weather. Radishes tolerate frost, but rising heat can make the roots spicy, woody, fibrous or hollow.

    • LightFull sun
    • ShadeCopes with a little shade
    • SeasonA cool season cropUsually grown in spring or fall.
    • FrostSurvives a hard freeze
    • HeatStruggles in heat

    What soil is best for radishes?

    • Soil pH6.0 to 7.0A cheap test kit from a garden centre will tell you yours.
    • Soil it likesLoam, Sandy
    • DrainageWants well drained ground
    • RichnessAverage ground is fine

    Use loose, fertile soil that drains well. Loosen at least six inches deep and remove stones or hard clods.

    Use finished compost and a soil test. Avoid fresh manure and heavy nitrogen feeding.

    Before changing your soil, learn how to test soil acidity and understand the result.

    When and how deep do I plant radishes?

    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
      Planting depth: 0.25 to 0.5 in below the soil surface. Drawing is not to scale.
    • How far apart2 to 4 in
      Leave 2 to 4 in between plants. View from above; drawing is not to scale.
    • How deep the roots go6 inUseful when picking a pot or planning a raised bed.
      Roots reach 6 in below the soil surface. Scale in inches; root shape is a guide.

    What happens to radishes through the year?

    Measured from the start of your growing season, because seasons differ from garden to garden. In frost-free climates, use trusted local seasonal guidance alongside these relative steps.

    1. Sow outdoors

      0 to 2 weeks after the start of your growing season

    How do I give radishes a better start?

    Simple ways to help your radish grow, from the soil up.

    • Start with good soil

      Use loose, fertile soil that drains well. Loosen at least six inches deep and remove stones or hard clods.

    • Give the soil a cover

      A light mulch holds moisture and keeps the surface from crusting.

    • Make room to grow

      Thin seedlings to 3 inches apart.

    • Feed with care

      Begin with loose, fertile soil. Radishes grow so quickly that extra feeding is rarely useful when a soil test is healthy.

    Use finished compost and a soil test. Avoid fresh manure and heavy nitrogen feeding.

    Why are my radishes all leaves?

    Crowding, too much nitrogen or warm weather can hold back the roots. Thin early and grow them in cool soil.

    Why did my radishes split?

    Uneven moisture is a common cause. Keep the soil evenly moist as roots swell.

    How quickly do radishes grow?

    Many spring types take about 25 to 35 days, but weather and variety can change the wait.

    Can I sow more than one batch?

    Yes. A small sowing about every five days can spread the harvest while weather stays cool.

    Helpful gardening guides

    Dig into the next thing you need, from starting a garden to getting watering right.

    Starting your first garden? Choose your space and get it ready, then plan local planting times.

    Browse all gardening guides

    Also filed under: Vegetables

    Where this came from

    Advice varies with your climate and variety. Check the sources behind each section.

    Sources & review dates
    Timing
    University of Maryland Extension, Growing Radishes in a Home Garden · checked 2026-09-15
    University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Master Gardener Program, Time of planting · checked 2026-09-24 · Where frost is rare, cool-season crops are timed to months averaging 55°F to 75°F.
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