Growing White Radish from seeds till harvest
In this blog, I’ll tell you how to grow crunchy, spicy, and yummy radishes in containers. Radishes are very easy to grow they mature quickly and are usually eaten raw when crip and young.
Growing radishes in a container and pots is easy and quick and you can enjoy the best-tasting crispy homegrown radishes without having a garden.
Pot Measurement :
For long radish varieties select a pot that is at least 15-20 inches deep and the diameter on the pot depends on the number of radishes you are planning to have. (Grow bag Dimensions Diameter-12 inch\ Depth – 15 inch).
If your pot is 12-15 inches wide then you can grow 20-25 plants of usual radish varieties in it.
About Seeds and Soil :
Radishes prefer rich, well-drained, and permeable soil that doesn’t obstruct root growth. For that, buy a quality potting mix or make your own by adding 40% Garden soil, 30% compost and 30% river seed or cocopet.
NOTE: River sand/cocopeat will make the soil mix soft and loose which will help in getting long, even-shaped, and healthy radishes.
Always buy quality seeds to get good results. These seeds come from seed pods produced by the mature plants and they can remain viable for 4-5 years.
Time to Plant :
For healthy and long radishes, sow seeds directly in the desired pots. Sow the seeds 2 inches apart into the soil mix. If you’re growing large round radish varieties, then space the seeds 3-5 inches apart.
Now cover them with about ½ inch of soil. Use the same soil mix to cover all the seeds. Good quality soil is essential for all container gardens, but it is especially important when you are growing root vegetables. Always sow radish seeds at the final place as they don’t do well with transplants. The root ball is very sensitive and should not be disrupted.
Growing Time: Since radish is a cool season crop, its cultivation is prepared during the winter season in the plains. It can be sown at any time between September and January in the northern plains. It is grown from March to August in the hills.
After Planting Radishes :
After planting, the seeds use a watering can. You should keep the potting mix moist and make sure that it gets enough sunlight. Radishes need a good amount of sunlight for faster growth and root production. So, your radishes need at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. Make sure that your container gets enough sunlight.
Radishes germinate in about 4-5 days and are ready for harvest in 4-5 weeks.
Keep your soil evenly moist for a quality crop. Make sure you water deeply and never allow the pots to dry out completely, especially in the first few weeks.
Radish seeds can be planted in both the spring and winter, but growing should be suspended in the height of summer when temperatures are typically too hot. Hot temperatures may cause radishes to bolt, making them essentially useless.
AFTER DAY 10, The first leaves to appear in the seedling are called cotyledons or seed leaves, which are then followed by the true leaves, which are green in color.
Since the radish is a root vegetable make sure the potting mix should be kept moist. If your pot dries out of water root will not grow well.
Tender leaves of radish are also eaten as a salad or used in cooking many dishes. So you can harvest the tender leaves from the plant and use them. If you harvest the tender leaves from the plant, the plant takes a longer time to develop full roots.
Make sure your radishes are getting plenty of sunlight. Otherwise, they will grow big on top and very small in the root section.
As the plant matures, the root grows larger underneath the soil and the leaves will reach 6 to 15 inches tall, depending on the variety.
Note: Adding a few handfuls of cattle manure will help them grow bigger.
MONITOR FREQUERTLY
You should check the radish whether it is grown enough to pick out. For detecting the size just uncover the top of each plant and check their size. Water your radish plants regularly. An irregular and infrequent watering technique like keeping the plants dry for some time and then pouring water to create moist conditions can lead to cracking of the roots.
Make sure that you are watering the radishes when they are growing. Radishes have to be watered in a frequent and uniform manner so that it would lead them to quick growth. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged to encourage quick growth.
Fast-growing radishes take less than a month to mature, In most climates, this means you can get two or three rounds in before the weather gets too warm. If the top of the radish bulb appears to be the expected size, it is time to harvest. Radishes are typically ready to harvest when their roots are 1-2 inches in diameter.
HARVEST TIME
Radishes are typically ready to harvest when their roots are 1-2 inches in diameter.
Don’t let them grow too big else they will become hard and woody and will also taste unhealthy.
You should harvest the root before the plant starts flowering. When the plants flowering the radish does not taste good.
To harvest lift the entire plant out of the ground with your hand. Pull each radish out of the ground by holding onto less of the leaves.
Radishes that are harvested early and while the weather is still cool will have the most flavor and the best texture. Larger, more mature radishes will be sweeter but can quickly become pithy or woody. Harvest the whole crop once it matures, and store them in the refrigerator.
There are well over 200 varieties of radishes, each with its own unique appearance and taste.
Growing radishes in containers is not difficult as well in a limited space. You can enjoy fresh and crispy radishes and tasty green tops right in your apartments, balcony, patio, porch, rooftop, or even indoors on your window sill.
