When to plant radishes: tips for the best harvest

Radish is an early ripening crop that can be grown several times per season. This vegetable likes fertile, loose soil and needs a lot of sunlight, so it is better to choose open, well-lit places for planting.

It is worth remembering that radishes are quite demanding on moisture, so insufficient moisture can lead to stunted growth. OBOZ.UA tells you when and how to plant radishes and what mistakes to avoid.

When and how to plant radishes

Radishes are sown in open ground in the spring when the ground temperature reaches 5-10ºС. Optimal plant growth occurs at 15-20°C. The best period for sowing is the second half of March and early April, when the risk of frost is minimal and the soil has warmed up sufficiently.

You can cover the beds with agrofibre, which will help protect the seedlings from possible frost. If the air temperature is not too high, sowing is possible even until June. Heat negatively affects the development of radishes, and in cool summers the plant feels better.

Due to its cold tolerance, radishes are often planted again in late August or early fall. It is important to choose a variety that is suitable for the climate conditions and time of planting.

How to grow radishes

Radishes grow well in sunny to slightly shaded areas with light, well-drained soil.

• Loamy and sandy loam soils are best.
• Before planting, dig the soil to a depth of 15-20 cm.
• You can add humus or compost (but not fresh manure, because it is too concentrated and promotes the growth of tops instead of roots).
• You should also make sure that the soil acidity is neutral (pH 6.5-7.0). If the acidity is high, add wood ash or dolomite flour.
• The seeds are buried by 1.5-2.5 cm, leaving a row spacing of about 10 cm. After sowing, it is important to moisten the soil well.

Further care includes regular watering, especially during seed germination, weeding and thinning. The optimal soil moisture for radishes is 80%, so it is recommended to irrigate the plants daily. Under favorable conditions, radishes ripen quickly, with a growing season of 25 to 40 days.

Tips and warnings

Radishes should not be sown too densely, as root crops can compete for space, which will lead to deformation or reduction in size.

Radishes do not like overheated soil, especially on hot summer days. It is important to provide enough sun in early spring and, if necessary, provide shade for the plants during the summer heat.

Waterlogging should also be avoided, which can lead to rot and disease. Typically, watering is done once a day in spring and twice in summer. Excessive deepening of the seeds is also undesirable, as the roots may not germinate to the soil surface, and the harvest will be spoiled.

Radishes do not like soil enriched with excessive amounts of fertilizer. If you want to grow juicy and high-quality root vegetables, it is better not to use fresh manure when planting seeds.

Viral infections often appear on radishes, especially on acidic soils, and can lead to the formation of growths on plants. In this case, it is best to destroy the affected fruit and refrain from growing radishes in this area for several years.

Radishes can also be attacked by cabbage fleas, which are especially dangerous at the germination stage. To combat them, you can use ash, which effectively repels insects.

May beetles often harm radishes by damaging the leaves, and their larvae eat the underground parts, leaving characteristic holes.

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