Growing Radishes: A Complete Guide from an Agronomist

Radishes come in different varieties, and the choice depends on your preferences and growing conditions.

Some of the popular varieties are:
• “Zarya” is an early variety with bright red, round-shaped fruits.
• “Rubin” is a mid-season variety with dark red oval fruits.
• “Zhara” is an early variety with red, elongated fruits.

Preparing a bed for radishes

Choose a sunny area with fertile soil. Radishes grow well after legumes, potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage, says Anastasia Kovrizhnykh .

In autumn, dig up the soil to the depth of a shovel blade, add humus and ash. In spring, loosen the soil and make beds about 15 cm high.

Planting radishes

Sow radishes in late April - early May, when the soil warms up to 10-12 degrees.

Make furrows 15-20 cm apart and about 2 cm deep. Place the seeds 5-7 cm apart, cover with soil and compact lightly.

Caring for radishes

Water the radish regularly, especially in dry weather. Do not allow the soil to dry out, but do not over-water it either.

Feed the radish with mineral fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) after the first true leaves appear. Thin out the seedlings, removing weak plants. Remove weeds regularly.

Pest and disease control

Radishes can be affected by pests such as cruciferous flea beetles, cabbage flies and wireworms. To combat them, use insecticides, following the instructions for use. Among diseases, radishes can suffer from black leg, clubroot and downy mildew.

For prevention, treat the seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate before sowing, and at the first signs of disease, use fungicides.

Harvesting and storing radishes

Harvest radishes as they mature, usually 20 to 30 days after planting.

Select only healthy and undamaged fruits for storage. It is better to store radishes in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment, having previously packed them in a plastic bag or plastic container. This way, the radishes will retain their freshness and taste for several weeks.

Previously we reported on the correct planting of shrubs and trees .