If you haven’t grown radishes in your garden, you should. They are the underappreciated cool-season vegetable and perfect for raised beds in the community or school garden. What radishes have going for them:
- They mature quickly, sometimes as short as 28 days!
- They are nutritious – full of vitamin C, vitamin K and B6
- They are easy to grow
Radishes also come in many shapes and sizes. The variety “Watermelon” is large, think soft ball size, but the traditional “Cherry Bell” is smaller. “Icicle” is long and white, almost like a small carrot. Visit your local feed-and-seed stores to see what varieties they have available or order from one the seed catalog companies.
Planting
The seeds are small but easy to plant in a prepared bed with plenty of drainage:
After the seeds are spread, cover with 1/4 -1/2 inch of soil and tamp down the soil using a light touch. This ensures good seed to soil contact.
Finally, cover with mulch to keep the soil temperature and moisture levels even. Water in and keep the soil slightly moist until the seeds germinate. Thin using scissors, not pulling up seedlings.
Start looking at your radish recipes because your crop will come in quickly!
Happy Gardening!
Becky is a Georgia Certified Beekeeper and works with community and school gardeners to increase beneficial insect habitat.She is the coordinator of the Great Georgia Pollinator Census, happening this year on August 19th and 20th, 2022.She is also part of UGA's Native Plants and Beneficial Insect Working Group.
- ParSLAY the Day! - June 12, 2024
- 6th Annual Great Southeast Pollinator Census - May 28, 2024
- Are you ready for Pepper Palooza? - July 5, 2023
And they are tasty too!