How to Grow Long Black Spanish Radish
Raphanus sativus 'Long Black Spanish'
Long Black Spanish Radish is a quick-growing root vegetable prized for its crisp texture and mild flavor. Gardeners cultivate this heirloom variety to harvest fresh roots in just over two months. Its adaptability makes it an excellent choice for cool-season gardens across many zones.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Long Black Spanish Radish: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Long Black Spanish Radish is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors rather than starting indoors, planting them 2-6 weeks before the last frost date.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost, as this is a cool-season crop that tolerates light chilling. Push seeds into the ground about one inch deep. Expect germination within five to ten days under these conditions.
Space plants four to six inches apart with rows fifteen inches wide for proper airflow. Keep soil consistently moist by providing one inch of water weekly; avoid wetting leaves to reduce disease risk. Apply a light mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but keep it away from the root crowns.
Watch for flea beetles, cabbage root maggots, aphids, clubroot, black rot, and white rust. Prevent issues by rotating crops yearly and ensuring good drainage to avoid clubroot. Harvest roots fifty-five to sixty days after sowing when they reach full size; gently pull them from the soil before they become woody.
When to Plant Long Black Spanish Radish
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Long Black Spanish Radish
✓ Good companions
Radishes break up soil for carrots and mature quickly, allowing carrots more space
Deter aphids and flea beetles while improving radish flavor
Attracts beneficial insects that control radish pests like aphids and flea beetles
Radishes naturally loosen soil for shallow lettuce roots and provide pest protection
Repel nematodes and other soil pests that can damage radish roots
Act as trap crops for flea beetles and aphids that commonly attack radishes
Fix nitrogen in soil and grow vertically, not competing with radish root space
Cool-season companions that don't compete for space due to different root depths
✗ Keep away from
Same family plants compete for nutrients and attract similar pests like flea beetles
Root competition and radishes may negatively affect grape vine growth
Allelopathic properties inhibit radish germination and root development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
