How to Grow Radish
Raphanus sativus
Radishes are fast-growing root vegetables prized for their crisp texture and peppery flavor. Gardeners grow them to add quick yields to spring or fall gardens, making excellent use of small spaces between slower crops.
📷 Wikipedia: RadishStarting Radish: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Radish is not usually started indoors.
Radishes are best direct-sown rather than started indoors and transplanted due to their sensitive taproots.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before sowing directly outdoors two to six weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds shallowly at a depth of about half an inch, as they germinate quickly within three to seven days. Because radishes are cool-season crops, avoid waiting until after the frost has passed.
Space seedlings one to two inches apart to allow roots proper development without overcrowding. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged to prevent cracking or woody growth. Apply a light mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds, though heavy feeding is rarely necessary for this easy-to-grow crop.
Watch for flea beetles which chew holes in leaves; use row covers early to prevent damage. Diseases are rare if soil remains moist but well-drained. Harvest roots when they reach maturity in twenty-two to thirty days by gently pulling or digging them up before the tops begin to yellow.
When to Plant 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 |
