With their peppery-pungent taste and crunchy texture, radishes are a highly sought-after root vegetable. They are annual plants that can be planted multiple times throughout the growing season. Packed with immense health benefits, such as antioxidants and minerals, radishes are an easy vegetable to grow from seeds.

For growing healthy plants and to reap a bountiful harvest, follow the below guide for growing radish from seeds.

How to Grow Radish from Seeds

Planting radish seeds can be economical compared to buying from supermarkets. In addition, you can also grow organic and harvest them fresh from the garden to the kitchen. Radishes are similar to growing beets from seeds, another edible root vegetable.

Read on to find out how to effectively grow and harvest radishes from seeds right from your garden.

Select Seed Variety

There are innumerable varieties of radishes available, each with distinct color, taste, texture, and size. Radishes can also be grown based on organic, hybrid, and heirloom varieties.

Wondering which one is best for your garden? Not to worry. For healthier radish produce, you can always go for varieties that best suit your climatic conditions, soil compositions, or their use.

Some of the most favoured radish seed varieties you can try growing are:

• Daikon Radish Seeds
• Crimson Giant Radish Seeds
• Black Spanish Radish Seeds
• Champion Radish Seeds
• Red Radish Organic Seeds

When to Sow Radish Seeds

April to early May is the ideal planting season for radish seeds. If you’re looking for an early crop, sow the seeds in February and again in August. Plant the radish seeds 4-6 weeks before the last frost or 4-6 weeks before the beginning of the first fall frost.

Where to Plant Radish Seeds

Radishes grow best in sunny areas that receive at least 5-6 hours of full sun. Grow them in nutrient-rich soil beds or rows. They can also be planted in pots or large containers. The best companion plants for radishes are beets, beans, cucumber, tomatoes, peas, mint, spinach, and many more.

Prepare Soil for Radish

As radish is an underground vegetable, primary focus can be provided for its soil requirement. They grow well in sandy loam soil with a large addition of organic matter. You can also maintain the soil pH between 5.5 and 6.8 for a better yield, taste, flavor, and texture.

How to Plant Radish from Seeds

• To plant radish seeds, soak them in water for 24 hours before sowing to get rid of the hard seed shells.

• Start radish seeds directly in the soil outdoors. These are resilient vegetables that can withstand cool temperatures and harsh weather conditions.

• Sow the seeds about ½ inches deep in fertile soil. Plant them in rows about 12 inches apart with a space of 1 inch apart between each seed.

• Cover the freshly sowed area with a thin layer of soil. Water the seeds thoroughly to keep the soil moist.

• Under ideal temperatures between 55-75 degrees, you can expect the germination of radish seeds in about 10 days.

• Once radishes are large enough, thin them out with a gap of 2.5 cm between each plant. This can ensure larger and healthier radishes.

• For radish microgreens, indoor germination can take place in 3 days and are ready to be harvested after 4-7 days.

Related post: How to Grow and Harvest Microgreens from Seeds

Water Requirement for Radish

Overwatering is a major concern when it comes to watering root vegetables like radishes. They can cause root rot or soggy soil which can damage the plant. To maintain consistency water for about 4-5 times a week. Drip irrigation is a great way for keeping a check on your water content level.

Sunlight Requirement for Radish

Radish plants require full sun to develop into firm hardy bulbs. They do grow in partial or shaded areas as well but there may be differences in size, color, and texture compared to growing under direct sunlight. If your radishes are in containers or pots, move them to a sunny area in your garden.

Temperature Requirement for Radish

Known for being a cool-season crop, radishes prefer an ideal temperature of 40-70 degrees. Look out for frost seasons when planting your radish seeds, other than that this hardy root vegetable can be grown in most climatic conditions. You can harvest large quantities of fresh radishes throughout the year.

Fertilizer Requirement for Radish

Avoid using heavy fertilizers on your radishes. Though you can completely forgo the use of fertilizers for this particular vegetable plant, using a balanced all-purpose fertilizer for your mature radish plants can help boost their growth. You can also use organic substitutes such as tea compost, neem cakes, manure, and many such fertilizers. 

When to Harvest Radish

After all the radish growing stages are completed, it’s time for the harvest. Depending on the seed variety and radish growing seasons, it can take about 20-30 days for a spring harvest. For a winter harvest, it can take about 50-60 days. To check if your radish is ready for picking, gently pull the top foliage by loosening the soil around. If the bulb is firm and is of the right color and size, your radishes are ready to be harvested.

Looking for radish seeds to add to your vegetable family? We got your back. Shop at our online store at Seed World Marketplace for varieties of seeds delivered to your doorstep.