Radishes are one of the most quickest and easiest vegetables to grow, making them
an ideal starter crop for children to grow. Being quick to grow, makes them ideal
plants to grow in between slower growing crops as catch crops.
Success with radishes depends on the soil conditions, the soil must be rich, moist, light and fertile.
They will benefit from a pre-season application of manure. Before sowing prepare the soil by working
it into a fine tilth, there should be no lumps in the top15cms of soil. In the summer the radish prefers
a shady position, if grown in the full sun they tend to bolt.
As like lettuces radishes should be sown little and often, sowing them in succession every three weeks.
Make the drills 1.8cm deep and the rows 10-15cms apart, sow seeds thinly, over crowding leads to foliage
rather than root growth. Fill the drills with a rake and water well.
The seeds should germinate within ten days after sowing. Thin the plants as necessary, small varieties 2.5cm
and larger salad varieties to about 5cms.
Harvest when the radish is still young and crisp, if you leave them in the ground too long they become stringy
and taste unpleasant.
