For anyone who wants to grow radishes there really is a long range of varieties to choose from, varying in colour, shape, flavour and growth speed. As for colour, most radishes are white inside and cherry red outside, sometimes with a white tip, but there are also pink, violet, green and all-white varieties. The shape is round or cylindrical.

Because some radishes can be harvested after only 25–30 days, it is common to plant radishes together with plants that take longer, e.g. parsnip and carrot. The radishes are then ready to harvest at about the same time as it is time to start thinning the slow plants. That way you can make full use of the vegetable plot.

Growing radishes

Radishes can be sown early in spring, as soon as the soil has become warm enough to work again after winter. If you want a continuous harvest you need to sow new seeds regularly. You can also choose varieties with different growth rates. The late varieties should not be sown until high summer.
Radishes want nutrient-rich soil. Mix the soil with sand, compost and well-rotted manure down to 30 cm depth before planting. (If you want to plant radishes together with other plants, the other plants’ soil requirements must of course also be taken into account.)
Radishes want a growing spot where they get full sun.
Sow the seeds directly outdoors in drills 2 cm deep. Cover with soil. Leave at least 10 cm between each drill. If you want to grow one of the large varieties you need to give them more room.
During dry summers it is important to water properly, otherwise the radish becomes woody and bitter.
When the first true leaves have appeared it is time to thin the radishes. Exactly how close together they should stand depends mainly on the variety; it varies from 3 to 10 cm.
Harvest time depends on the variety you have chosen to grow; some are ready within a month while others need over two months to be ready for harvest.
Late radishes can stay in the ground through autumn and winter if you cover them with straw. That way you can harvest them as needed instead of trying to store them indoors.