Sowing radishes is very easy as long as you know the right timing, spacing and depth. As a result, the plants thrive ideally and the harvest is lush.

In a nutshell

  • Radishes can be preferred
  • Maintaining the required distances ensures successful growth
  • Bed preparation required
  • Seeds may only be slightly covered with soil after sowing
  • Keeping the distances is also required for harvesting

preparation

Ideally, the bed should be prepared in autumn for sowing or pulling radishes in spring. This requires the following steps:

  1. digging up: The digging serves to loosen the substrate and incorporate new nutrient-rich substances, such as compost. The soil should be dug 20 to 30 centimeters deep.
  2. Remove foreign bodies: Roots and stones can restrict radish growth and should therefore be removed before sowing or planting.
  3. earth seven: Sifting the substrate also removes smaller debris and roots. In addition, the soil is effectively loosened.
  4. Bring in nutrients: The soil can be enriched with nutrients using compost, horn meal or special vegetable fertilizer. The advantage of preparing in autumn is that these are distributed more evenly in the soil by microorganisms and living beings and are thus directly available to the young plants in spring.
  5. Smooth: Smooth raking prevents puddles from forming or the bed from having to be prepared again in spring.

timing by variety

The right time to sow the radish seeds depends on the variety. A distinction is made between spring varieties and summer varieties. The variants for spring are, for example:

  • Cyrus
  • Flamboyant
  • French Breakfast
  • corundum
  • saxa

The early varieties germinate at lower temperatures and are therefore also suitable for a harsher climate. Radishes for the summer need warmer soil. They include:

  • Carnita
  • champion
  • matter
  • Olivia
  • Prince Rotin
  • Rex
  • giant butter
  • roundel
  • rota
  • sora
  • vitessa

Notice: The advantage of these later varieties is that they do not tend to shoot and do not become furry even in hot and dry conditions. The early variants, on the other hand, are more resistant to cold.

Early Varieties

Early germinating radishes need temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees Celsius. Therefore, in regions with a mild climate, they can often be sown directly into the bed at the end of February or beginning of March.

Tip: Covering with foil or fleece can accelerate germination and later protect the young plants.

summer varieties

Later varieties of radishes, known in botanical jargon as Raphanus sativus var. sativus, need temperatures of at least 15 degrees Celsius. You can therefore sow these radishes from around mid or late May.

Prefer

An alternative to direct sowing is pre-seeding. For this purpose, the seeds are placed in seed pots, for example, and pre-grown in a greenhouse, winter garden or stairwell. The only important things are the right temperatures for the variety, sufficient light and water.
Radishes, which belong to radishes, are so-called weak feeders. This means that the substrate does not have to have a high nutrient content. Seed soil is therefore perfectly sufficient, especially for the seeds. If they are later placed in the prepared bed, they will have sufficient nutrients available by incorporating compost or appropriate fertilizer.

planting distance

There should be a distance of at least 15 centimeters between the rows. It should be taken into account that there is enough space for a simple harvest.
Laying narrow paving slabs in the middle of the rows has the advantage that weeds are also kept away.
There should be a planting distance of eight to twelve centimeters between the individual seeds or early plants. This ensures that each radish gets enough water and nutrients. In addition, there is adequate ventilation. This means that pests and diseases such as fungi have less of a chance of spreading quickly.

depth

Raphanus sativus var. sativus only needs to be lightly covered with soil. A layer of one to two centimeters on the seeds is sufficient. It is ideal and easy to draw a groove in the bed and sow the seeds individually at the appropriate intervals.
Then apply the soil in a thin layer and tap it lightly. Finally, the seed is watered well and, if necessary, covered with foil or fleece.
The same planting distance applies to radishes that are brought forward. However, these can be used directly with the substrate in prepared holes.

pricking

If you plant the seeds too densely or do not use special seed pots, you will have to prick out the young plants. This means that you have to take the plants out of the ground one by one and plant them again at a greater distance from each other.
This measure is possible when the cotyledons are visible and about two to three centimeters high.

Distance to plant partners

Some planting partners in a mixed culture can help to keep the risk of pest infestation and thus the risk of disease transmission as low as possible. These include, among others:

  • Herbs, such as basil, sage or parsley
  • carrots
  • salad
  • tomatoes

While a distance of 15 centimeters per row and eight to twelve centimeters between the plants is sufficient between the radishes, you should ensure that larger plants such as tomatoes or lovage do not create too much shadow.
More space between the plants is advisable. You should make this dependent on the respective larger plants.

frequently asked Questions

Can radishes also be grown on balconies and terraces?

Yes, cultivation is even possible indoors. Important are only sufficiently large planters and the right temperatures. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that there is an appropriate supply of water and nutrients, since there is less soil in pots and boxes and therefore less storage space.

Can several different varieties be planted in a row?

Since the radish species is a weak feeder, it is possible to sow several different varieties in the same bed within a few weeks. This not only ensures a variety of tastes, but also guarantees frequent and continuous harvests throughout the season.

Why is it important to choose the right radish variety for sowing?

As with all other plants, there are different varieties or cultivated forms. These are adapted to different temperatures. If, for example, an early variety is chosen, it can shoot when the temperatures are too high and direct more energy into the growth of the leaves than into the formation of the tubers.

Category:

Vegetable garden