Picking radishes is an important step in maximizing yields of the delicious vegetable. In this article you will find 5 tips for separating the seedlings.

In a nutshell

  • Separate the radishes with tweezers
  • pricked out after the formation of a pair of leaves
  • discard weak and space-consuming seedlings

Necessary tool

To prick radishes, you need the right tools. The plants are very sensitive and do not like to be disturbed, which can be prevented by using the right tools. You will definitely need tweezers to pull the seedlings out of the ground. Furthermore, a pricking stick is necessary so that you can fix the specimen selected for further cultivation in the ground.

Best time

In addition to the utensils, the right period of time is important to prick the radishes. Since there is no direct date for pricking out the radishes, you have to pay attention to the seedlings. After they are sown, you need to wait until the first cotyledons are formed. Ideally, it is a pair of leaves. On average, the first pairs of leaves are formed after 10 to 14 days, which makes the waiting time bearable. Some strains take a little longer to germinate than others.

Notice: If you want to be on the safe side and don't want to damage the seedlings, you can let them grow for another two weeks. Although they get a little bigger, the root system is not yet too pronounced, which makes pricking out possible later.

Prick radishes: instructions

If the radishes were happily germinating, it's time to separate them. To make it easier for you to prick the radishes, you will find clear instructions in this tip:

  • Check seedlings for vigor and size
  • prick out space-consuming seedlings
  • also too small and weak
  • leave suitable specimens
  • Carefully pull out unsuitable seedlings
  • Put the tweezers on the base
  • then press the good seedlings back on
  • use the prick stick for this

Use alternative germination method

You can simplify the tedious task of separating the radishes in the substrate in advance. The little plants germinate without any problems on a kitchen towel, which offers a great advantage: they are automatically isolated. Since you don't pour the seeds into a groove, but place them individually on the kitchen towel by hand, ideally you don't have to separate them at all. All healthy seeds have enough space with this variant. Pre-germination works as follows:

  • Use 3 to 4 sheets of kitchen paper
  • superimpose
  • moisten well
  • express carefully
  • Space seeds far enough apart
  • Moisten 3 to 4 sheets of kitchen paper again
  • put on the seeds
  • don't squeeze
  • place in a freezer bag
  • place in a suitable location
  • regularly check for moisture and seedlings

Plant pre-germinated radishes

If you use the variant presented in the previous paragraph for germination, you must then plant the radishes. After seeing the leaves, you can check if you can spot any particularly faint specimens. You should discard these, as they are usually not strong enough. The others are either placed outdoors or in plant pots with a suitable substrate. Since the seeds were not sown together, with this variant it is not necessary to prick out the radishes due to lack of space. If you decide to go outdoors, prepare the bed as follows:

  • create individual channels
  • Depth: 1 cm
  • Distance to the next gutter: 10 cm
  • loosen up well
  • Soil should be loose and crumbly

If you use plant pots instead, you need a suitable plant substrate. But keep in mind that radishes grow much better outdoors. The following are the most important points for bucket maintenance:

  • choose classic potting soil
  • should be humorous
  • Work in quartz sand
  • Buckets should have drainage holes
  • Pay attention to the outdoor channel depth

Notice: Plant the young plants among strawberries, kidney beans, carrots, peas, lettuce or chives to increase yields. These are excellent neighbors for the tubers.

frequently asked Questions

Which Strains Provide the Biggest Yields?

If you want to increase the yields of your radish sowing, you should preferably use varieties that belong to the spring or autumn variety group. They require less sun, which means that the tubers are not as woody and the taste is more intense. If you are aiming for an early harvest, varieties such as 'Saxa 2' or 'Flamboyant' are ideal. Sow fast-growing varieties like 'Celesta' in the fall.

Can the seedlings that have been sorted out still be used?

Yes, you don't have to discard the seedlings. Radish seedlings are a delicious ingredient for salads and can simply be added directly to the food after pricking out. Just don't forget to wash them beforehand. Of course you can put the seedlings on the compost and use them that way. However, they are too good for organic waste.

What are bad neighbors for radishes?

After separating, it is important not to put the young plants close to bad neighbors. Radishes get along with a variety of different crops, but they should never be planted with cucumbers. Melons and other cucumber plants are just as problematic. The reason for this is the thirst of the cucumber plants, which causes the radishes to dry out quickly and become woody.

Category:

Vegetable garden