Radishes are a fast-growing and easy-to-grow vegetable. They bring color and variety to the table and are also very healthy. But when can you harvest radishes?

In a nutshell

  • root vegetable very variable in shape and colour
  • Differences also in the degree of sharpness
  • Depending on the variety, sowing is possible almost all year round
  • Tubers require little space and can be harvested relatively quickly
  • The time of harvest is decisive for the quality of the tubers

Don't miss harvest time

In order for radishes (Raphanus sativus var. sativus) to develop optimally, optimal conditions should be ensured during cultivation. In particular, dryness should be avoided, as it would have a detrimental effect on consistency and taste. As a rule, it can be sown until September and harvested until October/November, depending on the variety.

  • Summer varieties ready to harvest about four weeks after sowing
  • Growing season slightly longer in spring or early fall
  • about six to eight weeks
  • the time window for the harvest is also narrow
  • in spring and early autumn about ten days
  • in summer only up to four days
  • Don't leave radishes in the ground for too long
  • otherwise losses in taste and consistency
  • ready to harvest from a diameter of two to three centimetres
  • Tubers are at their most aromatic now
  • the upper ends of the ripe tubers usually protrude from the ground

The best time of day to harvest radishes is late afternoon. The reason for this is the nitrate content in the tubers, which is highest in the morning and at night. During the course of the day, the root vegetables then store the nitrate stored in the tubers in the plant tissue with the help of sunlight. As a result, the nitrate content is lowest in the afternoon and the vitamin content is highest.

Tip: By staggering sowing about every two to three weeks and choosing the right variety, radishes can be harvested continuously until the first frost.

Harvest easy and uncomplicated

Harvesting radishes is completely uncomplicated and can be carried out without any tools. When the time is right, you first loosen the soil around the small tubers. Then you grab the plants at the base of the leaves and pull them out of the ground with slight back and forth movements. Then loose soil is removed, the green leaves and roots are cut off and the radishes are rinsed under running water. Now they can be eaten fresh immediately or after they have dried, they can be kept or stored accordingly.

Short-term and permanent storage

Storage in the fridge

Radishes contain a lot of water, which is lost very quickly during storage, they dry out. The taste-forming mustard oils are also gradually broken down. The refrigerator is suitable for short-term storage. Wrap the cleaned and defoliated radishes in a damp cloth and place them in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. The roots and leaves are removed as they draw moisture from the tubers and cause them to shrivell. This will keep them fresh for about two to three days.

In the freezer

To freeze radishes, they should be fresh and dry. After removing the herb and roots, place them in suitable freezer boxes or freezer bags and seal them tightly. This root vegetable can be frozen for between six and eight months. Always thaw them in a closed container. Allowing them to air dry will cause them to dry out and be less juicy.

Tip: Radishes should be absolutely dry before freezing. Residual water on the nodules would freeze to ice and affect the quality of the small nodules.

frequently asked Questions

Are radishes still edible while they are in bloom?

Harvesting at the right time is crucial to the quality of this root vegetable. Under no circumstances should the tubers remain in the ground for too long. As soon as they bloom, not only is the typical taste lost, the inside of the bulbs also becomes woody and inedible.

How to protect the tubers from the cabbage or radish fly?

Special crop protection nets offer the best protection. They should be so tight that the radish fly cannot fit through. It is best to place them immediately after sowing to prevent oviposition.

Can other parts of the plant also be used?

You can not only harvest the radishes, but also the leaves and even the seed pods. Both the leaves, which also contain mustard oil, and the seed pods are edible and can be used e.g. as an ingredient for fresh salads.

Category:

Vegetable garden