Planting and care
How to grow radishes
When to grow
Cool season · Annual
How to start
Direct seed
Mature size
Low tops; edible root below soil
Time to harvest
Small spring radishes: 22–35 days from seed; winter or daikon varieties: 50–70 days.
Feeding needs
Light feeder
Growth habit
Root Crop
How to prune
No pruning needed. Thin crowded seedlings to the variety’s spacing; leaves power root growth. Remove bolting or split plants.
How to harvest
Brush soil from the shoulder and pull when the root reaches the variety’s size, often about 1 inch across for round types. Harvest promptly; delays create woody or pithy roots.
Harvest and kitchen use
Fresh, roasted, pickled or cooked; some tops are edible depending crop
Nutrition and garden value
Fiber plus crop-specific vitamins/minerals
Excellent intensive raised-bed crop; efficient use of lower soil profile
Common challenges and troubleshooting
Poor germination, root forking or pests if soil is compacted