Crop Guide – Radish

Common Name Radish
Scientific Name Raphanus sativus

Uses Edible; Root eaten raw in salads or sliced and dipped in hummus; Young leaves used in salads for cooked similar to spinach

Crop Timeline

• Direct Sow: sow ~1 month prior to target harvest
  • Spring Planting: early March to early May
  • Fall Planting: mid-September to mid-November

Planting tips

• Use the paper towel seeding method for easy even spacing. Broadcast seeding is also common.
• Fertilizer: Use organic fertilizers such as bone meal as radishes require a lot of P (phosphorus)
• Number of plants per square foot: 16
• Growing structures: None
• Frost protection: None

Harvest

• Harvest 22-30 days after transplant
  • Harvest when “shoulders” emerge and are approximately 1” in diameter (may vary by variety). 
  • Grasp radish at the base of the foliage and pull straight up.

Pests 

• None of significance

This crop guide information has been tailored to school garden use, particularly for Plant Hardiness Zone 7. Other resources you find may be different based on efficiencies of larger scale production systems or maximum harvest yield. If you have questions, feel free to contact Doug Vernon or your local Cooperative Extension office.