[Gardening Tuesday] Let's start simple and let's grow our own Radishes! EatCheapAndHealthy

Botanical name: Raphanus sativus

Plant type: Vegetable

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Sun exposure: Full Sun

Soil type: Any

Radishes are a hardy, cool-season vegetable that can produce many crops each season due to its rapid days to maturity. Radishes can be planted in both the spring and the fall, but growing should be suspended in the warmer months. They are a very easy vegetable to grow. Planting

Plant 4-6 weeks before the average date of last frost, after aged manure or organic fertilizer has been worked into soil.

Direct sow seeds ½ inch to an inch deep and one inch apart in rows 12 inches apart.

Thin to about 2-inch spacings. Crowded plants will not grow well.

Radishes need sun. If they are planted in too much shade—or even where neighboring vegetable plants shade them—they put all their energy into producing larger leaves.

Practice three-year crop rotation.

Plant consecutively every two weeks or so while weather is still cool for a continuous harvest of radishes.

Plan on a fall planting. You can plant radishes later than any other root crop in late summer or early fall and still get a harvest.

Care

Radishes require well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.

Thin radishes to about an inch apart when the plants are a week old. You will be amazed at the results.

Pests

Cabbage Root Maggot

Clubroot

Harvest/Storage

Radishes will be ready to harvest quite rapidly, as three weeks after planting for some varieties.

Do not leave in the ground long after mature stage, their condition will deteriorate quickly.

Cut the tops off short, wash the radishes and dry them thoroughly. Store in plastic bags in the refrigerator.

Radish greens can be stored separately for up to three days.

Recommended Varieties

‘French Breakfast’ late maturing variety, does ok in moderate heat.

‘Burpee White’ spring variety, white skin.

Recipes

• Radish Chutney

• Tabouli

• Spring Vegetable Salad

Cooking Notes

‘French Breakfast’ late maturing variety, does well in moderate heat.

‘Burpee White’ spring variety, white skin.

Wit & Wisdom

Don’t be afraid to plant seeds that are up to five years old. All may not germinate, but you’ll have plenty that will.

Information provided by The Farmer's Almanac

FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS!!!

Submitted June 16, 2015 at 07:09PM by PabstyLoudmouth http://ift.tt/1J1LAbn EatCheapAndHealthy