Hi,
I have decided to let 2 different varieties of radish go to seed. I am just doing 1 plant of each. Right now I have a Salad Rose radish that is pretty huge. The root is about 6-7 inches diameter and sticks about 3-4 inches out of the soil. I have no idea how many more inches it is below the soil. But this variety grows like a carrot; cylindrical about 5-6 inches.
The plant is not very old just a few months. How long does it take for radishes to flower and seed? Are they annuals or biennials? Do they have pests that attack the bulb? I am a little worried with its bulb exposed like that. One day I walked out there and saw a tiny chunk bit off from it. I am thinking a bug or small animal tried to eat it but maybe did not like the taste.
The other variety of radish I will let go to seed is watermelon radish. I just started them so I don't really have a nice plant yet. I also hear radishes are a good companion plant that is why I am keeping them around.
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PunkRotten
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ButterflyGarden
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I let me radishes go to seed last year. I don't remember how long it took. They grew little pods and I then picked the stem (which had several little pods) and hung it to dry. This year I opened the pods (they had the look and feel of Styrofoam) and planted the seeds. I was able to get really nice radishes from them, but the ones I tried to let go to seed never produced any seeds.
First off Punk', aren't you a little concerned that they will cross-pollinate? Or, would that matter?
Mine will take 3 months to produce good seed and that is pushing it a bit. I planted one variety about the 1st of July one year and it didn't mature seed well until after a late September frost, or 2. Luckily, frost won't kill the plants easily.
It is better for me to save plants from early May sowings. I have to drive a stake beside them because they will grow to 3 feet plus and flop over if not tied.
Be sure to try tasting the seed pods very early on - while they are still tender. I like the pods better than the roots for snacking
. They are wonderful! But, they will quickly toughen. Varieties just for pod production may have better holding qualities but I can always find a handful off of any plant. Any radish plant, I suspect, will grow quite large and the many pods will mature at different times on the same plant.
What I'm thinking is that you can grow 1 variety 1 year and a 2nd variety the next to avoid crossing. The seed is viable for several years. Harvesting is really quite easy with radishes.
Steve
Mine will take 3 months to produce good seed and that is pushing it a bit. I planted one variety about the 1st of July one year and it didn't mature seed well until after a late September frost, or 2. Luckily, frost won't kill the plants easily.
It is better for me to save plants from early May sowings. I have to drive a stake beside them because they will grow to 3 feet plus and flop over if not tied.
Be sure to try tasting the seed pods very early on - while they are still tender. I like the pods better than the roots for snacking
. They are wonderful! But, they will quickly toughen. Varieties just for pod production may have better holding qualities but I can always find a handful off of any plant. Any radish plant, I suspect, will grow quite large and the many pods will mature at different times on the same plant.What I'm thinking is that you can grow 1 variety 1 year and a 2nd variety the next to avoid crossing. The seed is viable for several years. Harvesting is really quite easy with radishes.
Steve
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PunkRotten
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Well the other radish variety is at the other end of the garden. And none of them have even sprouted yet. So I have a good head start with the Salad Rose. I was thinking radishes were biennials for some reason. But good to hear they only take about 3 months. Is the root any good to eat during or after flowering? I know basil will taste bitter so I am assuming the root will have a different taste too.
Dry hot weather will make them go to seed quicker. Some radish are 28 day while winter varties can be as much as 60 days! I plant the radish mix with maybe 6 varities and let alot got to seed! I like the many radish flowers in the yard for butterflies! I also have a pink and some white radish flowers depending on the radish! One radish will make a100 or more seeds from the pods! Try the watermellon radish!
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Radish grow almost anywhere and are good for compost. The tops are good for feed or rabits! This spring I will use a area of radish for a cover crop and dig them under by may! You can by radish seeds by the pound very cheaply from Shrumway less than $5 a pound!!! The pods are great in salads, You can also use radish that go to seed as a shade for plants like lettuce by planting the radish on the sunny side of a row of lettuce!
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That is strange that I just mentioned a radish as a cover crop and right below my post there was this link!
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https://www.tillageradish.com/cover-crop-solution.php?gclid=CJmb5MHp2qwCFQ1x5QodszUEpw
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Radish grow almost anywhere and are good for compost. The tops are good for feed or rabits! This spring I will use a area of radish for a cover crop and dig them under by may! You can by radish seeds by the pound very cheaply from Shrumway less than $5 a pound!!! The pods are great in salads, You can also use radish that go to seed as a shade for plants like lettuce by planting the radish on the sunny side of a row of lettuce!
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That is strange that I just mentioned a radish as a cover crop and right below my post there was this link!
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https://www.tillageradish.com/cover-crop-solution.php?gclid=CJmb5MHp2qwCFQ1x5QodszUEpw
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PunkRotten
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Yeah I wanna experiment with collecting seeds so I know how to do it. I have like 10 different types of radish seeds; my earliest is 20 days and longest is 60. The watermelon radish take 50/60 days. I also have one packet that is mixed radish seeds. It makes it a little tricky to collect seeds from these if you are after a particular kind. A trick is you can wipe away some dirt by the root/bulb and take a peek at what it looks like. I do this with carrots and beets also to see if they are ready or need more time.
I actually need to pull some radishes now but been lazy. I can see lots of bulbs sticking out that are big. Last month I was too excited and pulled some too early and got smaller bulbs. I also like to let them go beyond their mature day they get bigger and fatter.
I actually need to pull some radishes now but been lazy. I can see lots of bulbs sticking out that are big. Last month I was too excited and pulled some too early and got smaller bulbs. I also like to let them go beyond their mature day they get bigger and fatter.
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lorax
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Punk - I've always allowed my radishes to crown above the soil - they get stronger flavour that way, which I really like. Hot weather will cause a bolt, but other than that just be patient and stake them as suggested upthread (they get top-heavy).
Deborah - radishes crack when they get too much water, too fast. A single cracking good thunderstorm can do it (at least, in my garden). They're fine, though, just like cracked tomatoes - scrub them well and they taste the same as uncracked radishes.
Deborah - radishes crack when they get too much water, too fast. A single cracking good thunderstorm can do it (at least, in my garden). They're fine, though, just like cracked tomatoes - scrub them well and they taste the same as uncracked radishes.