I am thrilled to announce that I can actually grow Radishes now. Yes, I know! Kindergarteners grow them because they are so quick growing and easy for an educational experiment. It is just that somehow they would not grow properly for me in the past. It was a matter of the Nasturtiums (May '20) all over again. I was trying to grow them at the wrong time of the year! In fact, there it is written on the Radish seed packet, "Excellent for autumn crop in the warm areas."
I planted my seeds mid November and have harvested my first small container crop. I have sown another lot of seeds this morning. The seedlings pop up within 3-4 days and then the Radishes are ready to harvest by four weeks. I hope to plant one more lot after that before the weather gets too hot for them.
Radishes have been eaten since ancient times throughout the Old Worlds of Europe and Asia. This plant is actually related to cabbages and belongs to the Brassica family. The crisp and peppery roots are not high in vitamins and minerals but have lots of natural chemical properties that help prevent disease in the eater. The leaves are actually higher in nutrients so do not be quick to throw them out in the compost. The younger, tender leaves can be used in salads and the older leaves cans be sautéed.
Radishes love to grow in the sun. Too much shade will make for more leafy growth and smaller roots. Sow the seeds in place as they do not like being transferred. Grow them in a rich, loose soil. Thin out the seedlings to 2" apart. It is important to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Aloha
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