Growing Radishes:
How to Grow Radishes Organically

Growing radishes is the perfect choice for a child’s first garden. They are very easy to grow and develop in just a few weeks. Once you know how to grow radishes, you’ll want to keep a bed of them in rotation all year round as weather permits in order to enjoy their crisp, spicy goodness.

Radishes come in both spring and winter varieties, and do best in cool weather.

Planting Radishes
Growing Radishes
Harvesting Radishes
Storing Radishes and/or Freezing Radishes
Pests & Diseases
YOUR Advice, Experiences and Photos

Growing Radishes: Plant Snapshot (Raphanus sativus)

Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard family)
Annual or Perennial? Annual: Ready to harvest 20 to 30 days after planting.
Recommended varieties: Cherriette, Red Meat, Minowase Summer Cross, Hailstone
Cold tolerance: Half Hardy – Will survive light frosts. Seeds germinate at low soil temperatures and can be planted 2 weeks before the average date of the last 32 degree F (0 degree C) temperature in spring.
Required Sun: Full sun (at least 6 hours each day)
When planning vegetable crop rotation, group with crops from this family: Brassica: broccoli, cabbage
Companion plants (see Companion Planting Charts for more info):
- Companions: Beans, Cabbage family, Carrot, Chervil, Collard, Cucumber, Grapes, Lettuce, Melon family, Nasturtium, Onion family, Pea, Squash
- Avoid: Hyssop

Growing Radishes: Planting the Seed

Where to Find Planting Supplies...

The following resources offer effective, healthy and/or well-rounded options. Click the links to go there now...

Best Compost Bin Designs
Pots and planters (follow link, then choose "Pots & Planters" from menu)
Seed-starting soil mix
Potting Soil (for transplanting started plants into pots/containers)
Organic Garden Fertilizers
Types of Mulch
Lawn / Garden Tools
Soil Tesk Kit (for pH, N, P and K levels) - see our Soil pH Tester page for more info
Organic Seed Collections make seed-buying easy for the beginner... just pick the group that you want to plant:
Individual Organic Seeds (once on their site, choose seed category in left margin)

When to plant radish seed depends on whether you're planting for a spring, summer, or winter harvest, but the timing is generally April through September, two to three weeks before the first and last frosts. Plant radish seeds one half inch deep (13 mm) and one inch (2.54 cm) apart in rows that are ten to sixteen inches (25 to 41 cm) apart, adding an organic garden fertilizer after planting.

Radishes aren’t too fussy about their growing conditions, but well drained rich soil and partial shade to full sun will ensure a bumper radish crop. However, radishes only like a lot of sunshine during cool weather.

If your radishes are a summer crop, they may be planted alongside other vegetables such as beans and peas whose growth will provide them with some shade.

Snapshot: Planting Radishes

Planting depth: about 1/2 inches (13 mm)
Spacing in rows: about 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Germination soil temperature: 45 to 90 degrees F (7.2 to 32.2 degrees C)
Days to germination: 4 to 7 days

Growing Radishes: From Germination to Pre-Harvest

Where to Find Growing & Plant Care Supplies...

For effectice, healthy and/or well-rounded options, click the following links...

Once radish seed have begun to sprout, you'll want to thin them until you have one plant left every two inches along the row.

Keep the radish bed well-mulched to help keep the soil cool and moist as high temperatures and lack of moisture can change their taste and texture.

Snapshot: Growing Radishes

Preferred soil pH (see soil pH tester for more information): 6.0 to 7.0
Growing soil temperature: 45 to 90 degrees F (7.22 to 32.2 degrees C)

Growing Radishes: Harvesting Time

Where to Find Harvesting Supplies...

Garden shears for harvesting fruits, vegetables and flowers

Radishes are quick to reach a usable size, and they are as easy to pick as they are to grow. Pull the radishes when they are about one inch in diameter, as at this size they are still young and tender.

Keep a close watch on radishes reaching harvest age, as they can change from crisp and tender to spongy and foul-tasting in a matter of days.

Snapshot: Harvesting Radishes

Time to harvest: About 3 to 6 weeks in summer, 10 to 12 weeks in fall/winter.

Storing Radishes and Freezing Radishes

To store radishes, wash the roots and trim off both the taproot and the green leafy tops, then place cleaned, trimmed radishes in plastic bags in the refrigerator where they will keep for up to a month.

For freezing, choose well-formed radishes with no black spots. Do not peel, but cut into smaller pieces and blanch in boiling water for two to three minutes. Plunge into cold water, then drain, place in bags or containers, and place in freezer. Be aware that radishes that have been frozen will have a different texture from fresh radishes.

Radish seed are viable for four years.

Snapshot: Storing Radishes & Freezing Radishes

Storage temperature: 32 to 40 degrees F (0 to 4.44 degrees C)
Humidity: 90 to 95% relative humidity
Storage life (unfrozen in above conditions): Up to 4 weeks
Storage life (frozen): 6 months
Seed longevity: About 4 years

Growing Radishes: Pests & Diseases

The following pests and diseases have been known to affect the success of growing Radishes. For more information about preventing and controlling them, see Organic Garden Pest Control.