Radish growing technology from A to Z for beginner gardeners

Perhaps every gardener has at least once grown radishes on his plot. This is an unpretentious and low-maintenance crop. However, it is not as simple as it seems. It was radishes that were chosen for research in space. With its help, the features of growing plants in zero gravity were studied on the ISS.

However, even when cultivating such an unpretentious crop, difficulties arise. Either the seeds do not germinate, or pests attack, or the root crops grow empty and tasteless. Therefore, we will talk in detail about how to grow radishes in the summer in open ground and in a greenhouse, at what temperature and how this crop grows, how to thin out and how often to water landings.

Choosing a variety

A great variety of radish varieties have been developed. There are those who eat not only root vegetables, but also tops. Let's take a closer look at some of the varieties.

Interesting fact. Radishes were brought to Russia by Peter I at the end of the 17th century.

For the greenhouse

Proper selection of varieties is especially important when grown in greenhouse conditions. For sowing in a greenhouse, choose radishes that are resistant to lack of lighting and high humidity:

1. Alex. An ultra-early variety, ideal for greenhouses and greenhouses. From the moment of emergence of seedlings to the onset of ripeness, 16–18 days pass. The root vegetables are small and have excellent taste. Not prone to bolting and lignification.
2. French breakfast. The fruits are white-pink, cylindrical. The harvest ripens in 3-4 weeks. The variety is unpretentious. Grows well in greenhouses, for example, between tomatoes.
3. Greenhouse Gribovsky. An early ripening variety, characterized by friendly ripening. The fruits are red, without a white tip.
4. Celeste F1. High-yielding Dutch hybrid - yields about 3 kg per 1 m². Unpretentious. Root vegetables with a diameter of about 5 cm with a pleasant taste and slightly bitter taste. Ripens 25 days after emergence. Does not require additional lighting.
5. Saksa RS. The variety is distinguished by medium-sized bright red root crops. The harvest ripens on the 30th day. The pulp is white, sometimes white-pink. Plants have short tops.
6. Globe F1. An ultra-early hybrid, it takes an average of 18 days from germination to harvest. The pulp is white, slightly sharp, crispy.

For open ground

The following varieties are chosen for growing outdoors:

1. Sora. An early variety of Dutch selection. Sown from March to September. Does not shoot and does not need additional shelter from the sun. The roots are round, dark red, juicy. The weight of one reaches 25 g.
2. Octave. Round, smooth, white root vegetables with dense pulp and mild pungency. Weight – up to 25 g. Fruit diameter – 3-4 cm. Resistant to flowering.
3. White icicle. The variety resembles daikon and is convenient for cutting into salads. The pulp is distinguished by a pronounced bitterness. Ripens in 35–40 days. Unpretentious, yields several times a season. The length of the root crops reaches 15 cm.
4. Red giant. Mid-season variety. A distinctive feature is good shelf life (up to several months). Ripens in 30–50 days. The vegetable is large, weight – 0.3 kg.
5. Zlata. The early variety has a golden color.The root crop has a rough surface. The ripening period is 3-4 weeks. The average size radish weighs 20 g.

Landing dates

Radish seeds are sown:

1. First time - either before winter, or early spring.
2. The second time - at the end of May - beginning of June.
3. The third is in early July. It is important to consider that long daylight hours and hot weather lead to bolting of plants and a decrease in taste.
4. The last time radishes are sown is in late August - early September. At this time, sowing is carried out in greenhouses and hotbeds that are free of peppers, tomatoes or cucumbers.
5. In greenhouse shelters and greenhouses, radishes are sown from February to April and from August to November.

Growing technology

Growing radishes is a simple process, but there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the culture loves short daylight hours. Secondly, the quantity and quality of the crop is affected by the moisture content in the soil, the availability of necessary nutrients and temperature. Therefore, let us dwell on the technology of growing radishes in more detail.

Preparing seeds and soil

When cultivated in a greenhouse or greenhouse, radishes are sown without preliminary seed preparation. At an average temperature in the shelter of +20°C, seedlings appear within 4-5 days.

When grown in open ground, the seeds are germinated. This allows for rapid germination, which means an earlier harvest.

To germinate seeds, they are wrapped in a napkin and placed in a container with a small amount of warm water. Sprouts appear in 2-3 days. After this, they begin sowing.

The bed for radishes is prepared in the fall. The soil is dug up, compost, humus, and rotted manure are added. Peat or sand is added to clay soil.

Radishes grow well in neutral soils; in extreme cases, slightly acidic soils are allowed.

The site for sowing is chosen in a sunny place protected from the winds. For early spring sowings, southern and southeastern sides are preferred, where the ground thaws faster.

Important! Radishes are an excellent predecessor for many garden crops. After it, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are planted. By sowing radishes in a new location every year, you will improve crop rotation.

The exception is cruciferous plants such as cabbage, mustard, and watercress. They transmit diseases of this family to subsequent plantings.

Sowing

Furrows are marked on the prepared beds and watered well with warm water. The distance between the grooves is the width of the palm. Seeds are laid out at the bottom and covered with a 2-centimeter layer of soil.

After the emergence of seedlings, the crops are thinned out, leaving about 4-5 cm between adjacent plants.

Care

Caring for radish plantings involves timely watering, loosening the soil, thinning the crops and applying fertilizers.

Thinning of seedlings is carried out 5-6 days after the emergence of sprouts. The distance between them is left based on the large-fruited variety.

Regular watering is important for the formation of proper, juicy root crops. The first time the crops are watered immediately upon emergence. Subsequently, the soil is moistened as the top layer of soil dries. Do not forget that excessive moisture leads to rotting of the vegetable.

Loosening the soil is carried out after each watering, simultaneously removing weeds.

If the land has been prepared in advance, radish plantings do not require additional fertilizer. The available food is enough for the vegetable.If the soil is poor, a week after germination, the radishes are fed with organic fertilizers.

Nuances of agricultural technology

Although radishes are unpretentious crops, some nuances should be taken into account when growing them.

In the open ground

The place for radish planting choose such a way that the bed is well lit by the sun in the morning and evening. But on a hot afternoon, the plantings are shaded from the sun’s rays with film.

If the beds with radishes are in the shade all day, all the growth will go into the tops, and the root vegetables will grow small and tasteless.

In the greenhouse

When growing radishes in a greenhouse, choose varieties and hybrids that are resistant to lack of sunlight. Both in the heifer and in open ground, plants do not tolerate high temperatures. To grow a good and high-quality harvest, plantings are provided with intensive ventilation.

On hydroponics

To grow crops in a nutrient hydroponic solution, choose early-ripening varieties and hybrids that can do without bright sunlight. It is preferable to use varieties with rounded fruits and medium-sized tops, for example, 18 days, Celeste, Carmen.

For cultivation, plastic cassettes with cells 5x5x5 cm are used. The plantings are compact, and the plants have enough nutrition. The cells are filled with soil or a mixture of 2 parts perlite and 8 parts peat.

Pests and diseases

The following pests pose the greatest danger to radish plantings:

1. Cruciferous flea beetle. It feeds on young radish leaves, making many holes in them. As a result, plant growth slows down or stops altogether.
2. Cabbage whites. The caterpillars of this pest are located on the underside of leaves, gradually spreading to neighboring plants.The first sign of an insect's appearance is curled leaves with oblong holes.
3. Cabbage fly. A danger to radishes comes from insect larvae that damage plant roots.
4. Cutworm. The larvae eat young shoots, which leads to the growth of root crops stopping.
5. Wireworm. It eats root crops, simultaneously causing the development of fungal diseases and rot.

Radish plantings and diseases affect:

1. Mucous bacteriosis. The development of the disease is provoked by bacteria that become active in warm, humid weather. First, the tops rot and the base of the root crop becomes slimy, then the rot penetrates into the core.
2. White and gray rot. These are fungal diseases that attack root crops. They darken and become covered with a coating of fungal mycelium.
3. Kila. A fungal disease that affects all cruciferous vegetables. The disease is recognized by the appearance of growths and swellings on the roots.
4. Blackleg. Affects young shoots. The root collar darkens, thins and rots, leading to the death of the entire plant.
5. Fusarium. Another fungal disease that affects radish tops. Characterized by yellowing and falling leaves. Sick plants slow down their growth, root crops grow small and tasteless.

Control and prevention measures

To protect plants from pests, the beds are treated with wood ash or tobacco dust. Treatment is especially effective immediately after watering or rain.

In case of mass destruction, chemical preparations are used to combat insects: “Tod”, “Alfatsin”, “Zolon”, “Kaiser”, “Arrivo”.

Diseases of bacterial origin are treated by spraying with Bordeaux mixture. In case of clubroot disease, water the soil with lime milk - 2 tbsp. lime per 10 liters of water.In case of blackleg, diseased plants are destroyed and the soil is watered with a solution of copper sulfate.

To prevent the development of diseases, seeds are disinfected before sowing. They are kept in aloe juice, a solution of garlic pulp, and a solution of potassium permanganate.

Harvesting

Harvesting is carried out selectively. Early varieties ripen faster, so they are removed from the garden first.

Attention! If root crops of early varieties are kept in the ground longer than expected, they deteriorate, become flabby and acquire a bitter taste.

Radishes of late varieties take longer to ripen, but also have better shelf life. Winter varieties are ready for harvest 50–60 days after sowing.

Root vegetables are removed from the ground by carefully pulling the tail. Immediately after collection, cut off the tops. The harvested crop is stored in the refrigerator.

Advice from experienced summer residents

Advice from experienced gardeners will help you grow tasty and healthy vegetables in your garden:

1. Immediately after planting, cover the crops with black film. Remove the cover at 8-9 am and cover the bed again at 6-7 pm. This way you will provide the seedlings with optimal daylight for the development of root crops, and not flower stalks.
2. At the end of August - beginning of September, sow radishes in greenhouses and hotbeds that have been cleared of other crops. There is less daylight at this time, and there is no need for black film.
3. When growing in a shelter, provide the plantings with the most favorable average daily temperature – +20°C.
4. Don't overdo it with fertilizers. Excessive amounts of nutrients lead to active growth of tops and bolting.

Conclusion

Young, juicy radishes are one of the first spring vegetables that our garden beds delight us with.The culture is unpretentious, but despite the apparent simplicity of cultivation, it is important to adhere to some rules. Compliance with cultivation technology will provide the family with a stable harvest of vitamin-rich vegetables throughout the summer season.