The Radish- one of the fastest growing root vegetables your garden is likely ever to meet. Ready to serve at your dinner table in less than a month, the radish is also very popular for use in children’s gardens as something that promises results very quickly.
Radish Seedlings/ by flickr user katerha
Did you know that radishes are related to both the horseradish and turnip? Yes they are, and they have a bit of a hot, peppery taste and crunch to remind you of this fact.
Radishes work well in salads, as colorful garnishes, sliced thin and serve on your sandwich to add a bit of “kick”, or of course eaten “fresh from the garden”.
~How to grow~
Radishes can be grown in any average soil, but do their best in a rich, well draining soil. Sow your radish seeds in a weed free prepared area. Planting to a depth of 1/2 inch. Once the seeds start sprouting thin them to a spacing of 2 inches apart. After 2 weeks you can start another crop of seeds going, to keep a constant supply though the season. Keep them watered well. You should be able to harvest your crop within 25-28 days. If you do not have a garden area radishes can also be grown in containers.
One thing you should know about growing radishes is that during the hot summer months/mid summer the radishes can have a tendency to bolt and become a bit bitter/hotter in taste. If your radishes have a bit hotter flavor than you’d like simply slice them and add them to salty water to soak for about 30 minutes. The salt and the water help to draw out the heat from the radish.
Radishes come in a variety of fun colors/photo by flickr user clayirving
~Storing after harvest~
Simply remove the green tops off of the radishes and store in your refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks. Green tops can be stored for up to 3 days.
~Another..Did you know?~
Did you know that the green tops of radishes can be eaten? Use them in salads or added to sandwiches or cook as you would spinach. Highly nutritious and good for you 1/2 cup of fresh radishes is only 12 calories!
Have fun growing radishes. They are a fun variety for children to try in their own little garden area and can be grown year round.
(content property of Small Town Living/Tina Wilson)
Great post Tina. The radish looks beautiful. I really want Foodista readers to find this post, I hope you could add this radish widget at the end of this post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you Alisa.
ReplyDelete