Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, radishes are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing radishes.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Radishes Belong To?
Radishes (Raphanus sativus) belongs to the Brassicaceae family, also known as the cabbage family.
Some of their relatives include cauliflower, kale, and kohlrabi.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Radishes?
The minimum container depth recommended for radishes is 4-6 inches, depending on the variety.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Radishes?
Some of radishes' best companions are as follows:
- Cucumber
- Squash
- Melons
- Chervil, which enhances radishes' flavor
- Lovage
- Beans like green beans
- Pea
- Lettuce
- Mints like peppermint and spearmint
- Parsnip
- Spinach
- Orach
- Tomato
- Eggplant
- Blueberry
- Purslane
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Radishes?
Radishes are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with radishes are as follows:
- Potato
- Kohlrabi
- Turnip
What Soil Conditions Do Radishes Need?
Radishes prefer light soil that is sandy to loamy and that has a pH of 6.5 to 7.
How Long Do Radishes Take to Germinate?
Radishes take 4-10 days to germinate at a temperature of 55-75°F.
How Much Sun Do Radishes Need?
Radishes can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, they grow fastest in full sun. They will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and radishes grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Do Radishes Need?
Radishes need 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Radishes?
Radishes grow fastest in temperatures of 40-70°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some radish varieties are bred for early harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Radishes Get?
The average height of radishes is 6-8 inches.
Are Radishes Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Radishes are technically biennial, meaning that their life cycle spans 2 years, and they flower, produce seed, and die in their second year.
However, they are often grown as annuals, meaning that they start and end their lives in the same year. This is especially true in hot climates or hot-summer regions since radishes do not tolerate heat well.
If not harvested in their first year, radishes will flower and go to seed. This usually takes place in the spring or summer of their second year, although it depends on the variety.
How Do Radishes Reproduce?
Radishes reproduce by seed.
How Many Radishes Are Produced Per Plant?
Radishes produce 1 root per plant.
Each radish plant also produces a bundle of leaves, also called radish greens, that grow out of the top of the plant.
Can Radishes Be Ingested?
Radish roots and greens are edible.
Radishes do not have any known uses in herbal preparations.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting radish roots or greens.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of radishes rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for radishes here!
Radishes are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: