Root crop · reference page

Radish

A very quick direct-sown root crop that suits small spaces when the weather is mild and the soil stays even.

Raphanus sativus

Editorial guidance; no independent agronomic review claimed

Direct-sun reference
About 4 hours
Usable root depth
About 18 cm
Editorial cycle
28–55 days to first harvest
Care
Straightforward care

Getting started

Sowing and space

Direct-sow thinly in loose mix and harvest promptly at the expected size.

The cycle is an editorial band linked to the method above. Cultivar, temperature, transplant age and the harvest stage can change it.

Allow about 18 cm of usable depth and roughly 7 cm between plants. A suitably sized container can work when the full root volume and mature canopy are allowed.

Water demand is moderate and regular. That is not a fixed timetable: heat, wind, rain, container size and growth stage change the interval.

Planting windows by broad profile

The highlighted months are conservative editorial references, not a current forecast or postcode calendar. Confirm the cultivar, packet, current warning and local advice.

Tropical wet–dry

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Heat can make roots pungent and encourage flowering before they size up.

Humid subtropical

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Hot and arid

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Avoid hot, drying wind during establishment.

Warm temperate

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Cool temperate

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Practical care

  • Sow short rows every few weeks in suitable weather.
  • Thin early so each root has space.

Points to check

  • Delayed harvest can produce pithy roots.
  • Irregular moisture can split or toughen roots.

Provenance and confidence

This rule is editorial guidance without claimed independent agronomic review. Confidence describes evidence coverage, not the chance of a harvest.