Hi, I have tried many times to get radishes to grow in my garden. I have no problems getting other root crops to grow (potatoes, beets - cylindra variety, carrots - though plagued with carrot rust fly, jerusalem artichokes) so I can't imagine it is a problem with the soil. The seedlings come up fine but they don't even seem to think about taking time to make a nice bulbous root, they just grow tall, woody and put up the flower stalk. Someone told me that if I snipped off the flower stalk that would make the radishes roots plump up but I never had any success. I've tried planting them in sunny areas, shady areas, regular garden soil, 100% compost from the compost bin, but all to no avail. If anyone has any ideas I would sure appreciate it. Anne
Does the timing really affect them that much?? The market gardners in our area seem to have fresh radishes all during the summer season.
Anne, sounds like you have a great garden, I'm jealous. I'm in a townhouse now so I'm going to try container gardening. Here are my results from last year: http://www.alexharford.com/2006/03/19/planters-finished/ http://www.alexharford.com/2006/05/07/radish-harvest/ Edit: Sorry I can't help you with the bolting... what variety are you using? PS. where did you get the jerusalem artichokes? I'd like to get some for my parents' garden on the Sunshine Coast.
Of all my extensive home garden, I consider radishes the most tempermental to grow. In my Zone 5 I plant them as early as possible. These mature quickly and are of good quality. They will not produce quality roots during summer. Durgan. Quote from some web site: The radish is essentially a cool-season crop. It grows best in the spring and autumn and will tolerate light winter frosts. The high temperatures of summer cause the plant to develop small tops, and roots rapidly become pithy and strongly pungent after reaching maturity. For this reason producing quality radishes during midsummer can be difficult. Radishes do best on the lighter, sandy, well-drained soils. This allows for even root development and ease of washing after harvest.
Hi Alex, My garden is badly in need of feeding. I think that I have not been putting in enough fertilizer over the past 20 years to keep up with the demand from the vegies but I did see some improvement in the corn and chard last season. I think you have done a wonderful job with your townhouse garden and your radishes look super! Can't recall off hand what variety I tried but I think (based on another post here) that my soil may be a bit too heavy. Jerusalem artichokes I originally purchased from McFaydens (located in Brandon, Manitoba) They have an on-line catalogue and I'm sure they still list them. The artichokes grow really easily and you need to be careful to get all the tubers or they become real weeds. The flavour is best after a frost so I usually dig late in the year and store them outside
Ahhh, this is probably my problem. The soil has a lot of clay in it. Although I have put 20 years worth of cherry leaves into the garden it is still heavier than a typical sandy soil would be.
