Crunchy King (F1) Radish Seed

Scientific name

Raphanus sativus

Growing conditions

Radishes like loose, crumbly, free-draining soil at pH 5.8–6.8. They are at their best for only a few days, so grow them fast with steady moisture. Heat, drought or any check in growth turns the roots woody, hollow and hot.

Days to maturity

Counted from direct sowing.

Direct sowing

Sow from early spring onward, all season long. Scatter seed in bands 2–3" wide, about 35 seeds per foot (3/4–1" apart) and 1/2" deep, with rows 12" apart. Long French Breakfast types come out straighter if you sow 15–20% more seed, set it a little deeper (an extra 1/2–1 cm) and water only when you must.

Seeding rate

In rows 12" apart: about 1 oz. per 70 ft., 14 oz. per 1,000 ft. and 31 lb. per acre.

Insect pests

Lay floating row cover at sowing to keep out flea beetles and cabbage root maggots.

Harvest

Start pulling at 3–4 weeks, when roots are about the size of a big marble, and do not let them sit, or they go pithy.

Storage

Bunch or top the radishes, chill them quickly in cold water and refrigerate. Topped roots stay crisp for 3–4 weeks at 32°F (0°C) and 95% relative humidity in packaging that breathes. Some specialty types keep longer; see their descriptions.

Sized seed

The round red radishes are graded to a similar seed size for more precise spacing in seeders and more even emergence; other types are not sized.

Packet

250 seeds.

Seeds per lb.

About 55,000 on average.