Cool seasonVegetableDirect

Radish

Raphanus sativus

Radish is among the fastest cool-season roots at 20–35 days from sowing, rewarding tight spacing and prompt harvest. Oversized roots turn pithy quickly, so sowings every 10 days beat a single large planting left in the ground too long. Hardy seed tolerates cool soil from six weeks before the last frost through the frost date.

Plant family Brassicaceae · Also called garden radish

Radish
20–35 daysfrom sowing to harvest
Planting timing

Sow shallow rows in cool soil.

Direct sow about 1.3 cm deep from six weeks before the last frost through the frost date. Hardy types tolerate cool soil that would stall warm-season crops.

Germination is quick, often 3–7 days. Succession every 10 days maintains tender roots rather than woody giants.

6 weeks before to at last frostDirect sow outdoors

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

1.3 cm deepSow seed

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

3–7 daysExpect germination

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

20–35 daysBegin harvest

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

Planting material: Seed. Life cycle: Annual or biennial.
Space & containers

Keep spacing tight for quick roots.

Thin to 3–5 cm between roots with rows near 20 cm. Compact spacing suits intercropping with slower vegetables.

Containers with 20 cm depth and about 5 litres work for round types. Depth prevents stunted or forked roots.

Core measurements

Between plants3–5 cm

Crop-level planning range.

Between rows20 cm

Crop-level planning range.

Container depth20+ cm

Crop-level planning range.

Container volume5+ L

Crop-level planning range.

Growth habitRoot

Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.

SupportNone

Install support early when it is required or useful.

Growing conditions

Harvest young before pith develops.

Four hours of direct sun minimum is enough for rapid growth. Heat shortens quality window and increases pungency.

Moderate water at 25–35 mm weekly with pH 6.0–7.0. Even moisture prevents cracking; drought speeds woodiness.

Sunlight

4+ hours

Part sun tolerant (4+ direct-sun hours/day)

Soil pH

6–7

A suitable acidity range for general growth.

Weekly water

25–35 mm

Moderate water need.

How to water

Aim for even moisture and water deeply when the upper 2-3 cm of soil begins to dry.

Growth & harvest

Resow often on a 10-day rhythm.

Roots are ready in 20–35 days from sowing. Pull promptly when diameter looks right for the variety.

Leaving radishes too long ruins texture. The short succession interval matches how fast roots pass peak eating quality.

Germination3–7 days

Read with the full crop profile.

Harvest basisSowing

Read with the full crop profile.

Life cycleAnnual or biennial

Read with the full crop profile.

Frost toleranceHardy

Read with the full crop profile.

Key growing tip

Sow small batches and harvest promptly because roots become pithy when left too long.

Radish growing questions

Why do radishes become hollow or spicy?

Often they were left too long or grew in heat. The key tip says harvest promptly before pithiness.

How often should radishes be resown?

A 10-day succession interval is listed for repeated batches.

Are radishes frost hardy?

Yes. Hardy classification supports sowing up to the last spring frost window.

What is the fastest harvest window in the dataset?

20–35 days from sowing, among the shortest listed.

Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S1,S2,S3,S4. Local climate and variety can change actual results.

Explore another crop

Compare radish with other vegetables, herbs, and fruits in Crop Brief.

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