🥦 Radish
Raphanus sativus
vegetables
root vegetable (brassicaceae)
☀️ Sun
Full sun (6 hours); tolerates light partial shade; afternoon shade helpful in warm weather to delay bolting
💧 Water
Medium; 1 inch per week consistently; irregular watering causes woody/hot radishes and splitting; keep soil evenly moist throughout root development
🗺️ Zones
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
🧪 Soil pH
6.0, 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
🪴 Soil Type
Light, loose, sandy loam with no stones; compacted or rocky soil causes deformed/forked roots; moderate organic matter , avoid fresh manure (causes forking and excessive leaf growth at expense of roots)
🚿 Drainage
Well-drained essential; raised beds ideal; waterlogged soil causes root rot and split radishes
📏 Spacing
Spring types: 1, 2 inches apart, rows 6, 12 inches; winter/daikon types: 4, 6 inches apart, rows 12, 18 inches; thin early for proper root development
⏱️ Maturity
21-35 days (from seed); most varieties ready in 3-4 weeks
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Root (swollen hypocotyl , raw, cooked, pickled)
🍽️ Leaves/greens (edible , peppery, use in salads/stir-fries/pesto)
🍽️ Seed pods (especially rat-tail radish , crisp, spicy)
🍽️ Sprouts (popular microgreen)
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (23)
Arugula's peppery oils deter some pests from radishes; both are quick-growing companions.
Beans fix nitrogen; radishes are harvested before beans need full space; radishes may repel Mexican bean beetles
Beet attracts pollinators that benefit Radish; mutually supportive companion relationship.
Classic companion planting duo , radishes germinate in 3, 5 days, marking rows for slow (14, 21 day) carrots; radishes break soil crust; harvested before carrots need space
Improves radish flavor and tenderness; repels aphids
Repels cucumber beetles with strong scent; radishes mature and are harvested before cucumbers spread
Peas fix nitrogen for radishes; radishes mature quickly between pea rows.
Radishes mark rows; repel flea beetles from lettuce; both cool-season, harvested before lettuce matures
Trap crop for flea beetles (radishes' main pest); nasturtiums draw pests away from radishes IMPORTANT management caveat: without active management, nasturtiums can become a SOURCE of aphids that migrate to nearby crops. Either remove aphid-infested nasturtium plants promptly, or treat the trap crop itself to eliminate the aphid colony before it spreads. Strategic placement within 4-5 feet of protected crops is key.
Radishes mark rows and loosen soil for slow-germinating parsnips; harvest before parsnips need space.
Pole beans fix nitrogen for radishes; radishes mature quickly under bean trellis.
Radishes deter squash pests as a trap crop; quick crop before pumpkins spread.
Runner beans fix nitrogen; radishes grow quickly under bean trellis before beans shade them out.
Radishes mark rows and loosen soil for slower rutabaga; harvest early before competition.
Spinach provides cooling shade for radishes in warm weather; both are quick cool-season crops.
🤝 Squash (all types)
Repels squash bugs and cucumber beetles; quick harvest before squash vines dominate the space
Radishes repel squash borers and cucumber beetles; quick crop around squash hills.
Radishes grow quickly before sweet potatoes spread; their scent deters some soil pests.
Radishes mark chard rows and loosen soil; harvest before chard needs full space.
Turnips and radishes share similar fast growth; radishes mark rows for slower turnips.
Radishes deter squash pests; harvest before winter squash vines cover the area.
Radishes repel cucumber beetles and squash borers from zucchini; quick companion crop.
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
💊 Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Properties
- Contains glucosinolates and isothiocyanates , anti-cancer compounds; radish sprouts have the highest concentration
- Good source of vitamin C (especially daikon), folate, and potassium
- Traditional digestive aid , stimulates bile production; used in Ayurveda and TCM for liver/gallbladder health
- Mild diuretic; traditionally used for urinary tract health
- Contains antifungal proteins (RsAFP2) being studied for medicinal applications
📝 Growing Notes
Radishes are one of the fastest vegetables , spring types mature in 21, 30 days, making them ideal for intercropping and succession planting. Two categories: spring/summer (small, fast, eaten fresh) and winter/storage (large , daikon, watermelon radish, black Spanish , slower, can store months). Heat and drought cause excessively hot/pungent flavor and pithy texture. Flea beetles are the main pest , row covers prevent damage. The 'radish trick' of interplanting with carrots is one of the most well-documented companion planting techniques , it solves the problem of slow-germinating carrots getting lost or crusted over.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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