Radish Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University		Click photo to enlarge in new window.
VARIETIES Cherry Belle, Crunchy Red, Fuego, Red Baron, Red Devil, Red Devil B
SOIL PREFERENCE Light, sandy loams with pH 6.5 - 7.0, Soils with pH below 6.5 may require liming. Will tolerate a wide range of soil types.
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS Cool season crop, does best under temperatures ranging between 40 - 70oF. Optimum temperatures 60 - 65oF.
ESTABLISHMENT METHODS Direct seeded- 2 row band(drill with a 2 or 4 " scatter shoe to drop 24 seeds / foot) aprrox 8" apart on 38 - 40 " beds. Fall planting- Soil temperature below 95oF Spring planting- Soil temperature above 40oF Seeding rate/A- 10 - 20 Approx seed/oz- 2,000 - 3,000 Seeding depth- 0.25 - 0.5"
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION Rates presented as actual lbs/A N, P205 and K2O (base actual rates on soil test results). Globe types (Generalized rate, 50 - 50 - 100) N- 40 - 60, 1/2 pre-plant broadcast incorporated; top or side dress the remainder when rapid growth flush initiates. P- 50 - 80, banded approx 1 - 2 " below seed at planting K- 70 - 120, apply all with first nitrogen application.
WATER/IRRIGATION Very low requirement, 5 - 6 ". Peak demand during rapid growth and development stage.
PEST MANAGEMENT Major diseases Control Downy mildew Ridomil Gold Copper, Cabrio White rust Ridomil Gold Copper, Cabrio, Quadris Damping-off Ridomil Gold Leaf spot (bacteria) fixed copper Nematode K-Pam, Telone II, Telone C-17 Major insects Control Flee beetle Asana, Baythroid, diazinon, Sevin Cabbage looper Asana, B.t.'s, Spintor Aphid dimethoate, malathion, Metasystox-R Weeds Control Preplant incorporated Treflan Preemergence Dacthal Postemergence Select
*NOTE- The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoke since the publication of this guide. Refer to product label for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
HARVEST AND HANDLING Hand pulled and bunched or topped for root only sales. Wash and cool immediately to 40oF.
PACKAGING Bunched= 24 - 48 count bunches (6-9 radishes / bunch) per carton. Topped= 15 lb cartons containing 30 film bags (6 oz each) or 11.5 lb cartons of 30 film bags (6 oz each) or 25 pound loose packed film bags.
STORAGE/TRANSIT CONDITIONS 32oF and 95 - 100 % RH Bunched= 1 wk at 45oF and 95 - 100 % RH. Topped= 3 - 4 wk at 400oF.
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS Topped radish has a longer shelf life than bunched due to perishability of tops of bunched radishes. Very short season crop which lends itself well as a mix load shipping item or direct sales marketing. 2 - 3 year rotations suggested (radish following radish and radish following another crucifer such as cabbage, broccoli etc. to reduce the incidence of club root. Club root more persistent in soil with pH below 6.5. When storage temperature is higher than 32oF, low oxygen (1%) is beneficial in reducing tip and root growth and softening).
Texas Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series Revised November, 2003 http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/radish.html Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger