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Varieties
Altaglobe, Black Spanish, Champion, Cherriette, Cherry Belle, Chinese White Winter, Early Scarlet Globe, Easter Egg, French Breakfast, Sparkler, Summer Cross, White Icicle
Daikon: Misato Rose Red Meat, Myashige
Soil Preferences
Radishes prefer light, sandy loams with pH 6.5 - 7.0, but will tolerate a wide range of soil types. Soils with pH below 6.5 may require liming.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Radishes are a cool season crop, preferring temperatures between 40-70°F. Optimum temperature range is 60-65°F.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Spring - soil temperature above 40°F Fall - soil temperature below 95°F |
| Seeding rate | 10-20 lbs/acre |
| Approx seed/oz | 2,000-3,000 |
| Seeding depth | 0.25 - 0.5" |
| Seedling spacing | 2 row band aprroximately 8" apart on 38-40" beds |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 50 - 50 - 100 lb/acre | |
| N* | 40-60; 1/2 applied pre-plant Top or side dress the remainder when rapid growth flush initiates |
|---|---|
| P | 50-80 banded approximately 1-2" below seed at planting |
| K | 70-120 applied with first nitrogen application |
Water/Irrigation
Very low requirement: 5-6". Peak demand is during rapid growth and development stage.Pest Management
Radish Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Damping-off | fludioxonil, thiram, | |
| Downy mildew | copper sulfate, potassium phosphite, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, neem oil, streptomyces lydicus, |
| Leaf spot (bacteria) | copper sulfate, | clove, rosemary and thyme oil, neem oil, |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
| White rust | azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, | copper hydroxide, |
Radish Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Bifenthrin, Diazinon, Imidacloprid, Malathion, Petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin, | Azadirachtin, neem oil, Peppermint and rosemary oil, Pyrethrins |
| Cabbage Looper | Deltamethrin, Malathion, Methoxyfenozide, Spinetoram, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Flea Beetle | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Diazinon, Imidacloprid, Malathion, Spinetoram, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Kaolin, Spinosad |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | Metam-potassium, Metam-sodium, Trifluralin | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | Oxyfluorfen, Pelargonic acid | |
| Postemergence | Carfentrazone-ethyl, clethodim, Glyphosate, pyraflufen ethyl, sethoxydim | cinnamon and clove oil, clove oil, d-limonene |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | 20-35 days |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Hand pulled and bunched |
| Grades | Based primarily on external appearance: U.S. #1 U.S. Commercial |
| Packaging/Handling | Bunched: 24-48 count bunches (6-9 radishes/bunch) per carton Topped:
|
Transit Conditions
32°F and 95-100% RHStorage
Bunched - 1 week at 45°F and 95-100% RHTopped - 3-4 weeks at 40°F
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 to reduce incidence of club root
- Club root more persistent in soils with pH below 6.5
- When storage temperature is higher than 32°F, low oxygen level(1%) is beneficial in reducing tip and root growth and softening