If you are a beginner gardener, or new to veg growing, get in your first easy win by sowing radish seeds directly in the ground from March onwards, assuming we are not under two feet of snow!
Radishes are a cool-season crop, and they can be grown in early spring, and again in late autumn, when the temperature is mild.
Radishes are a quick-growing crop, and they can be ready to harvest in as little as 4 weeks from sowing, so you will have your first fresh and tasty crop in no time!
To sow and grow radishes follow these steps:
- Choose a spot in your garden that gets as much full sun as possible.
- Radishes can tolerate a range of soil types, but they prefer a well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8.
- Sow the radish seeds directly into the ground about 0.6cm (1/4in) deep and about 2.5cm (1in) apart. Thin to about 2.5cm (1in) apart when the seedlings are about 5cm (2in) tall.
- Water the seedlings regularly if we experience a very dry spell, keeping the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
- Harvest radishes when they are about 3-5cm (1-2ins) in diameter, before they become too large and woody.
Keep an eye on the frost forecast, radishes can tolerate frost but it is best to protect them with a cloche or horticultural fleece if an extended frost is expected.