Oh well. The radish crop was not so good. I planted a 3′ row (about 20 radish plants) and only one radish formed a bulb. The rest are these skinny little roots and a couple are making flower stalks. The radish that did bulb has a root pest nibbling at it. I planted another row a couple of weeks ago. Maybe that one will do better. Otherwise, I’ll skip the radish.
Brassicaceae
radish (Raphanus sativus)
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I had the same problem with my radishes this year, too. I wonder why? Here in Minnesota we’ve had pretty dry weather, not wet, with higher than normal temperatures. I was blaming my bad radishes on the hot weather, but you mentioned in your tomato post that you’ve had wet weather. Hmmm.
that must have been dissapointing.
maybe i had beginners luck, i am a first time gardener, but…
http://growyourownveg.blogspot.com/2007/06/out-radish-in-butterhead-lettuce-and.html
I am having the same issues with my radishes this year. (I’m also in MA near the RI border.) None of my radishes are ‘bulbing’ in my 1′ sq bed.
The exact same thing happened to me last year. The ones that formed bulbs were tough and split and the others just skinny roots. Haven’t planted any this year. I wonder if it’s the hot weather.
My guess was that mine didn’t get enough sun. I’ve read all sorts of things that can be a problem for radish (too little sun, too hot, root insects, too much nitrogen, too little phosphorus, etc etc). My garden doesn’t get a lot of sun, plus its been sooo cloudy recently.
Mine are coming out that way, too. Some are nice and round, but a lot of them have spindly, hard roots. The were planted in two spots – one that gets more sun, one that gets less, and both have the same problem, though the sunnier spot has better radishes overall.
i know how to plant radishes
I am so frustrated that I am conducting a radish experiment with 7 varieties this year. So easy a 4 year old can grow them. Sigh. Maybe it is like that tone that only teenagers can hear? Have I lost my radish tone? :O hee!
My radish crop is terrible this year. Maybe it is all the rain we hve gotten.
Make sure to work the soil to a depth of around 10 inches before planting. Then till in some organic material such as old leaves, grass, or any good compost. A sandy easily drained soil is best, but you do need a good amount of organic matter as well. Water at least once a week, and it often helps to loosen harder packed soils with a pitchfork by going underneath the radishes and gently prying up. This was a bad year for radishes everywhere. Good luck!