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Organic Radishes - Growing and Seed Saving Info

PLANTING INFO: Planting depth: 1/4-1/2”; Plant spacing: for garden radishes 1”, for daikon 4-6”; Row spacing: for garden radishes 8-12”, for daikon 12-16”. CULTURAL INFO: Radishes are an all-season, hardy annual that thrive in a wide range of conditions. Most varieties are best harvested young, but some are specifically selected as winter storage radishes. Radishes can be direct seeded as soon as soil can be worked and are best adapted to the cooler temperatures and shorter day-length of spring and fall. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 65-85°F. Seedlings emerge within a few days. Thin if necessary to ensure even sizing. Plant every 10 days for a continual supply. Harvest radishes

on time as they do not hold well in the field, especially in warm weather when roots tend to become pithy and pungent. Topped radishes will keep good quality for 3-4 weeks if store at near freezing temperatures with high humidity in semi-permeable containers.

DISEASE & PESTS: 
Like other crucifers, radishes can be subject to fungal diseases in wet seasons, such as Alternaria Leaf Spot and White Mold (sclerotinia). Flea beetles can present a problem, particularly for young plants, by chewing small holes in the leaves.  Healthy plants usually outgrow the damage to produce a fine crop. Where undamaged leaves are desired or flea beetles are especially problematic, use floating row cover (see Supplies) from time of planting until two weeks after leaves emerge. Floating row cover also helps prevent the cabbage root maggot, which feeds on the plant roots.

SEED SPECS:
1,800-3,500 (2,650 avg) seeds/oz, 30-58M (44M avg) seeds/lb.

SEEDING RATES:
Garden Radishes- 2M seeds/100’single row (3/4 oz/100’single row), 958M seeds/ acre (~22lb/acre) using 20 seeds/ft, 12” row spacing. Daikon Radishes- 660 seeds/100’ (1/4oz/100’ single row), 288M seeds/acre (~6.6lb/acre) using 6 seeds/ft, 12” row spacing. M= 1,000

SEED SAVING INSTRUCTIONS:
Insect pollinated. Different radish varieties should be isolated by a distance of ¼ mile to prevent cross pollination. The distance may be shortened if physical barriers exist such as tree lines, buildings or woods. Thin plants to 6" apart and allow to bolt and flower. Some staking will be necessary as the plants will grow to 3'-4'. Allow the seed pods to become papery and dry and harvest the entire plants. Some further drying may be necessary before threshing. A ¼" screen on top of a 1/8" screen can be used for cleaning the seed. Radish seeds remain viable for 5 years under cool and dry storage conditions.