Content
Black and white radishes are the hottest of all representatives of the Radish Radish species. The culture was grown for thousands of years in the East, from where it spread to Europe. In Russia, a hundred years ago, the root vegetable was no less popular than carrots and was considered an ordinary food. Today, planting black radish in open ground is much less common, but in vain.
This member of the cruciferous family may not taste very good if you simply peel and cut off a piece of the root vegetable. But with skillful preparation, radishes can become an appetizer, a side dish, and even a sweet-spicy dessert. And even those who have no idea what it looks like know about the beneficial properties of the root vegetable.
When to plant radish in open ground with seeds
Planting and caring for radishes in open ground differ depending on the variety.The skin of early root crops is usually white, while that of late ones is black. This radish is round, at an early age it easily takes root in a new place, therefore, it can be grown through seedlings. This simply doesn’t make sense; if the timing of planting is chosen correctly, it ripens perfectly when the seeds are sown in the ground.
Radish is a short-day plant. At the beginning or end of the season, it forms a root crop and increases green mass. As soon as the day becomes longer than 12 hours, the plant begins to prepare for fruiting and throws out a flower arrow. This makes the root crop hollow and unsuitable for food.
It turns out that all types of radish need to be sown, grown and harvested at the very beginning of the growing season, or closer to its end.
Dates for planting radishes in early spring
White radish has a much milder taste than black radish. It is somewhat sharper than radish and forms a large or medium-sized root crop. White varieties are considered early, they are called summer and are planted in the spring, when the soil thaws and warms up a little. This usually happens in April, in the North by the end of the month, for the southern regions - at the beginning.
Summer radish is an annual crop that forms a root crop and produces seeds in the same year. From the moment of emergence of seedlings to technical ripeness, an average of 50 to 60 days pass. This is much longer than radishes, but shorter than the growing season of black radishes. Summer varieties are not suitable for storage; they are grown specifically for fresh consumption.
White radish seeds are planted very early; they germinate at a temperature of 5-10⁰ C.The crop is not afraid of short-term frosts and manages to produce a harvest before the day becomes longer than the night. In most regions, by this time the temperature does not have time to become critical and provoke flowering.
When to Plant Winter Radishes
The timing of planting black radish and caring for it depend on the growing season. And the culture takes a long time to grow, on average 90 days. There are varieties with a ripening period of up to three months. Black radish is perfectly stored in winter, and the longer it takes from the moment of germination to the stage of technical ripeness, the better. Varieties with the longest growing season can be stored for up to eight months without loss of commercial quality.
Given that the crop tolerates light frosts, it may seem as if it needs to be planted as late as possible. But root crops exposed to negative temperatures lose their shelf life and quickly deteriorate.
The timing of sowing black radish must be correlated with the climate of the region. It needs to be planted in such a way that root crops begin to form by the time daylight hours are shorter than 12 hours. Winter varieties need to be dug up before frost sets in, and in dry weather. So it’s not enough to focus on temperature and light. It is necessary to take into account the climate.
In the south, black radish seeds are planted in the second half of July or early August. In the Moscow region - no later than the beginning or mid-July; for the Middle Zone, the sowing dates are shifted to the end of June - beginning of July.
When to plant radishes in Siberia
In the North-West and Siberia, black winter radish is planted in early June.While it sprouts and begins to form a root crop, the daylight hours will become shorter.
Is it possible to plant radishes before winter?
Planting radishes before winter is possible. But does it make sense? Pre-winter sowing is done in order to obtain fresh vegetables or herbs as early as possible, and not with the aim of experimenting to see whether seedlings will appear.
To clearly understand why you shouldn’t sow radishes before winter, it’s better to sort everything out point by point.
- Radish seeds germinate quickly even at low temperatures. At 4⁰ C, after 14 days, seedlings appear above the soil surface, and hatch even earlier. In those regions where winter thaws are possible, there is no point in sowing radish - it will germinate and then die safely when the temperature drops for a long time. In the North and beyond the Urals, you can simply miss the timing of planting seeds.
- Even if the seedlings appear early in the spring, they can be destroyed by a return frost. Germination temperature is quite low and unstable early in the season. Brief warmth gives way to frost; this is normal for early spring.
- Let's assume that the radish survived the winter safely, sprouted on time and was not destroyed by low temperatures. As soon as the soil warms up a little, in March or early April, the cruciferous flea beetle that has overwintered there will emerge from the soil. A hungry insect usually settles on wild colza, jarutka or other cruciferous weeds. Shoots of a cultivated plant that are too early will be completely destroyed by the flea beetle, as they are a delicacy for the pest. End.
Of course, it is possible to grow radishes from winter crops. But the effort expended will not be equivalent to the result.And if you consider that to combat the cruciferous flea beetle at the beginning of the season it will be necessary to use potent chemicals, the benefits of early root crops will become questionable.
Which variety should you prefer?
As of the end of 2018, the State Register lists 28 varieties of black and white radish. In fact, there are much more of them. To choose the right varieties of black and white radish, you need to take into account the region where the crop will be grown and the timing of its consumption.
Selection of varieties depending on region
Radish varieties included in the State Register are recommended for cultivation throughout Russia. They are simply planted a little earlier or later to adapt to the local climate.
One could write that in the North they grow the most frost-resistant varieties, and for the south they choose those that are not prone to bolting. But in fact, round white and black radishes give a good harvest everywhere; you need to dig them up, regardless of the region, before the thermometer shows a negative temperature. And in any case, the peduncle will form when there is more daylight than night, or in extreme heat, unlike radishes, which have varieties that are resistant to bolting.
Selection of varieties according to ripening and storage periods
For fresh consumption, white radish varieties are chosen, which are planted in early spring. They are not stored and are not suitable for processing, but they have a milder taste than winter ones. It is recommended to grow the following early varieties:
- Agate with a white conical root weighing up to 400 g, ripening – 50-60 days;
- A delicacy with a convex head weighing up to 50 g and ripening in 38-40 days;
- Bianca with small (up to 45 g) flattened heads, ripening - 40-42 days;
- Mayskaya - a white, flattened root crop, weighing up to 100 g, ripening - 55-65 days;
- Munich Beer - a variety with an oval white root crop weighing up to 400 g, ripening in 55-60 days;
- Sirius is the newest high-yielding variety, with a conical white root weighing up to 65 g and ready for harvest 38-40 days after germination.
There are varieties that can be stored for a month or a little longer. They are considered late autumn, but not because they are planted in the summer, but because of their shelf life - they are eaten fresh or kept until the beginning of winter. Such radishes will not be stored longer. The best varieties:
- Astronomer with pink skin and conical roots weighing from 75 to 330 g, ripening in 65 days;
- Autumn Luck – a variety that ripens in 72-75 days, with rounded white root crops and weighing up to 270 g;
- Matchmaker with a flattened white root crop, weighing up to 150 g, ripening period - 52-55 days.
Radish varieties for winter storage usually (but not always) are distinguished by black skin, pronounced bitterness and the highest content of nutrients. The longer their ripening period, the better the keeping quality of root crops. The following varieties can be recommended for cultivation:
- Uncle Chernomor – a new variety that ripens in 55-60 days with a flat-round black root crop, white pulp, moderately pungent taste and weight 200-220 g;
- Winter round white – an old, proven variety with excellent keeping quality, ripening in 80-100 days, with a round head, white skin and a sharp taste;
- Winter round black – perhaps the most famous old variety, ripens in 70-110 days, with black peel and white pulp, rounded root crop weighing 250-550 g, sharp taste, long shelf life and high content of nutrients;
- Misato Grisn - French winter variety, distinguished by good taste, white-green peel and triangular root crop weighing 350-450 g, ripening - 50 days;
- Night considered one of the most delicious winter varieties, ripens in 68-75 days, rounded black root crop, up to 220 g;
- Cylinder stands out among other varieties due to its conical long black root, similar in shape to daikon, ripens in 62-73 days, weighs up to 210 g.
Planting radishes in open ground with seeds
The easiest way to sow radish is directly into the ground. Even varieties with round roots, which can be replanted at a young age, do not make sense to grow through seedlings.
Soil preparation
The soil beforehand needs to be dug deeply, for summer varieties in the fall, for winter varieties - at least 2 weeks in advance. Since alkaline or neutral loose soils are ideal, if necessary, their structure is improved with sand, peat or mature compost. Acidity is normalized with lime.
Fresh manure cannot be applied - excess nitrogen will lead to active growth of greenery to the detriment of the root crop, the formation of voids in it, reduced shelf life and deterioration of taste. Before sowing winter radishes, which is carried out in mid-summer everywhere except Siberia and the North-West, onions, spinach or dill can be grown on the site. You cannot plant lettuce or other cruciferous crops there.
How to plant radish
Round black and white radishes are sown in furrows.They are made 3-4 cm deep, a glass of ash and 3 tablespoons of complete complex fertilizer are added per 1 linear meter, mixed with soil and watered abundantly. The rows should be spaced 30 cm apart from each other.
After this, the seeds are sown, and the larger the root crop, the less frequently. Then the planting is covered with a 1.5-2 cm layer of soil. This will make it easier for the seeds to sprout - a crust will not form on the surface of the soil after watering, and they will not be washed away by a stream of water. There is enough moisture in the furrows after preliminary moistening.
Then the seedlings will be thinned out several times, and in the early stages the seedlings can be moved to a new place, and in the later stages the young root crops can be eaten. 1 g contains 100-120 radish seeds, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
But if necessary, you can grow the crop by planting it in nests rather than in furrows. 2-3 seeds are sown in them, and one sprout is left in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. The distance between the holes is at least 15 cm. But for radishes with large root crops, it should be large.
Growing radish in open ground
What does the round bitter radish like? In order for the root crops to be tight, juicy, and for winter black varieties to last for a long time, the crop needs:
- good lighting for no more than 12 hours a day;
- regular watering;
- fertilizing, mainly with potash fertilizers;
- cool weather;
- loose soil.
Radish does not like:
- long daylight hours;
- heat;
- fresh manure;
- large doses of nitrogen fertilizers;
- dense acidic soils;
- thickened planting;
- drying out of the top layer of soil.
White summer radish, if the soil was filled before sowing the seeds not only with ash, but also with complex fertilizers, does not need to be fed. The crop must be watered regularly so that the soil does not have time to dry out completely, otherwise the pulp will be dry, fibrous and tasteless.
If necessary, the bed is covered with black agrofibre or lutrasteel after 7 pm to limit the access of light. Row spacing is cleared of weed and are regularly loosened. Thickened plantings are thinned out.
How to grow black radish in open ground
Growing and caring for black radish has its own nuances. First of all, this concerns fertilizing. Black late varieties are intended for long-term storage; they must accumulate the nutrients necessary for this.
The first feeding of radish is given at the stage of formation of 5-6 true leaves. In this case, they use a complete complex fertilizer, preferably one specifically designed for root crops. The second feeding should not contain nitrogen and is done at the stage of the beginning of the formation of the root crop. You can replace mineral fertilizers with ash - it is rich in potassium, and it is this substance that radishes need more than others.
Otherwise, everything is the same as for early varieties: loosening, weeding, milk of lime, regular watering, which stops 3-3.5 weeks before harvesting.
How to get radish seeds
To obtain summer radish seeds, it is better not to leave it in the garden, but to dig it up, wash it, prepare it and plant it back in the ground. They do this in order to select the best root crops that meet the varietal characteristics.
The radish is dug up, cleared of soil, all leaves except the central ones are cut off, and soaked in water. To obtain seeds, a root crop that sinks is suitable; the one that floats to the surface is discarded.
Plant radishes in the ground in a sunny place. It is ready for harvesting when the pods turn yellow and the seeds turn brown. Now the plant is pulled out and placed in a dark, well-ventilated place to ripen. After 12-15 days, the pods should burst easily, they are threshed, sifted and poured into a paper bag with ventilation holes, on which the year of collection is written.
When to plant black radish tubers for seeds
Winter black radish, which has a two-year life cycle, is planted the following season after harvest. If it shoots early and manages to produce seeds in the year of planting, it is better to throw them away. High-quality radishes will not grow from them.
To obtain seeds, the best root crops that correspond to the varietal characteristics are selected and stored separately from the rest of the crop, and planted in the garden in late spring.
Black radish seeds are collected and stored as described above.
Why radishes go to arrows and what to do
Radish most often goes to waste due to violation of planting deadlines. When root development occurs during long daylight hours, the formation of flowers cannot be avoided.The only thing that can be done is to regulate the light by covering the bed with black lutrasteel or agrofibre.
High temperature also contributes to the formation of the flower arrow. Here you need to focus on the climatic features of the region before planting radishes. You can help a little by increasing watering. But you can’t drown a radish in water.
Lack of moisture forces the plant to strive to complete its life cycle as quickly as possible and produce at least some seeds. Watering radishes should be regular and plentiful.
Excess fertilizers, especially those containing nitrogen, make the root crop hollow, fibrous, and stimulate flowering. Excessive feeding of radish is not only unnecessary, but also harmful. You cannot apply fresh manure to the crop or fill the soil with humus immediately before planting.
Dense, heavy soil itself is unsuitable for growing radishes and can accelerate the formation of flower stalks.
It is easiest to deal with thickened plantings - you just need to thin them out. Moreover, small plants can be planted in a new bed, and those that have already managed to form a root crop can be eaten.
Diseases and pests of radish: control and prevention measures
Radish almost never gets sick. In acidic soil, clubroot can form in cruciferous plants, which can be combated by watering the plants with milk of lime. Constant overflows coupled with dense soils can cause rot.
But radish has a problem with pests - it is affected by all the insects characteristic of cruciferous crops. As a preventative measure, it is advisable to sprinkle the soil with dry ash after watering and place wormwood in the rows.
If pests have already appeared, you can use tobacco dust or spray the garden bed with an infusion of wormwood or red pepper.You cannot use karbofos, as some sources advise! This drug is so toxic that it is banned in Europe, but in our country it is used because of its high efficiency.
Conclusion
You need to plant black radish in open ground on time. If you focus on the requirements of the variety and your own climatic conditions, there will be no problems with the crop.
