Content
- 1 When to sow radishes in open ground in spring
- 2 Do I need to soak radish seeds before planting?
- 3 How to soak radish seeds before planting
- 4 Devices for planting radishes
- 5 How to plant radish seeds
- 6 Growing and caring for radishes in open ground
- 7 What can you plant after radishes?
- 8 Possible problems and methods for solving them
- 9 Pests and diseases
- 10 Conclusion
For many gardeners, the most favorite garden vegetable is the radish, which reaches the table earlier than other root vegetables. To obtain an excellent early harvest, radishes are planted in open ground in the spring.During cultivation, the characteristics of the crop should be taken into account, although it is considered unpretentious in care.
When to sow radishes in open ground in spring
There are no difficulties in cultivating garden root vegetables, so even an inexperienced gardener can cope with this process. The main thing is to calculate the optimal period of planting work. The following important points need to be taken into account:
- When the air temperature is within 0-10 0The seed material slowly hatches and germinates.
- If the weather is warm, the seeds will germinate in 1-2 weeks.
While other vegetable crops are at the growth stage, juicy radishes can replenish the lack of vitamins after a long winter period.
Lunar calendar for planting radishes for 2023
According to gardeners, it is advisable that planting radishes in open ground with seeds should be coordinated with the days indicated in the lunar cycle calendar. True, for many reasons, some people are unable to sow root crops in a favorable period.
You need to remember that this root crop is prohibited from being sown on the days of the Full Moon or New Moon. This should be taken into account when sowing planting material in early spring.
According to the lunar calendar, favorable and unfavorable periods for sowing root crops in the spring of 2023:
When to plant radishes in the Krasnodar Territory
Kuban is an extremely huge Russian region. In Krasnodar, gardeners practice growing radishes in open ground around the second/third decade of March, that is, after the 15th-20th.
To extend the harvest of root crops, you can sow the seed again after a couple of weeks and continue this way until the end of May. Here you should focus on regional, atmospheric and meteorological features.
Region | date |
Moscow region (middle zone of the country) | Second ten days of April |
Ural and Siberia | Third ten days of April and first ten days of May |
Northwest | Third ten days of April and first ten days of May |
When to plant radishes in the regions
In other Russian regions, gardeners mainly rely on weather conditions. As soon as the snow layer melts in early spring and the sun warms the ground well, you can begin sowing.
The expected planting dates in the following regions will also depend on the meteorological and atmospheric characteristics of the regions.
At what temperature can radishes be sown?
Radish seeds germinate fastest when the temperature rises to + 10—15 0C. Germination occurs within 2 weeks or even less. At air temperatures above + 16 0The first green shoots may appear already on the fourth day.
Note that the most acceptable temperature regime for growing high-quality crops is + 18-20 °C. At higher air temperatures, garden vegetation may begin to shoot. She throws out the peduncle and does not form a fruit.
Do I need to soak radish seeds before planting?
Gardeners first select the days for planting radishes in March according to the lunar calendar, and then begin preparing the seeds. To stimulate growth, it is recommended to soak the seed material in various regulators, this can be Zircon or Epin. This procedure strengthens the plant’s immunity.
Before planting, radish seeds are soaked in a manganese solution for 20 minutes, then washed with clean water. The color of the flushing fluid should be dark pink. This will help disinfect the seed material.
You can also germinate seeds by wrapping them in a damp cloth.This way they will give higher germination rates.
How to soak radish seeds before planting
After purchasing radish seeds in a store, they are inspected and, if necessary, sorted or calibrated in size using a fine strainer. The best germination rate is for seeds with a diameter of 3 mm. They produce strong roots.
Before sowing the seeds, they should be soaked or you can keep them in a damp cloth for a day. Some gardeners practice soaking seeds in hot water for a quarter of an hour. This method will protect radishes from diseases. After this, you can treat the garden crop with a growth stimulator.
Devices for planting radishes
On farms, various types of seeders are used for sowing root crops. In home gardens, gardeners use folk wisdom in the form of egg trays. A board can also be used for planting radishes, where holes are drilled at equal distances along its entire length, through which the seeds are sown.
Types of seeders:
- Seeder for walk-behind tractor. 6-8 rows are sown with it at a time.
- The tractor-type seeder covers a large sowing area. They are used on an industrial scale. For sowing - 12 rows or more.
- Manual seeder on wheels with seed dispenser.
A very convenient option that many gardeners love are egg trays. After sowing, there is no need to thin out young green shoots. In the cellular holes, the bottom is cut off, after which the holes are placed down on loose soil. Each hole is filled with soil substrate and one seed kernel is sown. Maintenance and watering are normal.
How to plant radish seeds
To obtain good yield indicators for garden crops, you need to sow seed material on the permitted dates.The area for radishes is prepared in advance. The seed kernels are processed, and gardeners also carry out a number of preparatory activities.
After which you can plant radishes
It is advisable to sow radishes in open ground in the spring at the end of March (focus on your region). Many crops are good precursors for this garden vegetable.
Radishes grow well in mixed plantings with various greens.
Preparing soil for radishes in open ground
This garden crop develops best in well-lit areas, where ultraviolet rays warm the ground before and after lunchtime. The beds must be protected from dry winds. The soil is suitable light, loosened and with neutral or weak acidity.
Typically, radish planting according to the 2023 lunar calendar takes place in the second or third decade of March. It is better to prepare the beds for crops in the fall. Root vegetables respond positively to organic matter in the form of rotted compost. At 1 m2 it takes up to 7-8 kg of fertilizer. It is not advisable to use fresh manure.
How to sow radishes in open ground with seeds
When growing, the following scheme for planting radishes in open ground is used, taking into account the following operations:
- The soil is leveled and seed furrows are marked.
- Maintain up to 10 cm between rows.
- Planting seed material to a depth of 1 cm.
- The furrows are watered with boiling water.
- After a while, seeds are sown with one tape every 4-5 cm.
- The crops are sprinkled with loose soil on top and patted down with the palm of your hand.
- Water by sprinkling method.
In warm weather, the first shoots will appear in 3-4 days.
How to plant radish seedlings
To obtain an earlier radish harvest, some gardeners prefer to plant this garden crop in the form of seedlings. Although the vegetable tolerates cool weather well, it will develop better and faster after planting by seedlings.
Seedlings are planted in nutritious and loose soil. It should allow moisture and air to pass through well. The place should be illuminated by sunlight.
What can you plant next to radishes?
The most favorable garden neighbors for radishes are leafy and head lettuces. With their foliage they save the vegetable from the attacks of the cruciferous flea beetle. Bush beans effectively repel radish pests. Thanks to such a pleasant neighborhood, the radish has a better taste as a root vegetable.
Growing and caring for radishes in open ground
A common method for planting radishes is in furrows. The soil is leveled, furrows are made and pre-soaked and treated seeds are sown at a distance of 4-5 cm from each other.
For cutting rows it is convenient to use a Fokin flat cutter. After the appearance of young shoots, they also spud the vegetable. Caring for radishes is the same as caring for other garden crops. It includes regular watering, fertilizing, and loosening the soil.
When do radishes emerge after planting?
Before sowing the crop, you need to know the ideal time for planting radishes in open ground to obtain healthy shoots.
To prevent the seedlings from being damaged or frozen, at first they can be covered with plastic wrap on top at night.In the morning, they lift it so that the radishes can breathe.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Further care for garden crops is as follows:
- Radish is a moisture-loving plant. Therefore, the crop is watered once every 3 days. During the dry spring period, radishes need to be watered every evening to maintain the yield of the vegetable. The top layer of soil should not be allowed to dry out, as this will cause the taste to be lost and bitterness to develop. To form a normal root crop, regular watering is required.
- For fertilizing, it is better to use humus mixture or compost. Any type of organic matter and mineral complexes will do. Do not add the current year's manure to the holes, otherwise the root crop will be empty inside.
Thinning
Radishes are considered one of the early spring vegetables. The secrets of growing this crop are simple - sow one seed kernel at a time, so as not to thin out. Pulling out damages the young roots of the plant, which has a detrimental effect on the yield of radishes. In addition, the plant may begin to shoot.
When the first shoots appear, they can be spudded with a Fokin flat cutter. If the plantings are still thickened, they are thinned out at the stage of the initial pair of leaves. Leave a distance of up to 5 cm between root crops. Regularly loosen the top layer of soil to provide oxygen to the roots.
What can you plant after radishes?
After radishes, tomatoes and eggplants grow best. While the root crop is being poured, these garden crops are grown as seedlings. When the area is freed up after harvesting the radishes, seedlings of tomatoes and eggplants are planted in this place.
For them, radishes are an ideal predecessor, since the crops do not have common diseases and pests. The smell of tomato tops repels cruciferous flies and aphids. For the same reasons, after radishes you can sow melons, beans, peas, and many types of greens - lettuce, parsley, dill, and onions.
Possible problems and methods for solving them
At the end of spring and at the beginning of the summer season, radish foliage can be attacked by a cruciferous fly, which can destroy most of the crop. The most effective way to combat it is to cover the garden crop with lutrasil.
With later sowing of radishes, when the air temperature rises above + 20-22 ° C, the likelihood of the formation of coarse root crops increases. Radishes do not form a fruit normally, but instead go into the arrow.
Bolting can also occur for other reasons, for example, due to insufficient moisture during the period of root formation. The same thing happens when sowing seeds in cold weather at a temperature of + 8-10 0WITH.
Why radishes do not form roots?
Gardeners quite often encounter the problem of stretching the plant, which does not allow roots and true leaves to form normally.
There can be many reasons here:
- Air temperature above + 23-25 0WITH.
- Depleted soil.
- The planting site is poorly lit by sunlight.
- Insufficient watering.
If radishes are grown in a greenhouse, they should be ventilated more often. The soil needs to be fertilized with rotted compost. Sow radishes in open areas with plenty of light.
How to spray radishes against flea beetles
When a crop is damaged by a cruciferous flea beetle, the radish root system and its root crop are primarily affected. The flea is capable of jumping up to 50 cm.It is especially dangerous in dry spring. During this period, the insect can literally destroy most of the plant’s foliage in just a couple of days.
Chemicals are not used for spraying radishes. Folk remedies are used. Wood ash works best against fleas. It must be mixed in equal parts with tobacco pollen. Then powder the young shoots with this mixture. Repeat the procedure after 3-4 days.
Why are radishes bitter?
Radishes initially have a slight bitter taste due to the presence of mustard oil in the root crop. This is what gives the vegetable its spicy, bitter taste. In cases where bitterness exceeds the norm, you need to look for the reasons.
As a rule, at the stage of plant development there was insufficient watering, but radishes are moisture-loving crops, and this should not be forgotten when growing. Early summer is usually a hot time. It is advisable to water the radishes generously twice a day.
Bitterness also occurs in old root vegetables. And, even more so, when the plant began to throw out an arrow. To slow down the aging of garden crops, gardeners cover the plantings with light-proof fabric through which air passes well.
Pests and diseases
It is important to regularly inspect radish plantings in order to promptly identify the localization of harmful insects or root diseases. When a problem is recognized, protective and preventive measures should be taken.
The most dangerous enemies of radishes are the cruciferous flea beetle, cabbage fly, aphids, and thrips. Diseases may include downy mildew, blackleg, clubroot, and mucous bacteriosis. For this reason, the predecessor of radishes should not be cabbage.
Conclusion
Having become acquainted with such a garden crop as radishes, the secrets of growing this root vegetable no longer seem complicated. Planting radishes in open ground in the spring is carried out using various folk planting devices. It is important to use them so as not to break through young stems and not disturb the root system. The culture is unpretentious in care, rich in vitamins and has excellent taste.
