Need a vegetable in a hurry? If so, Radishes are your go to veggie. These bright red root vegetables reach maturity within three short weeks. Let’s grow radishes in your Phoenix garden and learn some new ways of cooking with them.
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Radishes are one of the best vegetables for young gardeners to grow because they germinate so quickly.
Radishes are part of the Brassicaceae family . These zesty tasting veggies are often used in salads or as garnishments. Interestingly every part of the radish plant is edible.
Radishes can thrive in your Phoenix garden. By following five basic steps Timing, Conditions, Companionship, Possible problems, and Harvesting; you can have tasty vegetables, herbs, and fruits in your Phoenix garden.
How to Grow Radishes in Phoenix
- Are radishes a cool or warm season vegetable? This determines the best time of year to plant.
- What do radishes need to grow?
- What grows well near radishes and what doesn’t?
- Do your radishes look unhealthy? What could this mean?
- Harvesting radishes- When is the ideal time to pick radishes?
- What to do with all of these radishes
The Best Time to Plant Radishes
Radishes are cool season vegetables. In Phoenix, they can be planted from September 1 through April 15. Plant radish seeds 1/2″ under well-draining soil. Sow the seeds in rows one inch apart. Rows should be spaced 18″ apart.
What do Radishes Need to Grow?
Choose a spot in your yard where your radishes can flourish. Take into the light, soil, and water requirements.
Radish Sun Requirements: Radishes require full sun or about 6 hours of sun a day.
Soil Requirements: Prefers loamy well-drained soil, but radishes can also grow well in amended clay soils as well. Radishes like slightly acidic to neutral pH. The soil pH range of 6 to 7 is ideal.
Water Requirements: Radishes like well-drained soil. They need one inch of consistent watering each week.
Companion Plants for Radishes
What grows well near Radishes & what doesn’t?
Radishes like many different plants. You can plant them near beets, spinach, carrots, lettuce, bush and pole beans, cucumbers, and melons.
Don’t plant them near Hyssops or plants from the cabbage family.
Possible Pests & Diseases
If your radish splits it is usually due to a period of drought followed by watering too much to make up for that drought. Consistent watering schedule can help to avoid that from happening.
If you have gang buster growth, but it is all in the leaves this is usually due to the outdoor temperatures being too hot. Radishes grow quickly, but they don’t particularly like Phoenix summers.
When to Harvest Radishes
Most varieties of radishes are ready to harvest within 21 days. This means they can be planted from September through April in the low desert and you can grow a steady supply most of the year.
What to do with all of these Radishes
Often radishes are seen as nothing more than a garnish. Now that you have a bumper crop of radishes you may be wondering what you can do with them all.
All parts of the radish are edible, so that means you can saute those greens. Add some olive oil, garlic and your other favorite seasoning. Eat the tops of the radishes like you would spinach.
Slice radishes up to include in your salads or pasta. Julienne radishes to add to tacos or roast them with your potatoes. Add a peppery punch to your sandwich by adding some thinly sliced radishes.