It’s just about time to plant radishes in your southern Utah spring garden. These crunchy, sharp-tasting roots are related to broccoli and cabbage and are mighty easy to grow. Radishes are cool-season vegetables and can be planted in successive plantings every week or so beginning in February and ending in late spring. If you are located in an elevation higher than St. George’s wait until four to six weeks before your last frost date to start planting radishes. You can find the last frost dates for many towns and cities in Utah here.
Radishes are fast growers and producers and a perfect choice for southern Utah spring vegetable gardens. Some varieties are ready 30 days from the day you plant them,and there are a lot of varieties! Some are small and round, some are long and pointy like a carrot, and some are oblong. Many are red on the outside and white on the inside. However, some are white on the outside and red on the inside while others are multi-colored. Do a bit of research on what radishes are available. Choose a few varieties to try this spring, and see what you like best. Some radishes are best planted in the fall: these are winter radishes. Make sure you choose radishes appropriate for spring planting for best results. Try Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., Botanical Interests, and Mountain Valley Seed Co.
Radishes need a sunny spot with moist, well draining soil rich in organic matter (what doesn’t, eh?). If you haven’t already, amend your soil with some compost, and try to achieve a 50/50 mixture.
Now you’re ready to plant. When I was shopping for radish seeds, I saw these awesome seed tapes. You simply lay down the seed filled tape in a small trench and cover with soil. So cool! Individual radish seeds should be planted about 1/2 inch deep and a couple of inches apart. Alternatively you can broadcast radish seed in your garden and rake them in. See, easy. Water your planted seeds thoroughly, and water again each time the soil is dry. The seedlings will pop up pretty quickly — in just five days. Then plant some more!
Harvest your radishes when the appropriate amount of time has passed and they are the size indicated on the seed packet. For instance, Cherry Belle radishes are ready 24 days after planting and should be no bigger than 1.5 inches in diameter. This is important if you want to eat tasty radishes. If you like pithy and hot radishes, by all means leave them in the ground too long and you’ll get them. It’s a great idea to read your seed packets anyway. There is always a wealth of information on the outside of the packet and sometimes on the inside, too.
Now you have all the info you need to grow radishes in your southern Utah spring vegetable garden. After you’ve planted your radish seeds, better start planning on what you’re going to do with them. Eat them right from the garden, in a salad, on a sandwich, or pickle them. Mmmm, a pickled radish sounds so good right now. Oh, or a fresh one from the garden with some salt on it. Yes, it’s definitely time to plant radishes in your southern Utah spring vegetable garden. Get outside and say hello to spring gardening.
