How many days does it take for white radish to germinate?

White radish is a widely cultivated root vegetable belonging to the genus Raphanus in the cruciferous family. It usually takes 60-100 days from sowing to harvesting, depending on the variety and cultivation conditions. White radish has strong adaptability and can withstand slight frost. The suitable temperature range for its growth is 15-25℃. Growth will be inhibited at high temperatures, while it can survive at temperatures close to 0°C, but the growth rate will be slower. Let’s learn how many days it takes for white radish to germinate and emerge.

How many days does it take for white radish to germinate?

It usually takes 4-7 days for white radish to germinate from sowing. If the seeds are not pretreated in advance or the environmental conditions are not suitable, the germination time may be delayed.

How to plant white radish so that the seedlings emerge evenly?

1. Soil Preparation

Till the soil at least 20 cm deep to prevent soil compaction that can cause radish root rot. The land is arranged into ridges about 80 cm wide to facilitate the construction of a small arch shed later.

2. Apply base fertilizer

White radish prefers potassium fertilizer and organic fertilizer , and grows rapidly in loose and breathable soil. Therefore, before planting white radish, deep plowing and sufficient base fertilizer must be applied.

Dig three 15-20 cm deep trenches on the 80 cm wide ridge and apply fermented chicken manure compost. If the compost is dry, water it to moisten it and then cover the soil.

3. Fertilizer depth

Chicken manure has strong fertility and should be buried 5-10 cm deep from the soil surface.

4. Planting seeds

Dig out the top 2 cm of soil. If conditions permit, evenly sprinkle wood ash mixed with soil. After watering it thoroughly, sow white radish seeds .

The seeds should be sown evenly and kept at appropriate intervals to facilitate later management. After sowing, cover the seeds with half a centimeter to one centimeter thick soil. It should not be too thick to avoid affecting germination.

5. Seed protection

After sowing, lightly compact the soil to ensure full contact between the soil and the seeds, then sprinkle water to keep it moist. Cover with dry straw or other protection such as cloth or mulch to block out the sun and retain moisture, promoting rapid emergence.

6. Seedling protection

According to experience, white radish seeds covered with dry straw will germinate in as fast as 3 days. The water absorption of straw helps to protect soil moisture and prevent direct sunlight and seedling lodging.

7. Construction of small arch shed

Build a small arch shed on the ridge. The plastic film can be lifted on non-rainy days and covered on rainy days to protect the soil and seedlings. The small arch shed can protect against rain, wind, cold, and also help prevent insects.

8. Management suggestions

Building small arch sheds is crucial for large-scale cultivation of white radish, which can effectively protect seeds and seedlings and prevent lodging and poor growth caused by bad weather. Good protection will help produce large, straight radishes that are easier to manage.

In general, in order to ensure that white radish can germinate smoothly, growers should choose fresh and high-quality seeds, maintain appropriate soil moisture, control the sowing depth, and provide sufficient light and appropriate temperature conditions.