When is the best time to plant radishes?

Radish is a common root vegetable belonging to the genus Raphanus in the cruciferous family. Its growth cycle varies depending on the variety, and it usually takes 30 to 120 days from sowing to harvesting. So when is the best time to plant radishes?

When is the best time to plant radishes?

Radish has strong adaptability, but the most suitable growing temperature is 15 to 20°C. Too high or too low temperature will affect the growth of radish.

Radish is a highly adaptable vegetable that can be grown in spring, summer and fall. Especially in autumn, radish planting often brings higher yields and better quality, so autumn is the main season for radish planting .

In China, the planting time of radishes and cabbages varies with geographical location, with the north-south difference being as much as nearly two months. In colder regions such as Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia, radish planting usually begins during the first ten days of summer, while cabbage is planted during the second ten days of summer. For Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi and Shaanxi, radish planting can start after the Great Heat, while cabbage can be planted around the Beginning of Autumn.

As for the areas south of the Yangtze River, the planting time of radishes and cabbages is mostly concentrated from August to September. However, the specific planting time depends on local climate and soil conditions. Even in geographically close areas, planting times may vary due to local microclimate and agricultural practices. In some places, the planting time may be advanced or delayed even if the difference is only tens of kilometers.

Radish sowing method

When planting radishes, the ridge method is particularly suitable for large varieties because this soil structure is conducive to the development of fleshy roots, reduces branching, and improves appearance quality. Ridge making can also improve drainage in rainy seasons, enhance soil permeability, and benefit seed germination and fleshy root growth. The height and width of the ridges should be adjusted according to the variety. For large varieties, the ridge height is about 10 to 15 cm and the ridge width is about 80 cm; for small and medium-sized varieties, the ridge height is about 10 cm. After sowing, the soil needs to be kept moderately moist, ensuring that the bed surface is flat and the soil is loose.

When sowing, density control has a direct impact on yield. Sowing methods include row sowing, spot sowing and broadcast sowing. Broadcasting can be used for small -scale planting , while spot sowing is recommended for large-scale planting. This not only reduces the amount of seeds used, but also facilitates subsequent management and pest and disease control. Broadcasting may result in crowding of seedlings, making management difficult. When sowing, sow 3 to 4 seeds in each hole, keep the plant spacing at 25 to 30 cm, and control the sowing depth at 1 to 2 cm to avoid sowing too deep which will lead to slow emergence and reduced emergence rate.

During the seedling transplanting process, one strong seedling should be retained in each hole, and weak and diseased seedlings should be removed. However, the time for transplanting seedlings should not be too early to avoid damage to the seedlings by autumn diseases and insect pests. It is recommended to wait until the plant grows five or six true leaves before transplanting the seedlings. Before that, three thinnings are required. Transplanting seedlings too early may result in seedling shortage due to pests and diseases.

Autumn is a suitable season for planting radishes. Methods such as ridge planting, spot sowing and appropriate late transplanting can effectively improve yield and quality. Ridge planting is particularly suitable for large and medium-sized varieties. Compared with broadcast sowing, spot sowing can increase the germination rate and save seeds and labor. Late transplanting helps the seedlings grow more robustly and reduces the occurrence of diseases and pests. At the same time, thinning should be combined with timely watering and fertilization.