Can I plant radishes now?

Radish is a vegetable that is rich in nutrition, has diverse tastes, and is easy to grow, and has good market prospects. When growing radishes, choosing the right planting time is crucial to getting a good harvest. So is it okay to plant radishes now? Let’s learn more about it below.

Can I plant radishes now?

Now is a more suitable time to plant autumn radishes. The time can usually be chosen from mid-to-late August to early September, so as to ensure a harvest in early winter. However, the specific planting time should be determined according to local climatic conditions and variety characteristics.

How to plant autumn radish?

1. Plot selection

Choose sandy loam or loam plots with deep, loose, fertile soil and an organic matter content of more than 1%. The previous crop should not be cruciferous vegetables to reduce diseases and pests.

2. Land preparation and ridge making

The single-ridge small raised bed cultivation method is adopted, and the beds are made at appropriate spacing. The bed width is about 30 cm, the bed ditch width is about 20 cm, and the bed surface is about 20 cm above the ground.

3. Sowing method

Direct seeding is usually done by sowing seeds in dots or rows on ridges. The sowing depth is 1-1.5 cm, the row spacing is 50 cm, the plant spacing is 25 cm, and 3-5 seeds are planted in each hole.

4. Thinning and finalizing seedlings

Follow the principle of removing the weak and keeping the strong, and carry out the first thinning when the radish seedlings have two needles to ensure space for nutrient absorption, and transplant the missing seedlings in time. When the radish seedlings have grown 3-4 true leaves, carry out the second thinning. Finally, when they have about 5 leaves, select one healthy seedling in each hole and remove the rest to complete the final seedling determination.

5. Water and fertilizer management

In the early stage of autumn radish planting, sufficient fertilization is required, including base fertilizer and topdressing, and especially the proportion of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be increased to promote the expansion of fleshy roots. At the same time, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needs to be carefully controlled to ensure the healthy growth of autumn radish. In addition, the water content needs to be adjusted properly according to the growth stage. Water more during sowing to promote germination, but avoid excessive water throughout the process to prevent fleshy root rot and the occurrence of diseases and insect pests.

6. Pest and disease control

Autumn radish generally rarely suffers from diseases, but has many insect pests, the most common of which are maggots, cabbage loopers and aphids. Ground maggots can be controlled by irrigation with dichlorvos at the roots, while aphids and cabbage loopers can be controlled by spraying with insecticides such as dichlorvos, phoxim, and pyrethroids.

In general, when choosing radishes to grow, pay attention to choosing good varieties. In addition, following the above-mentioned planting points can provide a good soil environment for the growth of autumn radish, which helps to improve its yield and quality.