When is the best time to plant white radish?

White radish is an indispensable vegetable in winter. It is easy to grow, nutritious and cheap. Although radish is very common, many people may not know the best time to plant white radish. So when is the best time to plant white radish? Let’s take a look below.

1. When is the best time to plant white radish?

Spring radish is sown from early October to mid-November, and summer radish is sown from May to July. Winter radish is sown in late August to early September.

2. How to plant white radish

1. Land preparation and fertilization

White radish has high requirements for soil, which needs to be fertile, loose, well-drained and deep. Before planting, the land should be deep plowed, soil clods should be broken up, and weeds, diseases and insect pests should be removed. At the same time, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied. Generally, 3000-5000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure or compost should be applied per mu, combined with 100-150 kg of compound fertilizer or chemical fertilizers such as diammonium phosphate, and buried deep in the soil to improve soil fertility and water and fertilizer retention capacity.

2. Planting density

There are three ways to sow white radish: spot sowing, row sowing and broadcast sowing. Choose the appropriate method according to the characteristics of the variety and local conditions. Generally speaking, spot sowing is suitable for small white radish, with 2-3 seeds sown in each hole, with a row spacing of 25-30 cm and a hole spacing of 10-15 cm; row sowing is suitable for medium-sized white radish, with 1-1.5 kg of seeds per mu, with a row spacing of 40-50 cm and a strip spacing of 2-3 cm; broadcast sowing is suitable for large white radish, with 2-3 kg of seeds per mu and a row spacing of 60-80 cm. Cover and compact the soil after sowing to keep the soil moist.

3. Seedling management

After the white radish seedlings emerge, thinning and replanting should be carried out in time. Weak and overcrowded seedlings should be removed, leaving only strong seedlings, and 1-2 plants should be left in each hole to maintain an appropriate density. At the same time, pay attention to watering to keep the soil moist and prevent drought from affecting growth. In addition, regular tillage and weeding should be carried out to loosen and ventilate the soil to prevent the occurrence of weeds and pests and diseases.

4. Topdressing and watering

The topdressing of white radish should be mainly basal fertilizer, supplemented by top dressing. Generally, when the white radish grows 3-4 true leaves, the first topdressing is applied in combination with watering. Apply 10-15 kg of urea per mu to promote plant growth. When the fleshy roots of white radish begin to swell, apply the second topdressing, applying 50-100 kg of compound fertilizer or potassium sulfate per mu to promote root hypertrophy. White radish should be watered in a timely and appropriate manner according to changes in soil moisture and temperature. Generally, water it once after sowing, after seedlings emerge, after topdressing, and before harvesting to keep the soil moist and avoid being too dry or too wet.

5. Disease and pest control

Common diseases of white radish include white rust, black rot, scab, etc., and common pests include aphids, diamondback moth, flea beetles, etc. For white rust, you can spray 50 grams of 25% metalaxyl wettable powder with 50 kilograms of water at the early stage of the disease; for black rot, you can spray 500 times of 65% mancozeb at the early stage of the disease; for scab, you can soak the seeds in 500 times of 50% carbendazim solution for 30 minutes before sowing. For aphids, you can spray with 1000-1500 times diluted 40% oxydemeton-methyl; for diamondback moth, you can spray with 2000-3000 times diluted 2.5% cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate; for flea beetles, you can spray with 1000-1500 times diluted 3% DDT emulsifiable concentrate.

6. Harvest and storage

The harvest of white radish depends on the variety and market demand. Generally, it is best to harvest when the fleshy roots are fully enlarged. Harvesting too early or too late will affect the quality and yield. When harvesting, be careful to pull and place gently to avoid damaging the roots, clean the soil in time, cut off the leaves, grade and package , and transport to the market. White radish should be stored in a ventilated, dry and cool place. It can be covered with sand or straw to prevent dehydration and softening, and to extend the shelf life.

That’s it