High-yield planting technology of radish

In rural areas, many people grow radishes, but relatively few people have successfully cultivated high-quality radishes. Many farmer friends often complain that the radishes they grow have low yields and poor quality. Let’s learn some high-yield radish cultivation techniques below.

1. Soil conditions

In order to obtain high-quality radishes, the best soil conditions are deep, fertile, loose and transparent, with a pH value between 5.5-7 and lightly sticky sandy soil rich in organic matter. Avoid planting radishes continuously on the same land, and avoid planting them in succession with cruciferous crops (such as cabbage, kale, moss, choy sum, etc.) and peppers to reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests.

2. Variety selection

Choose radish varieties based on soil conditions. Deep soil is suitable for large radish varieties, while shallow soil is suitable for small and medium-sized radish varieties. For areas with early sowing or early cooling in autumn, mid- to late-maturing varieties can be selected. For areas with late sowing or late cooling in autumn, early-maturing varieties can be selected.

3. Planting density

The ideal planting density is that the stems and leaves of the radish plants can fully expand, there are no gaps between rows and ridges, and the stems and leaves do not overlap. The specific density needs to be adjusted according to the variety and soil fertility. For large radish varieties, the recommended row spacing is 40-50 cm, the plant hole spacing is 30-40 cm, and 4000-5000 seedlings are left per mu; for small and medium-sized radish varieties, the recommended row spacing is 30-40 cm, the plant hole spacing is 30-35 cm, and 5000-6000 seedlings are left per mu; for small radish varieties, the recommended row spacing is 25-30 cm, the plant hole spacing is 20-25 cm, and 7000-8000 seedlings are left per mu.

4. Planting time

The key factor for radish cultivation is climate temperature. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 20-25 degrees, the suitable temperature for stem and leaf growth is 15-20 degrees, and the suitable temperature for fleshy root development is 18-20 degrees. Refer to these temperature standards to determine planting times .

5. Thinning and finalization

Follow the principles of "thinning seedlings early, thinning out seedlings frequently, and transplanting seedlings late" and "eliminating dense plants and leaving sparse ones, removing small plants and leaving large ones, removing weak plants and leaving strong ones". Thinning is usually done in 2-3 times (the last time is when the seedlings are fixed at the same time), when there are 2-3 true leaves, 3-4 true leaves and 4-6 true leaves respectively. You can also carry out thinning and transplanting of seedlings in stages during the "petal breaking stage", "cross pulling stage" and "belly breaking stage".

6. Reasonable fertilization

① In terms of radish base fertilizer, it is recommended to apply 2000-2500 kg of decomposed farmyard manure or 200-300 kg of commercial organic fertilizer per mu (avoid using farmyard manure or organic fertilizer to avoid affecting the taste or causing hollowness), and at the same time apply 40-50 kg of balanced nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer or 5-7 kg of urea + 8-10 kg of potassium sulfate + 15-20 kg of diammonium phosphate (or 25-30 kg of superphosphate) per mu.

② In terms of topdressing radish, it should be done 2-3 times according to the condition of the seedlings and the growth stage. The first time is when the seedlings grow two leaves to the "bellied stage", and whether to apply fertilizer should be decided based on the condition of the seedlings; the second time is when the radish is in the "shoulder-exposing stage" (when the underground fleshy roots just start to swell), and 20-25 kg of high-nitrogen, medium-potassium, low-phosphorus compound fertilizer (or 8-12 kg of urea + 6-8 kg of potassium sulfate) should be applied per mu; the third time is when the radish fleshy root swelling is at its peak, and 20-25 kg of high-potassium, medium-nitrogen compound fertilizer (or 10-15 kg of potassium sulfate + 5-6 kg of urea + 3-4 kg of superphosphate) should be applied per mu. Water in time after each topdressing to promote decomposition and absorption of fertilizer .

③ In terms of radish foliar fertilizer , starting from the "shoulder-exposing stage" or the initial stage of swelling of the underground fleshy roots, spray 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate + 0.2% sodium octaborate tetrahydrate (boron-containing foliar fertilizer) + 0.1-0.15% chelated calcium (or diluted 1000-1500 times) every 7-10 days. Spray 2-3 times in a row to help promote healthy growth of radish, increase yield and improve taste.

7. Watering Scientifically

During the growth period of radish stems and leaves, maintain the soil humidity at 60-70%; during the period of underground fleshy root expansion, maintain the soil humidity at 70-80%. Note the following points:

① From sowing to before germination, keep the soil moist to prevent uneven germination.

② From seedling emergence to the "baby-break stage", if the soil is dry, you can water it in small amounts in the morning and evening to maintain soil moisture.

③ From the "belly break" stage to the "shoulder exposure stage", control water appropriately to strengthen the seedlings and promote root growth to prevent excessive growth of stems and leaves. If the soil is not dry and the seedlings are not wilted at noon, there is no need to water them.

④ During the period of underground fleshy root expansion, keep the soil well-watered and the humidity stable (water once every 7-10 days), and stop watering 10 days before harvest.

8. Reasonable control of prosperity

In the early stage of fleshy root expansion or the rosette stage (or 3-4 weeks before harvest), you can use paclobutrazol, chlormequat chloride and other growth-regulating and slow-growth agents to spray the leaves 1-2 times, with an interval of about 10 days. However, for radish fields with poor soil, insufficient water and fertilizer, and poor stem and leaf growth, avoid using chemical drugs to control growth so as not to reduce yield.

In general, growing radishes to achieve high yields is actually a profound science, and every link requires a lot of attention. Different varieties, different planting times, and different regional environmental conditions will all lead to certain changes in radish planting techniques.