How to grow | radishes

The easiest, spiciest little root veggie

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RADISH

(Raphanus raphanistrum var. sativus)

If you want to get into edible gardening, radishes are one of the first things to try. They’re hardy, relatively pest resistant and delicious. They’re also bright and pretty and fast growing. Once sown they can be ready in just 4-8 weeks, which makes them a great veggie to grow with kids (or really anyone who wants to see a quick result). 

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Cheat sheet

When to sow: year round in mild climates

Position: full sun

Sow: direct

Depth: 1 cm

Spacing: sow seeds 5cm apart in rows spaced 20cm apart

Plants per person: 15

Time to harvest: 4-8 weeks

Grow in pots: ~20cm deep

Companion plants: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, kale, chervil, endive, parsnips, peas

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How to grow

Sow your radish seeds direct (1 cm deep in rows 20cm apart) in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunshine each day. If sown in shady spots, radishes will put more of their energy into growing leaves, resulting in a smaller root (which is the bit we want!). Some websites will recommend sowing radish seeds in punnets but I find it’s best to sow them direct - transplantation can damage the roots, leading to odd-looking radishes.