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Harvesting Radishes

May 26th, 2009

This is the first year I’ve grown radishes. I’ve never been much of a radish fan, but then it occurred to me that perhaps I’ve just never been much of a mass-produced radish fan. So I ordered some heirloom radish seeds from Baker Creek and about 3 weeks ago I planted the seeds.
radishes
I’m growing 2 different kinds:

Pink Beauty: A beautiful round pink radish that has become hard to find. It is sweet and tasty. Popular at specialty markets, a must for all radish growers! Wonderful and unique.

Suxa II: Popular European radish that matures in just 3 weeks; wow, they are quick! Bright red, smooth, round, perfect globes are crisp and delicious. Pretty and productive.
washed-radishes
I must say, I’m hooked on radishes now. I love that they’re so quick to grow, there’s not much in the garden that’s ready to harvest 3 weeks after you plant. You also can’t beat a veggie that you just pick, rinse and enjoy. I just planted a bunch more yesterday and I’m going to order a few different kinds to try. I think radishes will become a favorite crop here at Chiot’s Run.

What about you, do you grow radishes? What kinds do you like?

25 Comments to “Harvesting Radishes”
  1. Julia on May 26, 2009 at 7:00 am

    I have to laugh… I thought I was growing radishes… I didn’t really pay attention and when I went to harvest, I discovered (or remembered?) that I planted turnips. Whoops! I’m slightly jealous at this moment because I was looking forward to my first crop.

    Julia’s last blog post.. Mole, Take II

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  2. Faith on May 26, 2009 at 7:08 am

    Those are really nice looking radishes!

    We just harvested our first radishes yesterday and I’m getting ready to put them on my blog in a little bit. Way better than store bought. I just washed them up in the hose and munched them whole. LOL

    Reply to Faith's comment

  3. kristin on May 26, 2009 at 7:59 am

    Yup, radishes are as close to instant gratifications as a gardener can get. The radishes I had last year, just some random leftover seeds I can’t even remember the name of, were pretty spicy and I could only eat them sliced thin in salads. This year I have the ubiquitous French Breakfast. They’re much milder, which means much better for me and my sissy mouth. I discovered they are also delicious sliced onto chicken salad sandwiches. Nice crunch.

    And of course, they’re very useful to grow as row markers in with things that take a long time to germinate. We do that with parsnips and dill. By the time those are growing, the radishes have been harvested.

    kristin’s last blog post.. Waterworks

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  4. Dave on May 26, 2009 at 8:35 am

    We just had a couple radishes last night. I don’t know what else to do with them other than eat them fresh. But it is nice to see such a quick harvest when you’re waiting on other plants to produce!

    Dave’s last blog post.. A Garden Remodel: The Fence Garden

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  5. Lee on May 26, 2009 at 8:56 am

    I’m not a big radish fan but got some from my veg coop. I found a recipe for roasted radishes and zucchini which was delicious. Highly recommend trying it.

    Reply to Lee's comment

    • Susy on May 26, 2009 at 10:17 am

      I’ve read that roasted radishes are good. I’ll have to give them a try. I love roasted zucchini.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  6. deedee on May 26, 2009 at 9:01 am

    thanks for reminding me to pick radishes today! i hate them, but i planted them for nick bc he loves them! i’m sure the boys will too:)

    Reply to deedee's comment

  7. Sande on May 26, 2009 at 9:10 am

    Those look really lovely! I harvested a few of mine and the red ones were pretty nice – the white ones were pithy and wormy.

    Sande’s last blog post.. Sunday Silence 10

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  8. Helen at Toronto Gardens on May 26, 2009 at 9:20 am

    It has been a long time since I planted radishes (not since we had an allotment), but really there’s no excuse as they’re so easy to grow. No store-bought radish compares. A few fresh radishes, a little salt, some ice cold beer; perfect summer snacking.

    Helen at Toronto Gardens’s last blog post.. Yikes: Boxwood psyllids and the new pesticides ban

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  9. warren on May 26, 2009 at 10:27 am

    I am like you were…never cared for radishes but maybe it’s because I haven’t had a good one…I may have to try again…esp since they are so fast to grow! Brilliant!

    warren’s last blog post.. I used to sing backup for Billy Joel

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    • Susy on May 26, 2009 at 10:39 am

      I’m sure these will really help bump up my harvest totals. I’m planning on trying to grow them all summer.

      Radishes are also good to keep around as beneficial plants to keep bugs off of the other plants around. I planted a few with my cukes, we’ll see if it works.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  10. Renee on May 26, 2009 at 11:37 am

    I have harvested a few so far. I planted two more squares of radish a few days ago because the radishes I have harvested were so good. I don’t like store bought radish, but I love them when they’re home grown!

    Renee’s last blog post.. What’s Growing (and What’s Not)

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  11. Claire on May 26, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    I do not like shop bought radishes, I find them too bland. I love Scarlet Globe – really peppery!
    Claire

    Claire’s last blog post.. Easter

    Reply to Claire's comment

    • Susy on May 27, 2009 at 5:33 am

      MMM, peppery, I really like them that way (as the rest of my food).

      Reply to Susy's comment

  12. Pampered Mom on May 26, 2009 at 9:51 pm

    I never really cared for radishes either. Then last year, on a whim we planted some “Purple Celebration Radish” seeds. I *LOVED* them. We also did a CSA last year which had radishes in them of an unknown variety that I didn’t like all that much. So…it’s gotta be an heirloom radish or forget it!

    This year we’ve planted Purple Celebration Radish, Pink Celebration Radish, and White Icicle Radish all from Heirloom Acres Seeds.

    I think of all the seeds we’ve planted radishes are one of my favorites!

    Pampered Mom’s last blog post.. Some really neat stuff out there…

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    • Susy on May 27, 2009 at 5:32 am

      Thanks for the recommendation. I’m hoping to try a few new varieties this fall & next spring when I use up my current stash of seeds.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  13. Mangochild on May 27, 2009 at 5:25 am

    Like you, I was never a big fan of radishes. What turned it around for me was realizing it was *red* radishes that I didn’t like – white radishes are a winner! Have you tried them? They are somewhat hard to find here in farmers markets etc. but are sold readily as seeds. They are different than daikon, although that is tasty too, and so much sweeter with less bite than red.

    Mangochild’s last blog post.. Tuesdays Independence Days Week 2

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    • Susy on May 27, 2009 at 5:31 am

      I haven’t tried the white yet, I’m hoping to buy a few different kinds later in the season for next spring. I’ll have to get a white variety to try.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  14. Judy on May 27, 2009 at 11:16 am

    I love radishes! They add just enough peppery zest to give the ol’ green salad a kick :-) I’ve grown several varieties here and they have all done really well. It’s getting to hot now to grow them in the South. But I have them growing in the fall, winter and spring.

    Judy’s last blog post.. Not Wanting to Get Political…. BUT… – May 27, 2009

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  15. Beth @ Smart Family Tips on May 28, 2009 at 9:41 am

    Novice Gardener Alert. This is our first year with a square foot garden. It’s been a lot of fun, though we’re stumbling along, learning as we go. We planted radishes as well (we bought some heirloom seeds from a local seed supplier). Here’s my question — how do you know when radishes are ready to harvest? Thanks for the help.

    Reply to Beth @ Smart Family Tips's comment

    • Susy on May 28, 2009 at 9:48 am

      I just look at them and you can see the red globes popping out of the soil. When they look like eating size I pull them.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  16. Beth @ Smart Family Tips on May 28, 2009 at 11:36 am

    Thanks, Susy!

    Reply to Beth @ Smart Family Tips's comment

  17. joanne peyton in AK on May 30, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    Really enjoying your page! We’re first year beekeepers with two brown dogs in the Chugach. My radishes are popping now and we’re building raised hoops due to the wind up here today. I’ll visit back to see what you are up to next!

    Reply to joanne peyton in AK's comment

    • Barbara Peyton on February 6, 2011 at 2:29 pm

      Joanne Peyton—I’ve been trying to contact you. I think our husband’s share a gr-gr grandfather—Dr. Robert S. Peyton,. I have his obituary and a few other items. I’d love to share. Barbara Peyton

      Reply to Barbara Peyton's comment

  18. Andrea on January 23, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    I tried growing radishes in cups under lights two years ago as an experiment and it worked. One could have radishes all winter this way!

    Reply to Andrea's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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