Radish
Raphanus sativus
Ready in about a month; the fastest reward in the garden.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 0.5 ft tall, 0.3 ft wide
Harvest: April to October
From: Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Radishes were grown in Egypt before the pyramids and fed the builders; China and Japan bred the giant daikon, Europe the small red spring kind. It is the fastest crop in the garden, ready in three weeks.
Planting
Full sun or light shade, loose soil; sow directly from early spring every ten days, and again in autumn; thin to an inch.
Growing
Keep moist; dry soil makes them hot and pithy. No feeding. Heat sends them to seed.
Harvest and use
Pull at marble size, three to four weeks; the pods of bolted plants are crisp and edible too.
What to watch for
Flea beetles, root maggots, and heat.
See if Radish fits your yard
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home