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Radishes — Raphanus sativus

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Radishes — Raphanus sativus

layout: base.njk title: Radishes description: Growing Radishes in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: cool-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below
Red radish bulbs with green tops

Type: Annual
Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Sun: Full sun to part shade (4-6 hours minimum)
Water: Moderate (1" per week, consistent moisture prevents woodiness)
Soil pH: 5.8-6.8 (tolerates wider range than most vegetables)
Hardiness: Zones 2-11 (cool season annual, very fast crop)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: Spring radishes: 0.5-2 oz per root. Winter radishes: 0.5-3 lbs per root.
  • Per 10' row: Spring: 8-15 lbs. Winter: 20-40 lbs.
  • Per season: With succession planting: 25-50 lbs per 10' row annually (spring + fall + winter storage types).

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (5-10+)

'Cherry Belle'

  • Source: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com), Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com), Burpee (burpee.com)
  • Days: 22 days
  • Notes: Standard American spring radish. Round, bright red roots with white interior. Crisp, mild flavor. Reliable, uniform. Holds well without becoming pithy. Perfect for salads. Classic grocery store radish.

'French Breakfast'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
  • Days: 23 days
  • Notes: French heirloom from 1800s. Oblong, red with white tip (breakfast = two-tone). Mild, buttery flavor. Tender texture. Beautiful appearance. Traditional for French breakfast with butter and bread. Less pungent than round red types.

'Easter Egg' (Rainbow Mix)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Burpee
  • Days: 25 days
  • Notes: Mixture of red, pink, purple, white varieties. Beautiful colors. Mild flavor. Kids love harvesting rainbow. Good for salads. Mix includes 'Sparkler', 'White Icicle', red varieties.

'Daikon' (Japanese Long White)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: Japanese heirloom. Large, white, cylindrical roots (12-18" long, 2-3" diameter). Mild, sweet flavor. Excellent for cooking, pickling, fermentation. Cold tolerant. Stores well. Essential for Asian cuisine.

'Watermelon Radish' (Rose Heart)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: Chinese heirloom daikon type. Green exterior, shocking pink interior (like watermelon). Sweet, mild flavor. Beautiful sliced raw. Cold tolerant. Stores well. Conversation piece and delicious.

'Black Spanish' (Round Black)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: European heirloom. Round, black skin, white flesh. Sharp, pungent flavor. Excellent for winter storage. Traditional for Eastern European cuisine. Can be stored in root cellar for months. Milder after storage.

'White Icicle'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
  • Days: 27 days
  • Notes: Heirloom. Long, white, tapered roots (6-8"). Crisp, mild flavor. Good for succession planting. Beautiful appearance. Less common than red radishes but excellent quality.

'D'Avignon'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 25 days
  • Notes: French heirloom. Small, round, bright red. Very fast. Mild, sweet flavor. Traditional French garden radish. Excellent for baby radishes. Tender, crisp.

'Purple Plum'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
  • Days: 28 days
  • Notes: All-America Selections winner. Round, deep purple. Mild, sweet flavor. Holds well without becoming pithy. Beautiful color. Crisp texture. Good for salads.

'Sakura'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
  • Days: 30 days
  • Notes: Japanese spring radish. Round, pink-red. Extremely tender, mild. Traditional for Japanese cuisine. Beautiful appearance. Quick growing. Excellent for fresh eating.

🌾 Seed Saving

  • Method: Radishes are annual. Plants bolt readily in response to heat and long days. Allow plants to flower—tall spikes (2-4') with white or pale pink flowers (four petals, typical brassica cross shape).

Flowers are insect-pollinated (bees, flies). Seed pods form 4-6 weeks after flowering—radish pods distinctive: fleshy, beaked, resembling small pods or pods with constrictions between seeds. Pods turn from green to tan/brown when mature.

Cut flower spikes when most pods are brown but before shattering. Hang in paper bags in dry, ventilated area 2-3 weeks. Thresh by rubbing pods between hands or beating bags.

Winnow by pouring between bowls in light breeze to separate seeds from chaff. - Isolation distance: 800 feet to 1/2 mile (radishes are insect-pollinated, can cross with other Raphanus sativus varieties and wild radish R. raphanistrum). For home use with one variety, 100-200 feet is usually adequate.

Cage individual plants if growing multiple varieties. Remove wild radish (weed) from area. - Viability: 5-6 years when stored in cool, dry, dark conditions in airtight containers. Radish seeds are medium-sized and store very well. - Special notes: Radishes self-sow readily—often don't need to save seed intentionally.

Leave some plants to flower and set seed, and volunteers will appear. For intentional seed saving, select plants with desirable traits (root shape, flavor, bolt resistance, color). Let plants bolt naturally as heat increases.

Daikon and winter radishes require longer season to flower—plant early spring for summer flowering. Save seed from multiple plants for genetic diversity. Radishes are among easiest vegetables for seed saving—fast, prolific, easy to process..

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead