Radish China Rose

Radish China Rose is a vibrant and flavorful radish variety prized for its beautiful rose-colored skin and crisp, spicy flavor. Growing your own radishes allows you to enjoy this nutritious and versatile vegetable straight from your garden.

Preparing for Growing:

1. Selecting a planting location: Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil for optimal radish growth.
2. Soil preparation: Prepare the soil by loosening it to a depth of at least 6 inches and incorporating organic matter like compost for improved fertility and drainage.
3. Purchasing or preparing containers/pots: Radishes can be grown directly in the ground or in containers. If using containers, ensure they have drainage holes and fill them with a well-draining potting mix.

Starting from Seeds Indoors:

1. Seed preparation: Radish seeds do not require any special preparation.
2. Choosing suitable pots/containers: Use shallow trays or small pots filled with seed-starting mix for indoor seed starting.
3. Sowing and caring for seeds indoors: Plant seeds ½ inch deep and keep the soil consistently moist. Provide warmth and adequate light for germination, which typically occurs within 3-7 days.
4. Transplanting to larger containers if necessary: Radish seedlings grow quickly and may need to be transplanted to larger containers if they become overcrowded.

Starting from Seeds Outdoors:

1. Soil preparation: Prepare a fine seedbed by removing weeds and debris and amending the soil with compost.
2. Selecting appropriate timing and method for outdoor sowing: Radishes prefer cool weather and can be sown directly outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring.
3. Caring for seeds outdoors: Sow seeds thinly and cover them with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil evenly moist until seeds germinate, which usually takes 3-7 days.

Growing in Containers/Pots:

1. Selecting suitable plants for containers: Choose compact radish varieties suitable for container growing, such as China Rose.
2. Container and soil preparation: Use containers with at least 6 inches depth and fill them with a well-draining potting mix enriched with compost.
3. Sowing or transplanting plants into containers: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings into containers, spacing them according to package instructions.
4. Caring for container plants: Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, and fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.

Transplanting to Garden:

1. Soil and planting site preparation: Prepare the planting site by loosening the soil and removing rocks and debris. Amend the soil with compost for added nutrients.
2. Correct timing and method for transplanting: Transplant radish seedlings when they have 2-3 true leaves, spacing them 2-3 inches apart in rows spaced 6-12 inches apart.
3. Post-transplant care: Keep the soil evenly moist and provide shade for young seedlings if the weather is hot.

Plant Care:

1. Watering: Radishes require consistent moisture to prevent them from becoming woody or pithy. Water regularly, especially during dry periods.
2. Fertilizing: Radishes are light feeders and typically do not require additional fertilization if the soil is well-amended with compost.
3. Weeding: Keep the area around radish plants free of weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
4. Pest and disease management: Radishes are generally pest and disease resistant, but monitor for common pests such as flea beetles and cabbage root maggots. Use row covers or organic insecticides as needed.

Harvesting:

1. Determining when plants are ready for harvest: Radishes are ready for harvest when they reach mature size and the roots are firm and crisp. Harvest promptly to prevent them from becoming overly spicy or pithy.
2. Harvesting and storage guidelines: Use a garden fork or trowel to gently loosen the soil around the radishes and lift them from the ground. Remove the tops and store radishes in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

When to Start from Seeds by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:

• Radishes are cool-season vegetables and can be sown directly outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring or in late summer for a fall harvest.

Fast Facts:

• Planting depth: ½ inch
• Seed spacing: 1 inch
• Plant spacing: 2-3 inches apart in rows spaced 6-12 inches apart
• Number of seeds per pot/container: 3-4 seeds per pot, thinning to the strongest seedling
• Water preferences: Evenly moist soil
• Sun preferences: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil type and other important factors: Well-draining loamy soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0
• Companion Planting: Radishes benefit from companion planting with crops like carrots, lettuce, and spinach, but avoid planting them near members of the cabbage family.
• Temperature Preference: Cool-season crop, prefers temperatures between 50-70°F.
• Days to Germination: 3-7 days
• Days to Harvest: 20-30 days after planting, depending on the variety and growing conditions.