How to Grow Green Radish? Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Tips

Green radish refers to radishes with green skin; apart from the part buried in the soil, the rest of the plant is entirely green, and the taste is crisp and sweet. So, what are the planting methods for green radish?

1. Soil

Green radish does best in sandy loam soil with deep soil layers, loose texture, and good water retention and fertilizer retention. The suitable soil pH is 5.3-7. Before sowing, the soil should be deeply plowed and a heavy application of base fertilizer should be made.

2. Sowing

The sowing time for radish generally depends on the climate of the planting site, but in most regions sowing is done in August and harvesting can be done at the end of October, though some are slightly later; generally the growing period and harvest period should be kept before December. Sowing is generally done by the drill method, chosen on cloudy and rainy days, with rows spaced about 60cm apart, sowing seeds evenly and covering them with soil.

3. Field Management

1. Fertilizing

Apply human urine and feces once as a top dressing during the period from the root breaking the soil surface to the shoulders being exposed, and apply a ternary compound fertilizer once more during the growing period. When top dressing, avoid too high a concentration and avoid applying close to the roots, so as not to burn the roots and cause the fleshy root to rot or harden.

2. Watering

After radish seedlings emerge, the root system is shallow, with few lateral roots and weak drought resistance. When it is dry, water promptly to keep the soil with sufficient moisture. As the plant grows, the water requirement gradually increases, and especially during the period of vigorous fleshy root enlargement, attention must be paid to the water supply. Insufficient water or uneven water supply will affect the normal growth of the fleshy root, reduce yield and quality, and also easily cause cracking or hollowing. But too much water will also cause excessive leaf growth and even disease. In rainy seasons, attention should be paid to drainage to help the root system develop deeper.

3. Timely Thinning

Proper shallow intertillage, clearing weeds, and pest control are all essential field management tasks. Pests in particular have a relatively large impact on yield; the main pests include aphids, diamondback moths, and turnip sawflies.

4. Harvesting

When the fleshy root of the radish is fully enlarged, it can be harvested; if the growth time is too long, hollowing will occur. Winter radish generally yields 3000-4000 kg per mu, with high yields reaching more than 6000 kg. Spring radish and summer-autumn radish have lower yields, generally around 2000 kg per mu.

Green radish is nutritious and similar to white radish in cultivation; because the radish root system is well developed, sufficient base fertilizer must be applied before sowing.