Detailed Explanation of the Causes of Radish Pithiness and Prevention Methods
For families that grow their own vegetables, radishes and cabbage are basically grown in every household, but during cultivation the problem of pithiness can appear, which is very distressing. So what causes radish pithiness? How can it be avoided? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
I. Causes
The pithiness phenomenon in radishes is mainly caused by uncoordinated water supply, and it is mainly brought about by two reasons: one is improper management, and the other is improper storage. It generally occurs when the fleshy root is expanding. At this time, the causes of pithiness include high temperature and drought, bolting, and so on. The growth of the fleshy root requires a large amount of water, but a lack of water will cause its cells to shrivel, making them separate from one another; once the intercellular spaces become large, pithiness forms.
II. Prevention Methods
1. Choose good varieties
Generally speaking, early-maturing varieties are extremely prone to pithiness, while late-maturing varieties are not prone to pithiness; in addition, large varieties are prone to pithiness, while small varieties are not prone to pithiness. Therefore, when planting, choose varieties that are not prone to pithiness, so as to reduce pithiness and increase yield.
2. Suitable soil
To grow radishes well, you must first choose loose, fertile soil with good drainage. Many cases of radish pithiness occur because they are planted in sandy soil.
3. Reasonable fertilization
Radish is a fertilizer-loving crop. When planting, in addition to paying attention to the application of base fertilizer, with base fertilizer as the main part and topdressing as the supplement, generally apply 3000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 30 kg of compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer. During planting, two topdressings are needed: the first at the true leaf stage, applying 10 kg of urea per mu to promote the aboveground part, and the second at the fleshy root expansion stage, topdressing 10 kg of compound fertilizer and 10 kg of potassium sulfate per mu, which can significantly increase yield.
4. Uniform irrigation
The quality of irrigation directly affects whether radishes become pithy. Radishes have an extremely high water requirement in the later stage, so sufficient water must be maintained, but watering should not be excessive either. The principle is simply: do not water if the soil is not dry, and water immediately once the soil turns white.
The above is an introduction to the causes of radish pithiness and prevention methods. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.