Features of growing radish

Growing vegetables in summer cottages, gardeners planted many crops. Among them, radish is very popular.Its beneficial properties have been known for a long time, the dietary fiber of the plant contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and sulfur. This culture does not require special care, so even a novice gardener will be able to grow it, providing all family members with the necessary supply of trace elements that will help not only restore immunity after the winter period, but also recover from various diseases.

Radish is a representative of the cabbage family. There is a biennial plant, which is planted from winter varieties, and one-year quickly ripened, which is sown from summer varieties. Each type of vegetable is characterized by its planting period and areas of cultivation. For example, for middle and northern latitudes, where low air temperature and long daylight hours prevail, it is recommended to grow winter radish. Summer, by contrast, is well suited for the middle band, as it can complete its development cycle in one year.

The color, shape and dimensions of the fruit depend on the properties of a variety. Culture is often distinguished by leaves - they can be either lyre-paste, whole, or dissected with varying degrees of branching and coloring. The stem of the plant is rounded with a different type of branching, with or without pubescence. The main feature of the radish is the fact that pigmentation is observed in its leaf nodes: in the species with the red root crop, it is reddish, and in the black and white it is purple. Each bush in the process of development forms a racemose. The petals of the corolla are four-membered, with separate pink, beautiful pink, white or lilac shade.

Not bad proved and varieties "Old Woman", "Daikon". They usually begin to plant in the summer, but sowing can be done in the fall and spring. The plant is unpretentious in care, has a large size of rhizomes, reaching a width of 60 cm and a length of up to 10 cm. There is possible not only the root crop, but also the rest of the plant.

From each inflorescence grows fruit in the form of a pod of different lengths. Its seeds are characterized by a fine mesh or smooth surface and have a rounded shape. Usually one plant can produce from 7 to 14 g of seeds, which, when self-assembled, remain viable for 7 years. Since radish is attributed to plants that are resistant to cold, its seeds begin to germinate even at temperatures ranging from +2 to +5 degrees, but the optimum temperature for germination is + 20-25 degrees.

Sprouts of culture perfectly tolerate frosts and remain intact with a short temperature drop to -5.

To date, there are many varieties of radish, which are characterized by individual shape, size and color of the root. This culture is divided into two main types - winter and summer radish. Early ripening varieties make it possible to grow root fruits in one season, as they have time to ripen. Such species are ideal for short-term storage, they are usually consumed immediately after harvest. To early varieties include:

• "Odessa 5". The culture ripens within 40 days after sowing and has an oval root crop, reaching a weight of from 50 to 100 g. The flesh of the vegetable is very tasty, juicy and white. With 1 m2 you can harvest up to 8 kg. The only disadvantage of this radish is that it can not be stored, so it must be used immediately after harvest.

• "May". Received great popularity due to the white oval and juicy root, having a weak spicy taste. Its ripening period lasts from 50 to 60 days, but like all early maturing varieties, it cannot be stored.

• "Green Goddess". Appeared on the vegetable market recently, but has already received a lot of positive feedback. This radish is distinguished by the green color of the root, which contains the minimum amount of mustard oil. Due to this, its taste is mildly spicy and soft. In addition, the composition of the vegetable includes many useful trace elements and amino acids, which allows it to be used in the diet. The main advantage of the variety is also the fact that its crop is subject to transportation and long-term storage.

Winter radish is represented by late-ripening and mid-ripening varieties that begin to ripen on the 80th day after sowing. They are intended for long storage. To mid-season species include:

• "Wonderful." The plant is sown in mid-July so that it can fully mature before the onset of the first cold weather. The vegetable root is characterized by high density and durability, weighs up to 350 g and can last for the entire winter period without losing its taste.

• "Winter white round." The period of formation of radish is from 80 to 100 days. Its rhizome differs flattened oval white. Vegetable has a juicy, but firm flesh with a pleasant spicy taste. Harvest can be perfectly stored in cellars or similar cool places.

• "Winter black round." Ripens after sowing on the 120th day, has a striated or smooth skin of black shade. Its flesh is white with a touch of light sharpness. The main advantage of such varieties is that they are not only subject to long-term storage, but also bring a high yield.

• "Margelanskaya." This is a rather rare variety that requires good fertilizing and watering. Root vegetable is known antiseptic properties. To taste the radish is a bit spicy, but this does not prevent it from being used for preparing various salads.

As for late-ripening varieties of radish, they are capricious in care and require proper conditions for the entire period of maturation, which lasts from 100 to 120 days. Therefore, many gardeners free themselves from unnecessary trouble and simply planted early maturity. The most popular varieties of gardeners are:

• "Gaivoronskaya". Despite the whimsical nature of the vegetable, even a novice gardener can grow it. The plant at the end of the season brings white cylindrical roots, perfectly tolerate the first cold. Radish pulp is dense, firm and fibrous, with a characteristic odor; it becomes much softer during storage.

• "Doctor". The name of the variety speaks for itself. Black round roots have a weight of up to 250 g and contain a complete set of useful trace elements for the human body. Radish has excellent keeping quality, yield and has a delicate juicy flesh.

A huge role in the cultivation of radish play dates of sowing. Therefore, it is first necessary to decide for what purposes it is planned to plant a culture. Some summer residents prefer to use radish in summer and spring, while others cook dishes from it in winter, so it should be kept for a long time. Sowing of small and early varieties is carried out, as a rule, in early March. Their fruits ripen in 45 days and are an ideal source of the "first" vitamins.

Early summer varieties are best sown with seeds in open ground, choosing favorable days in late April or early May. At this time, the radish will not be afraid of temperature changes and will give good shoots even at a temperature of +3 degrees.If the roots want to save a little longer, then you should grow mid-season winter varieties, the biological cycle of maturation of which lasts up to 110 days. In Siberia and the Urals, they are planted in June or early July. If the plant is sown earlier, then it can shoot.

Seeds are preferably sown rarely. Pre-held their sorting, germination and preparation of furrows. The width between the rows is made not less than 35 cm. As a rule, four rows are formed on a bed 140 cm wide, in each of which 2-3 seeds are planted. Sowing depth should not exceed 2 cm, on top of the grooves covered with compost or humus.

After sowing, the beds should be carefully watered and constantly kept wet. When the first shoots appear on the plot, they are thinned out, removing the weakest ones. Then a month later, shoots are thinned again as thicker, leaving a distance of 15 cm between the plants.

To grow radish, it is necessary to carry out not only high-quality care, but also to plant seeds on light fertile soils that have a loose layer. Before sowing the culture, the soil should be prepared in advance. For this, the land plot is carefully dug up and fertilized with superphosphate, potassium salt, compost or humus. In addition, the above components can be replaced by a single mineral fertilizer - nitrophosphate. 40-45 g of powder are applied per 1 m2.

Cucumber, tomatoes, potatoes, legumes and onions are rarely considered as good “neighbors”, so the culture can be placed next to them or planted in areas after they are harvested. Additionally, the vegetable must be treated with special solutions, it will protect it from various diseases and pests will not be able to damage the root vegetable. At the beginning of the growing season, it is important not to overdo it with top dressing and watering the plant, otherwise it will start to “fatten” otherwise.

It is recommended to carry out an approximate watering once a week, and use 0.2% solution of mineral fertilizers for top dressing. A month before the harvest, the vegetable stops watering and feeding. If you do not, then the root crop will lose taste.

Every summer resident wants to get a high yield of radish, but despite the fact that growing this crop at first glance seems simple, the slightest inaccuracies in care can reduce this figure. Usually novice gardeners make the following mistakes:

• Sowing is too tight. The opinion that the more the plot is planted, the greater the yield can be expected, erroneously. Many varieties of radish need space for growth, otherwise the roots will form small and disappoint with their not juicy coarse pulp. Therefore, for these plants it is necessary to form small rows 50 cm wide.
• Lack of watering. Radish should be watered abundantly, but rarely. Due to insufficient moisture, it acquires an unpleasant odor and bitter taste, in addition, such fruits will be unsuitable for long-term storage.

• The soil is not fertilizeds Although the vegetable is unpretentious in cultivation, it is nevertheless necessary to periodically feed it with microelements that activate growth and yield. At the first stage of development, a solution of sulphate and urea is recommended, and at the second - potassium sulphate.
• Sowing in the shade. Radish is a sun-loving plant, so it is desirable to sow it only in open areas. To protect the crop from overheating, dry grass or straw can be laid on the soil.
• Failure to meet the landing dates. Each variety should be sown strictly in the specified period.If the radish is planted earlier than the recommended period, then it goes to the arrow.

Early ripe vegetable varieties can be harvested as the root crops ripen in the last month of summer. As for late radish, the collection depends on weather conditions and is most often performed at a time before the onset of frosts. Vegetable harvested by hand, undermining the roots. At the same time, the tops must be cut, leaving only small petioles in 2 cm. For storage in winter, whole, intact fruits without void and peduncles are taken.

Radish should be stored in basements at a temperature of +2 degrees, previously filled with dry sand.

You will learn more about the beneficial properties of radish in the following video.