Radish (Mooli)

Also known as: Daikon Radish;
Tamil Name: Mullangi; Scientific Name: Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus;

Beginner Level

B G T

Planting/Sowing

Jun – Jul; Sept;

Harvesting

Jul – Aug; Oct;

First Harvest

~45 Days

General Info

Crop category	Vegetable, Greens
Life span	Annual or Biennial
Type of crop	Herb
Part(s) of the crop to harvest	Root, Leaves, Microgreen
Avg. Height	2-6 inches

Climate & Humidity

Radish prefers cooler weather, so it’s best to grow it in rainy seasons.

Planting / Sowing

When to plant / sow seeds (ideal season):
June – July; September;

How to plant:
Direct sowing;

NOTE: Please refer to How to Grow Microgreens sections as Radish makes an excellent microgreen.

Soil Depth & Spacing Requirements

Sow 2-3 radish seed in 1 inch depth. Spacing is 15 x 10 cm. Thin the seedlings when it is 6-8 cm long.

For microgreens, refer the How to Grow Microgreens section.

NOTE: Please go through the Guides in the Knowledge Base for more details on topics ranging from Spacing & Lighting to Soil and Nutrients.

Irrigation

Irrigation to be done based upon the soil moisture.

NOTE: Irrigation should depend on how moist / wet the soil is. Check your plants everyday to see if they require irrigation or not. Check the Watering & Irrigation guide for more info.

Harvesting

When to harvest
Harvest starts from 45 days after sowing. Radish is ready for harvest when roots reach 1 inch across. If harvesting leaves, cutback when required and allow to regrow.

Radish microgreens are ready to harvest at 8-10 days from sowing, when they are 2 1/2- to 3-inches tall.

How to harvest
Lift the whole plant when radishes are the right size. Lift a few or push the soil aside gently to decide if they are large enough to harvest. Do not leave radishes in the ground too long or they will become pithy.

Leaves can be harvested by snipping at ground level, or pulling the whole plant when harvesting roots.

NOTE: Harvest periods can vary depending on environmental, climatic, and soil conditions.

Pests & Diseases

Pests	Aphids, mustard saw fly and flea beetles
Common Diseases/ Problems	White rust
Pest and Disease prevention measure(s)	Radishes will bolt or go to seed if grown during summer. Cover plants in midsummer so that they get 8 rather than 12 hours of sunlight.

NOTE: Read Pest & Disease Control for more information.

Did you know?

Radish is considered a non-starchy vegetable, meaning it’s very low in carbs, but it packs a significant amount of nutrients as well as fibre so it’s good vegetable to include in weight loss diets. It’s also a very easy crop to grow, being fast growing, suffering from very few pests and diseases, a great companion to several other crops and easy to harvest — so it’s a great choice for novice gardeners.