How to plant radishes correctly: instructions for beginner gardeners

There are several ways to plant radishes. It can be eaten all year round by growing at home or in a heated greenhouse; the harvest is harvested immediately after the snow melts from winter crops. The most traditional option is to plant radish in the ground. It does not require special financial or labor resources.

In this article, we will tell you in detail how to plant radishes in open ground with seeds, when to sow, what to protect from, what agrotechnical methods exist for this.

When to plant radishes in open ground with seeds

Radish seeds are planted in open ground, as the snow melts and the soil warms up. Radishes are grown only at temperatures above + 2 ° C. The optimal time for planting is spring or summer, depending on climatic conditions.

Planting in spring

The early harvest of radishes is harvested mainly in the spring months. In regions with a warm climate, its seeds are planted in the ground at the end of March, in regions with a cold climate, for example, in the Urals, in mid-April. In the northern regions and Siberia, radishes begin to grow from the beginning of May.

Early and early maturing varieties are planted in spring. The average air temperature during landing should be + 15-16 ° С. The first harvest will appear in 2.5-3 weeks. These varieties include Heat, Carmen, Presto.

Growing up in summer

In June, mid-season varieties are grown on the plots, they can be planted three times per season. On average, they ripen in 30-35 days. These varieties include Rubin, Cardinal and Ilka.

Late-ripening varieties are planted in the ground at the end of May or June, depending on the climate. They ripen in 35-50 days and give a bountiful harvest. Late-ripening varieties - Ice Icicle, Red Giant and Rumposh.

Lunar landing

A rare summer resident does not take into account the lunar calendar. The moon affects plant growth, and radishes are no exception. On favorable days it grows faster, on unfavorable days it grows more slowly.

Lunar calendar 2020 (auspicious days):

• February: 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20;
• March: 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 22;
• April: 10, 13, 14, 18, 19;
• May: 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20;
• June: 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18;
• July: 9, 10, 14, 15;
• September: 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13.

Lunar calendar 2020 (unfavorable days):

• February: 9, 10, 11, 21, 22, 23;
• March: 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 19, 24;
• April: 8, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23;
• May: 7, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22;
• June: 5, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21;
• July: 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20;
• September: 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17.

Better neighborhood and favorable radish precursor plants

Radishes are recommended to be planted in the beds where potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes used to grow. Do not plant it after fellow crucifers: cabbage, turnips, mustard, horseradish or radish. They share pests. Planting in the wrong place results in the loss of some of the crop.

Radishes, in turn, will be a good precursor for tomatoes.

Reference. What is the best way to grow radishes in the neighborhood? With onions and garlic. Their smell scares away the main pest - the cruciferous flea.

Planting radishes in open ground

Radish is an early ripening and cold-resistant root crop. It is sown from early spring to late autumn in order to get a constant harvest throughout the season.

Radish seeds germinate at a temperature of + 2-3 ° C. The plant develops at a temperature of + 16-18 ° C. For him, they choose a place closed from the wind, which illuminates the sun for an average of 11 hours a day.

Seed preparation and treatment

Before sowing, the seeds are prepared and processed so that in the future they will grow faster and be less sick.Only seeds from last year's harvest are used.

First, the seed is sorted out, manually or through a sieve with cells of about 2 mm, and large, healthy specimens are left. Large fruits will not grow from weak and old seeds. Selected seeds are soaked in plain water.

Reference. When soaking, biostimulants are used as desired. They enrich seeds with nutrients and increase disease resistance. Such preparations as "Zircon" and "Ecogel" are suitable.

When soaking, the seeds are placed in a damp cloth and left for 12 hours. Then they are immersed in hot water for 20 minutes. This allows you to increase resistance to external factors. After they are laid out on a cloth and dried. After soaking and warming, the seeds are not stored, they are immediately planted.

Soil preparation

The soil for the plant is chosen loose and neutral. Peat or sand is added to heavy and clayey soils. If the soil is acidic, liming is carried out.

High-quality soil preparation affects the further development of culture. Therefore, experienced agronomists recommend fertilizing the land in the fall. Thanks to this method over the winter nutrients will saturate the soil.

First of all, after harvesting, in the garden bed where the radishes will be planted, weeds are removed, and the plot is dug up. Peat or humus is added (0.5 buckets are laid out per square meter). The second is rich in nitrogen - the main thing is to observe the dosage. An excess of the element stimulates the growth of greenery and inhibits the growth of fruits.

Superphosphate is added if desired. Per sq. m use 1 tbsp. l. substances. The site is dug up again and left until spring. In the spring, 2-4 weeks before planting, the earth is dug up, weeds are removed. The soil is fertilized with compost and wood ash. Per sq. m. add one bucket of compost and 300 g of ash.

Cover the area with black polyethylene and leave until sowing. This method helps the earth to warm up faster.

Planting instructions

The root crop is planted as seeds in the soil or grown through seedlings. The seedling method helps to get the harvest a week earlier.

For seedlings, radishes are grown in small containers. Furrows are made in the soil, watered with warm water and seeds are sown. If the container is large, then they are placed at a distance of 30 mm from each other. Sprinkle with earth, cover with foil and put on the windowsill. The room temperature must be at least + 20 ° С.

Seedlings are transplanted into open ground after a week after sowing into grooves, at a distance of 30-50 mm from each other. Sprinkle with earth, watered and covered with foil for two days. If the soil is fertile, then in the holes before sowing fertilizers do not contribute.

When planting seeds in open ground on the soil, furrows are made for sowing at an average distance of 20 cm, and they are watered with water. Ash is used for additional feeding. Then the seeds are spread individually to a depth of 20 mm. A distance of 60 mm is left between them. The seeds are sprinkled with dry earth, the soil is mulched with sawdust and covered with foil.

Further care

Further care of the root crop involves watering, loosening, weeding the earth and timely feeding.

Watering

Radish is a moisture-loving plant. Watering needs frequent and plentiful. If at first you do not comply with the requirements for irrigation of the crop, then the root crops will be bitter and unsalted.

Moisten the soil with water at room temperature (+ 20-25 ° C). Watering the seeds with cold water will prevent them from sprouting.

Reference. Insufficient moisture leads to the fact that the plant begins to shoot. The roots do not grow or develop. Excessive watering leads to cracking of the fruit.

Irrigation is carried out in the morning or after six in the evening. If the weather is hot, then water the radish twice a day. In other cases, if there are no heavy rains - once a day.

Radishes are not watered with a directed stream under the root - this erodes the ground. For irrigation, use a watering can or a hose with spray nozzles.

Top dressing

Radishes are fed twice a season, additional fertilizing is used if the plant lacks nutrients. Mineral and organic fertilizers are used. During growth, it is recommended to use mineral complexes.

The first feeding (with nitrogen) is carried out 7 days after the first two true leaves appear. The best remedies are urea or saltpeter. For 10 liters of water add 1 tbsp. l. liquid substance. The solution is enough for 1 sq. m.

The second top dressing is applied in another week. At this time, the root crop is rounded. At this stage, the radishes are fertilized with phosphorus and potassium. For 1 sq. m use such a solution: dilute 1 tbsp in 10 liters of water. l. substances.

Nettle infusion is also a good fertilizer for the crop. The nutrients it contains help the root crop grow faster.

A tin barrel is two-thirds filled with nettles. Pour warm water to the brim, close the lid and leave in the sun. The solution is infused for a week. It is stirred every day. After that, 1 l of the solution is diluted in a bucket of water. Water the infusion between the rows every two weeks.

Chicken manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. It is used only as a solution. In 3 liters of water, 1 liter of the substance is diluted. Stir and add another 10 liters of water, after which the plants are watered.

Tips for experienced summer residents

To increase the yield and store it for a long time, experienced summer residents are advised to try the following techniques:

1. Radish gets along with different cultures. It is usually sown with carrots and onions.
2. On fertile soils, the root crop is fertilized once a season.
3. The radish is harvested in the morning, before this evening the beds are watered abundantly. Thanks to this, the roots are stretched.
4. To keep the radish longer, it is pulled out of the soil, the soil is removed and the greens are cut at a distance of 30 mm from the fruit. The roots are not removed. Packed in a plastic bag and put in the refrigerator. In this form, the vegetable is stored for a week.
5. After planting in August, gardeners recommend covering the plants with an opaque material every day after six o'clock in order to reduce daylight hours.

Conclusion

Radish seeds are planted in open ground after the snow melts and the soil warms up. In the southern regions they are planted at the end of March, in the Urals - in April, in the northern regions - at the beginning of May. Before this, the seeds are soaked and heated. They sprout faster and are better protected from disease. The prerequisites are competent watering and top dressing.

The radishes are planted in the soil where potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes used to grow. Do not plant the root crop in the ground where cabbage, turnips, mustard, horseradish and radish were grown. Take care of your plants, and they will surely thank you with a delicious and generous harvest!