Planting radishes in August - when to plant and is it possible to do it
Radish does not belong to light-loving crops. In bright and prolonged light, the plant releases an arrow, and the root crop stops growing. Experienced summer residents recommend planting radishes in the middle of spring, when the sun is not so bright and the ground is not fully warmed up. Planting radishes in August, when the temperature drops and the daylight hours decreases, will also give an excellent result.
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Is it possible to plant radishes in August
Many gardeners are accustomed to growing radishes in early spring, unaware that the autumn harvest is richer, and the taste of the root crop is more intense... Therefore, planting radishes in August is not only possible, but also necessary.
reference... The root crop is not afraid of low temperatures, calmly withstands up to -2 ° C. The cold keeps the freshness and taste of the crop for a long time, and the pests are less active at this time.
When can you plant radishes in August
The period from July to October is suitable for replanting radishes.... Best of all is the second half of August, when the air temperature begins to drop. In such weather, radish feels most comfortable and pleases with juicy and crunchy root vegetable.
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The best varieties for planting in August
A large selection of varieties allows you to grow radishes throughout the summer. Which radish to plant in August is up to you. There are different options, for example, large-fruited, round, oblong, etc.
Seeds of varieties Lanket, Red Giant, Ice Icicle are planted at the beginning of the month... In warm weather, the plant will grow in a short time.
The following varieties of round radishes resistant to shooting suitable for planting in late summer or early September:
Würzburg - the length of the root crop reaches 4 cm, the diameter is 3.9 cm. It has a good juicy taste without bitterness, it will not flab for a long time. Ripening period varies from 25 to 35 days.- Ascania - early ripening variety with large root crops. Resistant to flowering, grows well in high temperatures and long daylight hours.
- Duro suitable for planting in a greenhouse or open field from May to mid-August. Juicy roots are red in color and have a very dense pulp.
Growing rules
For a bountiful harvest during winter planting it is necessary to choose the right variety and provide proper care... The process of growing radishes consists of several stages: watering, loosening, feeding.
Soil preparation
After harvesting an early harvest, the plots in the garden are freed up, they are perfect for growing early ripening crops.
Important! Radish grows well in the beds where tomatoes, cucumbers, legumes were grown.
After harvesting, the soil is dug up to remove the remains of plants and their roots.... The dug up substrate is loosened and watered abundantly by sprinkling.
It is recommended to fertilize the soil with humus or potassium sulfate solution... The pH should be neutral - an acidic environment is harmful to radishes. By planting a root crop in early August, you can harvest in 20-25 days. In warm autumn, radish can be planted in September, the plant will have time to form a root crop before the cold weather begins.
Selection and preparation of seeds
Before sowing, select seeds of suitable varieties and sift them through a sieve with a mesh size of no more than 2 mm. Then planting material is soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent infection with parasites, or use a solution of potassium humate to improve germination.
Read also:
When to plant radishes a second time in summer
Planting scheme and depth
Seeds are planted in grooves 2-3 cm deep, with a dense substrate, 1-1.5 cm is enough... The distance between the rows should be at least 8-10 cm, and the gap between the holes should be 3-5 cm, depending on the type of radish.
On a note. To prevent the bed from being covered with a crust on top, the grooves are sprinkled with loose earth.
Care features
Successful cultivation of radishes is impossible without careful maintenance, especially before the first shoots appear. Care includes loosening, regular watering and protection from parasites and pests... In greenhouse conditions, it is necessary to create a temperature regime and humidity for the comfortable growth of the root crop.
A week later, the first shoots begin to appear... They are still weak, they need to be protected from the sun by covering the seedlings with improvised means. For this purpose, glass jars or the bottom of plastic bottles are suitable.
Watering
You can not fill the seedlings with water, at first it is better to use a spray bottle... When the plant grows a little, they begin to water it as the soil dries up. In hot weather, it is recommended to carry out the procedure every day, in cool weather - once every 2-3 days. Proper watering is about moistening the soil about 15 cm deep.
Important! Late watering makes the root crop bitter and hard.
Top dressing
The soil is depleted after harvest, therefore feeding is necessary for growing radishes in August... Many people use preparations that can be bought at gardeners' stores as fertilizers. They enrich the soil with microelements and activate the soil microflora.
Minerals are used before sowing, spreading them to the bottom of the furrow... Such fertilizer should contain a bucket of compost, 20 g of urea and 80 g of double superphosphate.
There are also natural growth stimulants, which can become analogous to expensive ones. These fertilizers include:
- Ash. It can replace fertilizers with nitrogen content, it is used during planting and growth of radishes. Ash in its pure form is added to the furrow during sowing, or the leaves are sprayed with a solution to fight parasites.
- Chicken droppings. Contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but should not be used undiluted. To prepare fertilizer, 1 liter of manure is diluted in 3 liters of water and infused for 3 days. The resulting slurry is introduced into the ground 1-2 times per season, preferably from the second week after planting.
- Yeast is an analogue of expensive growth stimulants. The solution is watered between the rows of the root crop on the 10th day after planting. For this, 100 g of yeast is diluted in 10 liters of water and infused for 1 night.
Loosening the soil
Loosening carried out between rows to improve oxygen supply to the roots... However, do not loosen deeply so as not to pull out the fragile roots of the radish. It is best to shallow the surface one day after watering, when the substrate has absorbed water and becomes soft.
Pest control and disease control
When growing radishes in August and September, parasites are not as active as in spring... However, the cruciferous flea can cause many problems for gardeners. To protect the crop from these insects, use an air-permeable shelter for young plants and open it only for watering and loosening. The shelter is removed when the seedlings get stronger: hard roots do not attract pests.
When, if the cruciferous flea nevertheless damaged young shoots, they are dealt with with mustard powder and ground pepper. To do this, scatter a burning mixture along the aisles and cover with something to create a greenhouse effect.
Important recommendations
Loamy, sandy loam or peaty soil is suitable for growing radishes.... Cruciferous plants should not be predecessors. If the soil is depleted, add organic matter in the form of compost or humus. Moderate nitrogen fertilization during the growing season will delay shooting and promote the formation of large root crops.
After emergence, thinning is carried outotherwise, instead of a rich harvest, you will get shot plants. To prevent the radish from becoming sharp, watering should be regular, in no case should the soil be allowed to dry. In hot weather, water the radish twice a day, especially during the formation of root crops.
Harvested crop stored for 1 month, after that the root crop loses its taste and begins to rot.
Proper storage of crops is as follows:
- Harvesting is carried out as it ripens, if necessary, you can postpone it until the first frost.
- Root vegetables are stored in the refrigerator or in the basement, where the air temperature is not higher than + 1 ° C.
Conclusion
If the standard care measures are followed, late cultivation of radishes is possible in all climatic zones. To obtain a bountiful harvest at the end of summer, monitor the condition of the soil, apply a sufficient amount of organic fertilizers, choose the right variety and follow agrotechnical requirements.