El winter crop radish It is a garden classic at this time of year. Because it is a vegetable that is easy to grow and that provides us with a good number of benefits if we add it to our diet.
If you are considering putting radishes in your garden, pay attention to the most important aspects for their care. This way you will get a good harvest and enjoy the pleasure of eating food grown by you.
Radish, winter crop
Radishes are winter crops, because they are vegetables that thrive in cooler climates. In addition, they are a good option for those who are starting to grow a small garden at home, because its growth cycle is relatively short and they do not require too much care.
If you are looking for a quick harvest that will allow you to see the result of your effort in just a few weeks, radish is undoubtedly one of the best alternatives you will find. Because some varieties can be harvested in just 20 or 30 days from the time of sowing.
As we said before, this vegetable is resistant to cold, and has the ability to withstand very low temperatures. In fact, cold weather can improve the quality and flavor of radishes, reducing their tendency to become woody.
And, once you have your radishes already harvested, you can add them to your salads to give them a crunchy touch, but also to your soups, purees and stews.
Planting radish winter cultivation
If you go to a center specialized in gardening and horticulture you will see that there are many varieties of radishes from which you can choose. We recommend you choose those that have better resistance to cold.
Among the most notable are:
- Red round radish. It has in its favor that it can be ready for collection in less than 30 days.
- Winter white radish. It is of Asian origin and can be eaten both raw and cooked.
- Black radish. It is the most cold-resistant variety and can be stored for long periods once harvested.
- Saxa radish 2. It is suitable for growing in winter and is characterized by being a small, round radish with a spicy flavor.
Regarding the time of sowing, the ideal is to do it in late autumn and early winter, when the soil is not yet too cold. Although radish is a cold-resistant crop, It is important to give the plant time to settle and grow before severe frosts appear.
Now that you know all this, you can get to work:
Soil preparation
To enjoy winter cultivation of radishes you have to prepare the soil well. This must have good drainage capacity and be enriched with organic matter. You can, for example, add a little coconut fiber to facilitate aeration and moisture evacuation. AND Add a little compost to make it richer in nutrients.
Sowing depth
Radish seeds are small, and this is not a large vegetable either, so it is not necessary to bury the seeds very deeply. One or two centimeters is more than enough.
What you should do is be careful to leave enough space between the seeds. Remember that these are going to germinate and become radishes that will grow, so it is advisable that you leave a distance of five to 10 centimeters between them. This way, They will have enough room to grow and will not compete with each other for nutrients.
Protection against frost
Despite being a cold-resistant crop, it is interesting to apply a layer of mulch or mulch on the substrate that protects the seeds to give them a little more protection.
In the case of young plants, you can protect them with a system such as non-woven fabric to give them special protection during the coldest days of winter.
How is radish watered?
Irrigation must be uniform, ensuring that all the soil around the plants has a similar level of humidity. These vegetables need a moist substrate to grow, so you have to make sure to water quite frequently, but without overdoing it.
Flooding the garden so you don't have to water it for a few days is always a bad idea, because this can cause all your crops to rot. Better to water superficially but frequently. If possible, water during the early morning hours so that the leaves dry throughout the day and thus prevent a fungal infection.
Plagues and diseases
Even during the winter season, insects continue to do their thing and can affect your crops. In the case of radishes, you must be especially careful with aphids, because these feed on your sage and weaken its growth.
Another insect to keep in mind is the cabbage fly which, despite its name, can also affect radishes. The problem is that it is their larvae that act underground. and they eat the roots of vegetables, so we are not always aware of their presence.
When it comes to pests and diseases, be especially careful with humidity so that fungal infections do not occur. Fungi spread quickly and they can affect both radishes and other crops in your garden.
If you notice black or yellow spots appearing on the leaves, your radish may be experiencing an infection. Act as soon as possible to try to save it.
Radish harvest winter cultivation
The harvest is harvested when the roots are of adequate size and are ready for consumption. Typically this takes 20-30 days from the time of planting.
To ensure good results, Before harvesting, dig around the plant and evaluate the size of the root. If this is as it should be based on the chosen variety, then you can now collect.
You can also opt for a selective harvest and pick only the radishes that you are going to consume at the moment, letting the rest continue to grow.
We are in the perfect time to plant winter crop radish, So prepare your garden and in just a few weeks you will be tasting this delicious and nutritious vegetable.