In early October, I did a post on sowing radishes using Annie's Granny's homemade seed mat technique. I haven't written an update on this because for a long time it looked as though the radishes weren't doing much of anything (as you can see from the picture above taken yesterday). In fact, I've been ignoring them mainly because I thought they'd be killed off by frost long before producing a crop.
However, I decided to take a closer look yesterday, and low and behold, they are starting to bulb up. Very strange. I've been gauging their growth by the amount of green foliage they've put on but I guess they don't need much in order to produce a crop. I haven't offered them any sort of protection from the weather thus far but am considering it now. If we don't see a hard frost within the next couple of weeks, I might be able to get at least a partial harvest. I love when plants surprise you.
Radishes are pretty hardy little plants. The spacing provided by Annies Granny's tissue method seems to be optimal. No crowding probably helped them to quickly get to the bulbing up stage despite the cool weather.
ReplyDeleteMama always said radishes would MAKE a gardener, because they come up fast and produce quickly.
ReplyDeleteI like to plant them around other grounds, to keep aphids off the edible greens.
I intend to make some seed mats, but haven't done so. I save the extra fast food napkins when we get take-out.
Hi Thomas....wow..radishes..in Mass. in Novemeber....
ReplyDeleteI do love it when the garden surprises us.....it's the best..
have a wonderful Sunday before Thanksgiving...baking walnut raisin bread here for my brother to take to relatives down in L.A. tomorrow...smells good !
More later,
Kary
I just wanted to share my feelings about radishes again. It's been a little while since I shared.....Blech! Yours are looking great, though!
ReplyDeleteRadishes are wonderful to grow, not so much to eat. I'm glad the seed tapes worked, I did some this year with not too much luck. Maybe I need to use different paper.
ReplyDeleteI've never really liked radishes. I've only ever had them raw and was wondering if they'd be better cooked in some way. The do look fun to grow though!
ReplyDeleteThomas, I swear everything you touch turns to gold....er, green! My seed mats had great germination. Too bad the birds ate most everything :-(
ReplyDeleteI grew radishes with huge tops and no radish, due to high nitrogen in my soil. Yours must be optimum for root crops.
And here I was thinking in October that I had forgotten to plant my fall radishes and it was too late. If only I had known we would still be growing this late I would have tried. Yours looks so cute right now.
ReplyDeleteI love radishes, but only while they are very small. They become very hot as they grow... This summer I have found some left from spring crop - they were size of a tennis ball almost!
ReplyDeleteI never liked the taste of radishes--until I grew my own and lucked out when I chose the heirloom French Breakfast variety. Not only did they make me a fan of growing them (they're so easy, they boost my gardening confidence), but also of eating them. They are mild, not hot, not spicy or bitter. I love them in salads. Incidentally, did you know that the "heat" in radishes varies depending on the amount of water they receive? If you like them spicier, keep them on the dry side as they grow. I like spicy food--just not spicy radishes, learned to water regularly and happened to choose a nice mild variety to begin with.
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