Hello,
I have always heard that home grown radishes are vastly superior to store bought, and that they are super easy to grow. Well, I've tried to grow radishes in three different states - California, Washington, and now Texas, and I can't seem to get them to grow below ground! I'll plant them, thin them and watch as gorgeous foliage develops, but the roots always seem to develop above ground, rarely developing more than a slightly swollen bulb before starting to go to seed... I tried building up some soil around the plant, to kind of cover up the exposed root, but it hasn't seemed to help so far.
Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

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Kyomi74 - Killeen Texas

Kyomi, tell me about it !!!! I guess misery loves company, because it's a relief to find someone who can't get a good, normal radish either !
It just floors me that I can grow anything, and something as easy and common as radishes just make red strings and never form a globe/bulb !
Weezie advised me to lightly water, and I'm gonna just spritz my next seeds and when they're up, hill them and water CAREFULLY.
I think if I could get just one good radish, it'd get me to invest in a digital camera, so I could proudly display it here ! Sheesh !

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Triss, I had mine in good potting soil in a huge pot. I think Weezie's right and I watered too hard, and also maybe didn't keep consistently moist.
You know what I'd like to see? A picture of a good big radish right when you pull it !
It can be my inspiration......


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Argh !!!!!!!!!
Argh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Argh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Check your soil Ph. Lay off the nitrogen fertilizers, use a higher potassium fert instead. Constant soil moisture, mulching to keep it that way and also to keep temperatures constant. Note from the above foto that they are not completely under the surface of the soil, more like half above half below.
They may not grow a bulb if they are too close together, so thin them after they sprout. Also, if the soil temp is too high they will just grow a thin root, same for beets.

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The secret is the soil.

That is one nice looking radish. I've had decent luck growing mine in containers this year. The first crop was kinda small, but I started them super early and was very inpatient to get then in my salads.

I've read the posts on radishes, I can only suggest keeping them in a soil of compost, potting soil, and dirt. It has been working for me.

The ones I have going right now are looking really good...maybe another week?

Shawn

I am definetly part of the can't grow radish club. After my recent radish post things have gotten worst and some of the roots of my radishes can be seem.

Is shoring up some dirt around the roots a good idea? The leaves, while super healthy are flopping all over the place

Though, I did have my first loose leaf lettuce salad yesterday, it felt mean cutting off the leaves! but I would sure love some radishes to add ;(

OK, fellow radish fans.... I bought another packet of Cherry Belle seeds today.
I'm planting this afternoon - wish me luck !
This time I'll water more carefully, keep them moist, and cross my fingers !

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Good luck to you!!!!

I planted 2 new batched (with the seeds a few inches apart from each other) and thinned them out this morning. I am on a radish growing mission!!!! I was a bit down last night. We finally had to give up on the batch that wasn't working and dug them all up (not a radish or anything even sort of radish looking to be found!!!).

If these 2 batched wont give me any radishes.... well I plan on using an extra tire for my tire potatos and sticking them in there with brand new loose garden soil.

Great idea to plant in a pot. I hope this works out for you. We can have a virtual radish toast in a month (hopefully!!!!)

This is the most "developed" radish we had....yea and it had been in the ground for almost 2 months and was starting to come out of the ground!



I hope what you pull out looks nothing like that next month

Marina-

I can see it now Deborah

And I might just steal that idea Though, the tire method has worked so well for my potatoes....its tempting to give it a go with the radishes

You'll have to keep us up to date on their progress

Wow, I thought it was just me but I see others are having or have had the same problem with the radishes coming above groud.. Like someone already suggested Im just gonna leave them as long as possble and see what happens..

LOL... best... me and my SO are sitting here and I saw the picture and just yelled "why can't I grow that????"

He just laughs at my radish struggle

Yours look great though. How do you plant to prepare them?

I like then thinly sliced with a bit of salt on bread with butter... its an old russian thing, reminds me of my childhood

Wheat or some really dark rye bread. Yum I moved to the US when I was about 9.... but I still remember those sanwhiches. So simple, but so good

Glad you're enjoying the dark bread is the key I think.

I do think the butter balances well with the radish. Can't wait till me and you can have some fresh

I didn't think it was an unusal way to eat them till writing the post, my boyfriend gave me an odd look. But as weird as it sounds, its delicous

Marina-

Sheri, Those look really good!

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We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart.

We all have the same problem. I planted rads the 2nd week of march and got nothing After reading some posts I planted them again and made sure they each had an inch between them to grow> I watered them regular, friday it did not look good but after camping for the weekend we came home today and I picked 50 or more perfect rads :thumbup:the only advise I can give is to give them space and be patient.

Hey, Marina, guess what I had for a snack tonight?

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Good ! I really like them, I hope you all try one ! Right, Marina?
BTW, my radish seeds are up ! The 5 seeds I planted the other day.
If I hafta kiss 'em good night and tuck them in, I will ! Anything to get a real radish !

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i grow radishes al lthe time and they grow fine for me---make sure you seperate and sow them good once they start to grow in--also, make sure to fertilize if possible...

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"I don't want no more of army life, gee mom, I wanna go, but they won't let me go, gee mom, I wanna go home!" My PB!