Grown for its tangy seed pods, not its roots. William Woys Weaver called it “the Don Juan of radishes” because it so readily crosses with all others. Introduced from Japan in 1866-67 by seedsman J.H. Gregory. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators, worth growing even if you don’t want to consume its pungent pods. Because these often grow as long as rats’ tails and almost as fibrous, garden writer Barbara Damrosch advises harvesting them at “skinny bean size like a French filet bean” for maximum tenderness. The immature purplish-green pods are a delicacy in India and Asia, adding a mustardy zing to salads, stir-fries and other dishes. When exposed to vinegar the purple pods turn a brilliant green that will bleed into a pickling brine and enhance the color of cucumber pickles. Radish plants will grow to 5' and branch out as they set seed, so give them plenty of room. Stake or trellis them for ease of picking; tomato cages work well. Your objective is not a small root, but a generous supply of pods.
Rat-tail Radish Leaf and Pod Radish
Shipping
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Additional Information
Radishes
Days to maturity are from date of seeding
Culture: Summer radishes may be sown almost as soon as the ground can be worked. Minimum germination soil temperature 40°, optimal range 55–85°. They emerge rapidly and grow quickly. Sow 1–2" apart, and thin to at least 2" for attractive uniform roots. Use row cover (p. 144) to protect from flea beetles. They develop more pungency in dry heat than in cool moist weather. Ready for harvest at about the size of a quarter and will rapidly get woody if allowed to grow much larger.
Disease: FY: Fusarium Yellows
Note: We cannot ship packets greater than ½ oz. (14 grams) of radishes into the Willamette Valley. The State of Oregon prohibits shipping any commercial quantity of untreated Brassica, Raphanus or Sinapis due to quarantine
Germination Testing
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.
Our Seeds are Non-GMO
All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.