Key Points
Radishes grow quickly—some in under a month—and thrive in containers.Choose shallow pots for small globe varieties or deeper containers for long daikon varieties.Keep the soil moist and provide several hours of sunlight so your radishes can thrive.
It’s easy to love radishes for their flavor, but they have another appealing characteristic: the speed at which they grow. Some varieties can go from seed to table in less than a month, making them a satisfying addition to any vegetable garden.
Even better? You don’t need to have a large space to enjoy them. Radishes can also be grown in containers, so they can thrive indoors or on your front porch. Here, we spoke to experts about how to properly care for them in these smaller spaces.
Varieties to Grow
There’s no shortage of radish varieties to consider, including heirloom and hybrid varieties. In theory, you can grow any variety in a container as long as the container is appropriately sized.
Many people gravitate toward the round, globe-shaped radishes, and their small size makes them easy to grow in containers. Longer, daikon-type radishes are reminiscent of carrots but can also be grown in a container—as long as you choose one that’s deep enough to accommodate the larger size of the mature radish.
A few varieties to get you started:
Solaris (a hybrid that matures in 25 days)Holmes Royal Red (an heirloom)China Rose (a larger heirloom, requires 60 days)
Container Size
Thanks to their small size, radishes don’t require a lot of space.
“Suitable containers for small radish varieties are window boxes, small grow bags, and regular pots that are at least 6 to 7 inches deep and wider for more spread,” says container gardening specialist Sumati Kashyapi. “For larger, deep-rooted varieties, containers should be at least 10 to 12 inches deep.”
How and When to Plant
Radish seeds are tiny, but they’re easy to plant, and they germinate fast. “Growing radishes in containers doesn’t differ too much from growing them directly in the ground,” says horticulture educator Laura Irish-Hanson. “The biggest potential difference will be soil moisture.”
Start with a container filled with good-quality soil that’s loose and suitable for growing root vegetables. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and space them a couple of inches apart (you can start them closer together if you plan to thin the seedlings later).
Radishes are members of the brassica family, which means they thrive in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall and tend to bolt when summer heat arrives. If you keep your container of radishes outdoors, then you’ll want to grow them when the weather is conducive in early spring or fall.
If you plan to grow radishes indoors, then you have more options and can grow them during the heat of summer or the middle of winter. “Another great aspect of growing radishes in containers is you can usually start them sooner in the early spring, [rather] than waiting for the soil to warm up,” adds Irish-Hanson.
Care Instructions
Caring for radishes is easy, and they’ll be ready to harvest before you know it. Here are a few things to consider.
Sun
Radishes like cool temperatures, but they also like plenty of sunshine. Aim to provide several hours of sunlight per day to achieve the best success with your radishes.
Water
“The biggest issue for most people is keeping the potting mix in the container consistently moist, particularly if the container is in full sun or in an unprotected area that gets a lot of wind,” says Irish-Hanson. “Typically, containers dry out faster than the ground. To make sure the radishes do not bolt, or form a flowering stalk, keep the potting mix in the container moist.”
However, if your radishes do bolt, try not to worry. “You can eat the flowers and the pods. They have a delicious radish flavor and add a pop of color to meals,” she says.
Soil
Container-grown vegetables thrive when given soil that’s light and soft. You can usually achieve this with a combination of standard potting mix and quality compost.
Fertilizer
Quick-growing radishes don’t necessarily need additional fertilizer, so long as your soil quality is good. If you do decide to amend the soil, aim for a balanced fertilizer and avoid those that contain lots of nitrogen.
Pests
Unfortunately, radishes are the target of many different pests. Flea beetles are notoriously problematic, but so are aphids and slugs. Some pests attack the radish plant’s foliage, while others go after the radish itself as it grows underground.
“To reduce damages and address them early, keep checking the plants regularly,” says Kashyapi.
Growing Indoors
It’s possible to keep your container-grown radishes indoors, but there are certain criteria that you’ll need to keep in mind.
Radishes grown outdoors have plenty of access to natural light, so aim to mimic those conditions for radishes grown indoors. A sunny window can provide enough light, or you can use a grow light system to provide exactly the desired amount each day. Remember to keep your indoor-grown radishes well watered so the pots don’t dry out.
The best part about growing radishes indoors is that you can grow them regardless of the season. Imagine enjoying fresh, homegrown radishes in the middle of winter!
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