Chinese radish is a bi- or annual plant. This root vegetable belongs to the Cabbage family. It is most actively grown in Japan, Korea and China. In our country, Chinese radish grows well in the Far East.
The most common varieties are Red Radish (raspberry ball) and Lobo (elephant tusk).
Vegetable appearance
The shape of the "body" depends on the variety. It is round, spindle-shaped and elongated (oval). The color of the root crop can be white, green, yellow, red and purple. Also, sometimes there is a mixing of colors and then the vegetable has a double, and sometimes a triple color (yellow-green, purple-white, and so on). The pulp also has different colors and transitional shades. Usually its color depends on the color of the peel and can be either richer or lighter. Chinese radish weighs from 250 grams to 1 kilogram.
Basically, the plant is grown for 2 years. In the first year, leaves are formed (usually their number does not exceed 16 pieces) and a root crop. It has a small mass (no more than 300 grams). In the second year, the radish begins to bloom and ripenseeds. The root crop increases size and mass.
Taste
These radish varieties do not contain as much oil as Russian ones. Due to this, it does not have a spicy aftertaste and bitterness. They contain many minerals and are rich in vitamins, as well as various enzymes, fiber and essential oils. Thanks to this, they have tender and juicy flesh.
The photo shows the Chinese Lobo radish, or elephant tusk.
Growing
Usually grown in the fields after picking cucumbers, tomatoes, legumes and potatoes. It is not recommended to plant a vegetable after other representatives of the Cabbage species. If this is not taken into account, then the Chinese radish can be affected by clubroot and other diseases characteristic of this species. It can also be grown after garlic, onions and other early crops.
Before sowing, it is necessary to prepare the soil differentially. To do this, you can use mineral fertilizers and, if necessary, organic fertilizers, with the exception of manure. When using it, the Chinese Loba radish cracks, is poorly stored and rots, and also becomes tasteless and often gets sick. The most suitable "organic" is humus. You can also use wood ash.
Radish sowing is best done in the 2nd half of July. If the Chinese radish was planted in the 1st half of the month, then there is a possibility of root crops overgrowing, which will lead to a decrease in marketability. If the weather in the growing area is suitable, then it grows until November.
These varieties tolerate cold weather well, they begin to emerge at a temperature of 2-4 degrees Celsius above 0. When frosts down to -5 degrees, they do not freeze and do not die.
Radish should be watered abundantly and regularly, so it will give a good harvest.
Interesting fact: if you plant Chinese radish in the last days of July or early August, the amount of the crop will be greatly reduced, but the marketability and preservation will improve.
The photo shows a red Chinese radish, or raspberry ball.
Useful properties
Chinese red radish and Lobo are used to remove harmful substances from the body and treat certain diseases. They can prevent fatty degeneration and other liver diseases. They also have diuretic properties, so they are used to clean the renal system from deposits consisting of sand and small stones. It is well suited for the prevention of urolithiasis.
Tip: if you constantly eat salads that include these varieties, then your appetite increases. This increases the production of gastric juice and speeds up the digestion of food.
The pulp contains components with a calming and analgesic effect. Therefore, it is used during neuritis, muscle pain and sciatica.
Fresh root juice is widely used to prevent colds and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Who shouldn't eat radishes?
Doctors do not recommend eating these radish varieties for pregnant women andlactating women. Some components of vegetables accumulate in the body, and with an overabundance of them, the uterus may come into tone. This is unacceptable when carrying a child, as this can provoke an early termination of pregnancy and premature birth. Red radish can cause allergies in mother and child, as its components can pass into breast milk.
Radish is also contraindicated for people who have heart disease, ulcers, gastritis, enterocolitis and other ailments of the gastrointestinal tract.
These varieties of radishes are very popular in cooking.
Use in cooking
There are a large number of dishes that use these varieties of radish. They are mainly used in the manufacture of various salads, less often they are used in the preparation of soups, meat dishes and side dishes.
Root vegetables help to give food an extraordinary taste and aroma. The taste of the vegetable does not change during heat treatment. They can be stewed, boiled, fried and steamed.
Red radish and Lobo are very juicy and tasty varieties. Their colors are varied, which makes them look unusual. In cooking, they are widely used due to their taste. They do not have bitterness and pungency, so they have a delicate taste. They are also used to treat and prevent many diseases. However, some people should not eat them.
