It is impossible to feel that spring has finally come after a long winter, and the long-awaited summer is approaching more and more inexorably until radishes appear on the table. Delicious and very he althy, on the table in a salad bowl or even just in bulk on a dish, it seems to say with all its appearance - I have come, and wait for the summer to follow. But how to plant radishes?
A little about radishes
Crispy, slightly spicy and bright radish tubers are a real storehouse of many mineral s alts - magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamins - C, B5, B 2, B1, enzymes and organic acids. And is it not for this reason that a person has such a positive attitude towards the first spring radish that appears on the table at a time when the body needs them all very much? This article will show you how to plant radish seeds.
There are two types of this plant - annual and biennial. The first consists of European varieties and brings seedswith root crops during one year, the second is Asian winter varieties, which produce seeds only in the second year. This article discusses the rules for planting European varieties of radish seeds.
Radish is an early ripening, cold-resistant plant that loves light and moisture and belongs to the cruciferous or cabbage class. Depending on the region of cultivation, it can bear fruit from 2 to 5 times a year. To get a good and repeated harvest, you need to know how and when to plant radishes.
Preparing the soil before planting radishes
Many people really want to know how to plant radishes in the spring. It all starts in the fall, when the beds are prepared (raised by 15 cm) and the necessary organic fertilizers are applied - but carefully, without excessive fanaticism - because from an overabundance, for example, of humus, large "tops" and frail "roots" can grow.
Then, in the spring, after the main snow melts, you can sprinkle mineral fertilizers on the beds for radishes. The snow remaining on them, when melting, will enrich the soil with the necessary macro- and microelements. But not potash - excess potassium will make the roots weak and lead the radish to the arrow.
The beds are made in a sunny and warm place, and for the fastest warming up of the soil, it is advisable to cover the beds with black polyethylene for 9-10 days. Before planting the seeds, it remains to remove the film and dig the beds to the depth of a spade bayonet. That's it - you can plant radish seeds.
Some compatibility featuresplants
When planting radish seeds, it is important to remember that all garden plants obey a certain law of compatibility, violating which you can be left without a crop. How to plant radishes with all this in mind?
In this regard, a crop such as radish should be planted next to head lettuce, which will prevent ground fleas from damaging the plant. And if the radish is surrounded by beans, then its tubers grow large and have a more delicate taste. In general, radishes are friends with potatoes and spinach, as well as onions, garlic, beets and cabbage. But planting radishes with cucumbers is not recommended.
Radish on the open ground under the film
How to plant a radish under a film? When planting seeds in the ground, the "rule of three matches" must be observed. Seeds are planted at a depth corresponding to the length of the match, the bed from the bed is at the distance of the match, and the seed from the seed is planted in a row for the length of the match.
The land for radishes is preferably loose, and after planting radishes, it is recommended to mulch it - sprinkle it with river sand, sawdust or peat on top. Considering that there is still snow when planting radishes, you can throw more of it on the rows with planted seeds, but not too large a layer. The next step is to install a spandbod material over the beds.
The first sprouts appear at the moment the last snow melts. At this point, it is important to pay attention to the density of seedlings and, if necessary,thin out the rows or sow the seeds. In warm spring, be sure to do airing by raising the spandbod for a while. The first radishes on the table can be harvested in three weeks, if the good spring allows.
Green radishes
How to plant radishes in a greenhouse? Getting an earlier date
giving birth to radish is possible when planting it in a greenhouse. The soil in greenhouses is prepared a little differently, because radish is not the leading crop in them. He, so to speak, sits down to what is already planned to be planted in a greenhouse. Therefore, seeds are planted not on the beds of the greenhouse, but between them, and a week or two earlier than the main crop.
How to plant radish seeds in greenhouses, you can read on many sites. Basically, the seeds are planted to a depth of half a centimeter and sprinkled with earth. Seeds should not be thickened, and when strongly elongated shoots appear, it is advisable to sprinkle them with earth, otherwise you can be left without root crops. Mineral fertilizers should be applied twice - at the very beginning, after planting the seeds, and a week later.
Greenhouse radishes
In greenhouses, radishes are also planted according to slightly different rules. Since it is the leading crop here - everyone else is planted after it - the land is prepared a little differently, and planting dates are determined by the weather and the design of the greenhouses. Since radishes love both warmth and sunlight, suitable conditions can be achieved in greenhouses somewhere after the first decade of April.
Greenhouse soil must be carefully leveled. If it is too dry, it should be watered just before sowing, and when the ground is too wet, dig the ground to the depth of the bayonet and ventilate the greenhouse by opening a little frame.
What is the best way to plant radishes? To accelerate the emergence of seedlings, seeds intended for sowing in a greenhouse should be germinated. They are soaked for two hours, and then poured in an even layer on gauze in plates, covered with coarse calico and kept warm. As soon as the sprouts begin to hatch, it's time to plant them in the ground. The optimum temperature in the greenhouse when sowing radishes is from 15 to 20 degrees.
Radish on the windowsill
If you really want radishes, but don't have a dacha or garden, then those who wish can try to grow this plant on their windowsill. Moreover, this can be done without waiting for spring - even in December. It is enough to have a soil mixture, a box where radishes are planted, and knowledge - how to plant radish seeds when growing it at home. Requires excellent lighting and a cool place. It could very well be a window sill. It is worth noting that despite the fact that the radish is a short-day plant, its winter day is still too short, so additional lighting will not hurt the radish.
Radish seeds are planted in boxes to a depth of 1 centimeter, at a distance of 5–7 centimeters from each other and be sure to roll. The main feature of growing radishes on the windowsill is the temperature regime that must be observed.
Afterafter the first sprouts appeared at room temperature, you need to cool the plant, keeping it at a temperature of about 7⁰ C for about 4 days, and then set the mode for it to 17⁰ C in good sunny weather and 15⁰ C in cloudy. At night, maintain the temperature at about 13⁰ C. This can be achieved by adjusting the flow of cold air using the window.
From fertilizer, cow dung is used in an aqueous solution with the addition of 10 g of potassium s alt and 15 g of superphosphate per 10 liters of water. The growth of radish root crops occurs within one and a half to three months, so the crop is harvested selectively.
Features of care and pest control
Watering for radishes is a necessary thing, so it should be done two to three times a day. But if the radish in the open field receives a lot of moisture - in a rainy spring, it can become overripe - glassy, crack and rot.
The main pest for radishes is the cruciferous flea, which is fought with "clean" solutions that do not have chemistry. This is done because the radish ripens quickly, and the roots do not have time to get rid of it.
It can be infused tobacco dust or ash. Such a tool not only has a protective effect, but is also an additional top dressing for radishes.
