How to grow radishes from seed

How to grow radishes from seed

Radishes are one of the quickest vegetables to grow. Our practical guide has all you need to get started.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is at its best in June

Plant is at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is not at its best in September

Plant is not at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do To do in March

Do To do in April

Do To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

Radishes are incredibly easy to grow, as they tolerate most soil types and are quick to crop (usually within four weeks). They’re delicious eaten raw, offering a fiery burst of flavour to salads. There’s a wide variety of radish cultivars to choose from, ranging from near spherical red-and-white roots, to long, thin white radishes, also known as mooli.

Because radishes are so quick to crop, don’t sow all the seeds in one go, but at weekly intervals, for a successional crop throughout summer.

How to grow radishes

Sow seed on well-prepared soil and thin seedlings to 2.5cm. Keep the ground moist if conditions are dry. Harvest when the radishes are around 2cm in diameter – any larger and they can become woody.

In this clip from Gardeners’ World, Monty Don demonstrates how to sow radishes as a catch crop, while waiting for other crops to grow into the space:

More on growing radishes:

Follow our step-by-step guide to growing radishes from seed, below.

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You Will Need

  • Radish seeds
  • Rake
  • Watering can

Step 1

Prepare the bed before sowing on a dry day. Break down any large clumps using the back of a fork, and remove any weeds and rake the soil to a fine tilth. Remove lumps of earth and large stones that will hinder the progress of emerging seedlings.

Growing radishes - raking the soil level
Growing radishes – raking the soil level

Step 2

Create a drill using a trowel and a line and reel, or attach a length of string to a cane at either end of the row. Space the seeds according to the instructions on the packet. Sow them individually, rather than pouring directly from the packet.

Growing radishes - sowing radish seed
Growing radishes – sowing radish seed

Step 3

Lightly cover the seeds with soil and water well using a watering can with the rose attached. Continue watering on a weekly basis if conditions are dry.

Growing radishes - watering the ground
Growing radishes – watering the ground

Step 4

Seeds should germinate within 10 days. Thin them out once they’re big enough to handle, leaving 2.5cm between plants. Remove any weeds, which compete with the radishes for water and nutrients, by removing them individually or hoeing between the rows.

Growing radishes - thinning out radish seedlings
Growing radishes – thinning out radish seedlings

Step 5

Radishes are best eaten when young – if left in the ground they develop a woody texture and bitter flavour. They’re usually ready after four weeks. Scrape away the top layer of soil before you harvest. If the radish is roughly 2cm in diameter, gently pull it from the soil.

Growing radishes - harvesting radishes
Growing radishes – harvesting radishes
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