How to grow rat's tail radishes
Find out how to grow this unusual crop, in our How-to guide.
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Unlike the more familiar radish, which is grown for its roots, the rat's tail radish is harvested for its crunchy seed pods. The pods resemble chillies, but taste like a young rooted radish. Rat's tail radishes are quick to mature – you can expect to harvest your crop within six weeks.
You Will Need
- Radish seeds
- Rake
- Plank of wood or long rope
Total time: 15 minutes
Step 1
Rake an area level to remove stones and weeds. Using a plank of wood make sowing channels 1cm deep.
Step 2
Sow radish seeds 2-4cm apart, cover with a thin layer of soil. Sow from March to August for regular pickings.
Step 3
Water well to help germination – lots of moisture is needed by this fast-growing crop, which should appear in 2-3 days.
Step 4
Thin out emerging seedlings to leave plants about 2-4cm apart. Then water to settle soil around remaining roots.
Step 5
Allow flower stems to form. The small, pretty blooms attract aphid-eating hoverflies and other beneficial insects.
Step 6
The flowers develop into seed pods. Pick the pods while small and tender. After you've harvested most of the pods, leave a few to mature and dry out, and then collect and store seeds for next year’s crop.
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