[Endymion]

To carry on from my question here, which was in somebody else's thread.

We quite like the idea of trying winter radish to use in winter salads and as a cooked veg.

We can really only grow round ones because our newly dug veg patch is still too stony for anything deep rooted.

We've got some Mantanghong, which is a Chinese Radish with a white outside and red flesh. It says it's 'nutty'.

We've got enough space for another variety. So, to help us choose ...

What's your favourite, what does it taste like, and how do you prefer to eat it?

[Springlands]

I do not have any suggestions on which would be the best winter radish as I have never grown any but regarding your stony ground. If you want to grow a deep rooted variety you could dig out an area in your patch and re-fill it with a mixture of sifted soil (to remove the stones) and possibly some compost.

[Endymion]

Oops, it looks as if I asked something nobody could answer. Sorry. 

We've dug out quite a lot of stones, some of them were huge flints. Riddling to remove smaller ones isn't easy because the soil is clay, and tends to form pellets rather than go through holes.

We've planted carrots in drills refilled with compost; parsnips went into holes made by the bulb planter. It works out quite expensive.

We've decided to try a black radish with a white core, but can't decide between Kaluna Certa or Black Spanish Round. They look about the same, so we aren't sure what the difference might be.

[crh75]

I am growing Tsukushi Spring Cross, first year trying mooli so I don't know what it will taste like.
I have been given mooli by my Mum before but I don't know the variety she grew!

[sunshineband]

I have grown black spanish round radishes and they were quite successful 

[Endymion]

Okay, I've bought some Black Spanish seeds.

It says they need 50 days growing. Does that start from when they're sown, or from when they germinate?

Also, will they deteriorate if they're left in the ground afterwards and does anybody know if pigeons eat the tops?

[Yorkie]

Usually from sowing.

[sunshineband]

They can stay in the ground for a few eeks, but are prone to slug damage if they stay around too long.

Also, if the ground freezes, so do they and do not recover

and 50 days from sowing as Yorkie said

[Endymion]

Brilliant. Thanks.

Will we need to net them against pigeons?

[sunshineband]

I don't, and they are fine 

[Endymion]

That's good, it means that at least some of the veg patch can be left uncovered, but I think we'll have to wait until they're big enough not to be uprooted by the blackbirds when they're searching for worms.

Here's hoping they'll have germinated when we get back from our holiday.

[stompy]

Could you not use a net hoop cloche to help protect them?

It does add a little frost protection too onlt a couple of degr's but will help in light frosts and snow fall.

I am growing a bit of veg in the greenhouse through the winter this year, mostly salad crops, lambs lettuce, spinach, baby carrots (etc) i may give these radidh a go too.

Are they hard to grow?

[sunshineband]

Have a little read of the back of the packet --- easy peasy to grow 

[Endymion]

Are they hard to grow?

Am hoping they're as easy as summer radishes. 

Put some seed in today, as well as some more for salads, will let you know how well they've germinated when we get back from our break.

[aqua]

i have some growing - too early to say much because I have never grown them before either. germinated quickly though. will be interested in how it goes for you.