[hubballi]

So far after 3 sowings I have had very little success with radish. Again, kept cool and well watered but they have bolted and the bulbs haven't even swelled. Even in this cold weather you would have thought it would have been a success. Some are small and woody. I do everything right but still they fail to produce. I had a few Sparklers from a lot of failed. I juts have to laugh everytime I read that they are so easy, even kids can grow them. No no no no no. They are not easy !

[Bernard]

they go thin, whispy, whitish colour and die. No reason for this I can think of.

So I'm not the only one! I understand just what you mean and I don't understand why it happens. I have been blaming conditions in my new greenhouse since ones sown outside have been ok (so far)
Last year I had this problem with different seedlings including my tomatos but this year it seems to be confined to the radish.


Last year people told me that this is powdery mildew, but it isn't, there is no disease. The plant has not developed enough root to continue growing.

[hubballi]

That's the kind of thing that happens to a lot of my Kales too.

[hubballi]

Planted some in new compost in Sept. Ideal conditions. Not too warm etc. Again they are a failure. They always have a stem and small leaf but that is about as good as it gets. They are impossible for me. Yes Impossible !

[lazza]

Oh dear... 

Radishes are (I'm afraid to say) just about the most successful thing I grow. I would add two provisos, however.

Firstly, I don't usually sow any between mid July and end of August as they go to seed, but the rest of the time, I sow every two weeks in long plastic pots.

Secondly, I stick to the varieties that work best. TBH, I never had much success with french breakfast - they bolt very quickly or don't germinate well. The best variety for me is Vienna, which allegedly give "golf ball" sized roots, although they usually get scoffed at around ping-pong ball size!

Having said that, I planted some before I went on holiday this year in mid August, and when I came back they had grown perfectly well, and had indeed reached golf ball size! (although I think the cold wet summer was a big help!)

[hubballi]

This doesn't make sense.  They have been out in the container with fresh compost for months. Still very small with thin stems. 

[Salmo]

a farmer friend said i couldn't grow radishes in east northants because of a boron defiecncy so  I sow then every 3 weeks in tubs. why not try eating them as seedlings if the y won't swell I always eat the thinnings as they grow

The smallholders at the village of Woodnewton, just 10 miles from you, used to specialise in radishes and send them to Covent Garden as well as selling them at all the local markets. So you have no excuse for not growing them.

[Salmo]

they go thin, whispy, whitish colour and die. No reason for this I can think of.

So I'm not the only one! I understand just what you mean and I don't understand why it happens. I have been blaming conditions in my new greenhouse since ones sown outside have been ok (so far)
Last year I had this problem with different seedlings including my tomatos but this year it seems to be confined to the radish.


Last year people told me that this is powdery mildew, but it isn't, there is no disease. The plant has not developed enough root to continue growing.

That looks like downy mildew. Thrives in humid warm humid conditions.e.g. your greenhouse!

[DD.]

 The best variety for me is Vienna, which allegedly give "golf ball" sized roots, although they usually get scoffed at around ping-pong ball size!

Do you get down on your hands and knees and measure them? There's not a lot of difference! 

[Salmo]

 The best variety for me is Vienna, which allegedly give "golf ball" sized roots, although they usually get scoffed at around ping-pong ball size!

Do you get down on your hands and knees and measure them? There's not a lot of difference! 

One has smooth skin the other has dimples!!

[sunshineband]

 The best variety for me is Vienna, which allegedly give "golf ball" sized roots, although they usually get scoffed at around ping-pong ball size!

Do you get down on your hands and knees and measure them? There's not a lot of difference! 

One has smooth skin the other has dimples!!

 

Purple plum radishes are rather good too - sown from mid March onwards outside, up until beginning of June.

Can usually get another crop in around the end of August without it running to seed.

They don't have dimples in though