[hubballi]

I have had about 4 seasons of failure when trying to grow radish (apparently even kids can do this, or so we are told) I don't know. I have grown them in exactly the required conditions and they always start off promising until they are either eaten by slugs (like a magnet to them) or they go thin, whispy, whitish colour and die. No reason for this I can think of.

Anyway, if anyone who has very good resuts can give me a good tip on how to get the best out of them I will be grateful. I have asked this before but I can't find my old post.

I have French Breakfast and Sparkler 3. Also, as I have an unheated greenhouse I need to know when the best time to sow them.

Thanks.

[gazza975526570]

I tend to only sow them early ish in the season - go to seed too quickly in the heat.

Just  sow them directly in the ground - doesnt seem to matter if they are too close as they just push each other apart.

Leave them be. To be honest though despite them meant to be one of the easier veg for kids etc i know loads of people who have the same issues you mention

[gobs]

Quite a cold season crop, short lived and thirsty. That's how you grow them, fast and wet. Do not expect them to last. If you sow them too thickly, some roots won't swell, but twist around each other.

[m1ckz]

never had probs,,even when i drop a few seeds on the path    they grow lol

[Yorkie]

Here's your old post from last June, Hubballi

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=78244.0

DD's post with advice in it:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=3309.0

Plus these other threads where you asked specific questions about radish growing:

Holes in my radish
Small woody radish
Small slugs eating radish

[gobs]

Well, in that case, why don't you just grow them in nice, fine compost, in some cool room in a pot, indoors? They are only little. No slugs.

[digalotty]

good idea gobs ,  using pots you can keep them out the way of slugs

[Ice]

good idea gobs ,  using pots you can keep them out the way of slugs

I think they will find a way in. 

[viettaclark]

I do a few rows to mark where the parsnip seeds have been sowed in March. Last year they were perfect.
Any planted later were naff.

[compostqueen]

I do that parsnip thing  too   

I wouldn't bother doing radish at this time of year, and I'm sure specific sowing times will be found on the seed packet

Be guided by the packet Hubballi and follow the instructions. It's what they're there for!  If you keep sowing things at completely the wrong times you'll always be disappointed

[hubballi]

I have had partial success with Sparkler Radish. I grew them in a normal depth small seed tray but some have the same size leaf as the large bulbs but with small, bullet, woody bulbs. Not sure why but I have at least got a few good ones. I did notice that the root on them was very long so was I perhaps too shallow ?

[shokkyy]

I've never been able to grow good radish outdoors, but this year I've been growing them in my tunnel beds and they're fantastic. I've already grown two rows of lovely big radish, absolutely perfect, without a single nibble. Given that I regularly record highs in the 30s in my tunnel (before I open the vents and door), they can't be that devastated by a bit of heat.

[Rangerkris]

Early crops work for me then as the weather warms we tend to lose more to seed and woodyness. But they are so peppery and tasty we keep going with them and a good crop at the end of the season.

[hubballi]

What I can't understand is why you get such inconsistent results with the same seed, same time sown, same conditions, soil and container BUT some are small and woody, some don't swell and a very few are as they should be. Conditions cool and kept moist.

[Madame Cholet]

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