A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Vegetable Gardening Radishes. Why ALL top and NO bottom?

Hello,
I've been gardening for a very long time but this year (in the spring crop and now early fall crop also) my radishes have been a great disappointment, nice plants but nada/nothing to eat, why?

Thank you

my spring radishes did the same thing. someone told me it was too hot for them, that I should have planted them earlier in the season?

Cricket,

I'll make and keep notes of the temp. for next spring and fall crops but I am sure it was not even warm when plating was done in early spring. Thanks!

I've read on here that many people don't have luck with radishes. I don't know that we've ever decided just why that is. They grow pretty good for me.

how much organic matter do you have in yours sheri? they seem simple enough - they mature in like a month, right? I've only tried them once, so I have no real theories on why so many people have prob's with them. I'm gonna set out some more seeds in a another month or so here.

I've read on here that many people don't have luck with radishes. I don't know that we've ever decided just why that is. They grow pretty good for me.
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A few details would be nice like soil type,PH, how much sun/organic matter is in there and please don't forget the seed co. and seed type.

Thank you

Thanks guys..the more I look/read about this problem the more I find about "TOO MUCH FERT." That would be a problem for my "super charged plot" but will keep looking and will report!

my radishes have been in the ground for a couple of weeks. I mixed some compost in with the soil, like a handful per about a 6" square, then a light sprinkling of compost on top. I hope I didn't put too much. now you have me worried.

Best of luck to you.
Try to keep P.H. from 6.0 to 7.0 and no fisrt or second numbers, high on the third (Potassium). I can't wait for spring!:<)

could it be they were not thinned out enough?? The ONE year I had good results with radishes, was the year that I got out at the proper time to thin them out---

If I remember I will call my dad and ask him about radishes, he always has a good crop.

Did you plant different varieties for spring and fall? I planted two this fall, but only the variety, Sparkler, is producing. It's the one that was labeled specifically for fall planting.

I just got off the phone with my father. he said many things.

1) His friend who always has excellent luck with his radishes plants by what the almanac says.--going by the moons cycle.

2) make sure the soil is at least 1 quarter sand--making sure to mix the sand in well.

3) Use compost over fertilizer---a good compost being the best option.

Good luck

Well, I don't do ph or moons or fertilizer. I'm a simple gal. if it won't grow well for me with what I have, tilled up and some compost added, I'll just grow something else. this is only my second time to try radishs, so we shall see.

Be sure to let us know how your fair, ok

I've grown radish many times. The main reason you get tops and no bottoms is overcrowding. When planted in a bed go for at least 4" seperation; rows, on the other hand, should have at least 3".

Over fertilizing can also cause bottomless radishes. As can lack of full sun. I've even seen drought create problems.

I've grown them in nothing but clay; sand has nothing to do with it.

Planting too late in the spring can also be a no no. I haven't tried Fall varieties. Marica may have the right idea about yours being bred for spring.

Some good points here!

I will try a bit more on the spacing part next spring and also will try to find spring and fall seeds too.

Thank you Dirtclod

we had some hard long rain the past few days. some of my little radishes were almost washed up. I had to kinda prop them up with more soil. I got to looking at them and wondering.....if I should transplant them deeper in the ground? they are about 3 inches tall. the stem is red but where the stem goes into the soil is white. I'm thinking the red part of the stem should be in the ground so the raddish part can develop?

What can it hurt to try??? If you are in doubt, try it with half of your current crop.

In some cases (like with lettuce) I belive you will loose about a week before you are up to where you were before the transplant, this is a factor I deal with all the time in late spring and fall.