Spotlight on Radish

Radish history

The word radish originates from the Latin word “radix” which means root. The root can be round, tapering or cylindrical and the taste is crisp and sweet. There are also spicy varieties to keep everyone happy.

There is no archaeology as to when and where we started to use radishes, but the first written records that mention radishes come from 3rd century BC Greek and Roman records.

A couple of fun facts are that December 23rd in Oaxaca, in Mexico, is known as “The Night of the Radishes” – a festival when people carve radishes in different shapes. And labourers who built pyramids in the ancient Egypt were paid in onions, garlic and radishes.

How to use radish

What summer salad is complete without a small, round radish? They bring colour, texture and an unmistakable spicy, peppery flavour. Use the bigger, more cylindrical shaped radishes in stews, soups or roasts.

Here’s a lovely radish recipe that is suitable for winter – Roasted Radishes.

They’re perfect with salmon, or as a side dish to roast meats or tossed into warm salads.

• Wash 2 small bunches of radishes, remove the greens, and slice in half.
• Toss with a tablespoon of olive oil, 1 grated garlic clove, and a teaspoon of salt.
• Roast 16 to 20 minutes.

When they come out of the oven, the roasted radishes should be fork tender all the way through.

How to grow radish

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Spread blood and bone, which has good phosphorus levels over the area and dig in well. Sowing seeds directly is the best method.  Lightly cover the seeds and water in well. After seven days, seedlings will emerge. Thin them to 5cm spacing. Sow seeds every 3–4 weeks for continuous supply. 

How to care for radishes

Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. If the soil dries out, this can cause issues with splitting or premature flowering (bolting). Once a plant bolts, the roots become woody and bitter. Fertiliser isn’t required, but you can help boost growth by applying an organic liquid fertiliser weekly or fortnightly. 

Harvesting radish

Pick leaves as salad greens in as little as a few weeks but take care not to harvest too much from a single plant as this can impact the growth of the root. To be ready to eat, smaller radish types don’t need more than a month to grow while the larger varieties need several months.