Other names
garden radish, table radish, spring radish
Botanical name
Raphanus sativus var. sativus
Family / Genus
Brassicaceae / Raphanus
Plant category
Root and tuber vegetables
The radish arrived in Europe from Japan or China around the 16th century. The peppery spring vegetable quickly became popular. With its vibrant red colours and healthy nutrients, it lifts not only your digestion but also your mood.
Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun / partial shade
Nutrient requirements
Light feeder
Difficulty level
Easy
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
C - low growth, short growing period
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Companion crop
Growing period
25 days
Row spacing
15 cm
Plant spacing
5 cm
Growth height
10 - 20 cm
Sowing depth
1 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
3 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
15 - 22 °C
Germination type
Light and dark
Planting & harvest times of Radish
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Harvest
Direct sowing from Early March to Late August. After a growing period of 25 days, harvest can begin around Late March and continues until Late September.
Sow Radish
You can sow radishes outdoors from the end of February if you choose the right variety. Sow one seed every 5 cm in shallow drills with 15 cm between rows. It's best to sow small batches every 14 days, as they should be used up quickly once they're ready.
Location and soil
Radishes like it sunny and airy with good garden soil. Ideally humus-rich, loamy and consistently moist.
Good and bad companions of Radish
Radishes are the perfect gap fillers in the bed. They grow best in a row with lettuce, because the lettuce is said to keep the flea beetles off them, and long before the lettuce is big, the radishes have been harvested. As a marker crop, mix a few radish seeds in with carrots, parsnips, parsley or salsify. They come up within a few days, show you where the rows are and thin things out as soon as you harvest them. Between young cabbage, kohlrabi, cucumbers, courgettes, peas and dwarf beans there is also enough room at the start for a row of radishes. Better not to put rocket, Chinese cabbage and pak choi right next to them, because together they all attract flea beetles.
Very good neighbours
Batavia lettuce
Radishes grow well in the lettuce row and are ready long before the lettuce. Lettuce is said to keep flea beetles away from the radishes.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
- Practical tip for this pair
Butterhead lettuce
Radishes grow well in the lettuce row and are ready long before the lettuce. Lettuce is said to keep flea beetles away from the radishes.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
- Practical tip for this pair
Iceberg lettuce
Radishes grow well in the lettuce row and are ready long before the lettuce. Lettuce is said to keep flea beetles away from the radishes.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
- Practical tip for this pair
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Radishes grow well in the lettuce row and are ready long before the lettuce. Lettuce is said to keep flea beetles away from the radishes.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
- Practical tip for this pair
Oak leaf lettuce
Radishes grow well in the lettuce row and are ready long before the lettuce. Lettuce is said to keep flea beetles away from the radishes.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
- Practical tip for this pair
Romaine lettuce
Radishes grow well in the lettuce row and are ready long before the lettuce. Lettuce is said to keep flea beetles away from the radishes.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
- Practical tip for this pair
Good neighbours
Black kale
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Broccoli
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Brussels sprouts
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Bush bean
Radishes make a quick catch crop beside young dwarf French beans and are ready before them.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Carrot
Radishes germinate quickly and mark the rows of slow-germinating carrots. They are harvested before the carrots need the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Cauliflower
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Courgette
Radishes can be sown between young courgettes. They are harvested before the courgettes need the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Cucumber
Radishes can be sown between young cucumbers and are harvested before the vines need the space. Large radishes such as daikon or black radish, however, do not suit cucumbers.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Flower Sprouts
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Garden cress
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Hamburg parsley
Radishes germinate quickly and mark the rows of slow-germinating Hamburg parsley. They are harvested before it needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Honeydew melon
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Kale
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Kohlrabi
Radishes and kohlrabi work well in companion planting, and the radishes are ready first. A net protects both from flea beetles.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Melothria
Radishes make a quick catch crop between young cucumbers. For Melothria, which grows slowly at first, this is carried over from cucumber.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
New Zealand Spinach
New Zealand spinach grows slowly at first. Radishes fit into the gaps and are harvested before it covers the ground.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Parsley
Radishes mark the rows of slow-germinating parsley. The scent of parsley is said to keep pests away from the radishes.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Parsnip
Radishes germinate quickly and mark the rows of slow-germinating parsnips. They are harvested before the parsnips need the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Pea
Radishes can be sown early beside the rows of peas. They are harvested before the peas need the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Pointed cabbage
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Pole bean
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Potato
Radishes can be sown over the rows when planting potatoes. They are harvested before the potatoes come up.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Red cabbage
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Romanesco
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Runner bean
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Salsify
Radishes germinate quickly and mark the rows of slow-germinating salsify. They are harvested before the salsify need the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Savoy cabbage
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Scorzonera
Radishes germinate quickly and mark the rows of slow-germinating scorzonera. They are harvested before the scorzonera need the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Spinach
Radishes fit between rows of spinach. Spinach is said to keep flea beetles away from the radishes, but you cannot rely on it.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
Squash
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Strawberry
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Swiss chard
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Tomato
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Watermelon
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
White cabbage
Young cabbage plants leave room at first for a ring of radishes. They are harvested before the cabbage needs the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Bad neighbours
Chinese cabbage
Chinese cabbage and radishes both strongly attract flea beetles. Side by side the damage increases, so sow them apart or use a net.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Pak choi
Pak choi and radishes both strongly attract flea beetles. Side by side the damage increases, so sow them apart or use a net.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Rocket
Rocket and radishes both strongly attract flea beetles. Side by side the damage increases, so sow them apart or use a net.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Very bad neighbours
Predecessors and successors of Radish
Radishes only occupy the bed for three to four weeks, which makes them a good early crop ahead of tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, melons, New Zealand spinach, peppers, dwarf beans or beetroot. People also like to sow them before lettuce and cabbage, but radishes belong to the brassica family themselves and can bring in cabbage root fly and clubroot. After cabbage, rocket, cress and other brassicas, wait four years before you sow radishes again, because clubroot and the pupae of the cabbage root fly are waiting in the soil. Radishes and winter radishes only return to the same bed after three to four years, otherwise you risk black root rot. On chalky soil, leave a year after potatoes, because radishes easily pick up scab there.
Bad predecessors
Black kale
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Broccoli
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Brussels sprouts
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Cauliflower
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Chinese cabbage
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Flower Sprouts
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Garden cress
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Horseradish
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Kale
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Kohlrabi
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Mizuna (Asian greens)
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Pak choi
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Pointed cabbage
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Potato
On chalky soils, radishes grown after potatoes easily get scab. Leave a year's gap there.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Red cabbage
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Rocket
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Romanesco
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Savoy cabbage
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Swede
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Turnip
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Watercress
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
White cabbage
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Winter cress
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Very bad predecessors
Black radish
Radishes and winter radishes are the same species and share black root and clubroot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Radish
Radishes and winter radishes are the same species and share black root and clubroot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Radish
Radishes do not follow themselves well, because black root and clubroot build up in the soil. Wait four years before growing them there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Good successors
Batavia lettuce
Radishes are a popular early crop before lettuce. Some advise against brassicas before lettuce, but neither view is proven.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Beetroot
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Black kale
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Broccoli
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Brussels sprouts
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Bush bean
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Butterhead lettuce
Radishes are a popular early crop before lettuce. Some advise against brassicas before lettuce, but neither view is proven.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Cauliflower
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Courgette
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Cucumber
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Flower Sprouts
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Honeydew melon
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Iceberg lettuce
Radishes are a popular early crop before lettuce. Some advise against brassicas before lettuce, but neither view is proven.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Kale
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Kohlrabi
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Lamb's lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Radishes are a popular early crop before lettuce. Some advise against brassicas before lettuce, but neither view is proven.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
New Zealand Spinach
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Loosens soil, improves soil structure
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Oak leaf lettuce
Radishes are a popular early crop before lettuce. Some advise against brassicas before lettuce, but neither view is proven.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Pepper
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Pointed cabbage
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Red cabbage
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Romaine lettuce
Radishes are a popular early crop before lettuce. Some advise against brassicas before lettuce, but neither view is proven.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Romanesco
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Savoy cabbage
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Tomato
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Watermelon
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
White cabbage
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Very bad successors
Black radish
Radishes and winter radishes are the same species and share black root and clubroot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Radish
Radishes do not follow themselves well, because black root and clubroot build up in the soil. Wait four years before growing them there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Radish
Radishes and winter radishes are the same species and share black root and clubroot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Varieties
There are varieties for every season. Some for particularly early sowing, others that can handle the summer heat, and so on.
Care and fertilising
Radishes are light feeders. They don't need any extra fertiliser while growing. Just keep them evenly moist. Otherwise they turn woody and bolt.
Diseases and pests
The radish's worst enemy is the flea beetle. In May and during dry spells, these small jumping beetles chew holes in the leaves and can wipe out a whole sowing. A fine insect mesh with a mesh size of no more than 0.8 mm, put over the bed right after sowing, keeps them out reliably, and steady moisture helps as well. From May onwards the cabbage root fly lays its eggs on the radishes, and its maggots eat brown tunnels into the roots. The net stops them too. Never sow radishes in beds where clubroot or radish black root rot has shown up. Slugs love the young leaves just as much.
Susceptible to
Alternaria leaf spot of brassicas
Black root of radish(low susceptibility)
Black rot(medium susceptibility)
Cabbage root fly(high susceptibility)
Clubroot
Diamondback moth
Downy mildew of brassicas
Flea beetles(high susceptibility)
Swede midge
White rust(high susceptibility)
Harvest and processing
It's best to harvest them fresh, as they don't keep for long. If you do store them, put them in a small container with a lid or wrap them in a damp cloth in the fridge. But even then only for 3 days at most — after that they go hollow inside and become inedible. The harvest window is quite short before they turn woody. That's why it's best to keep sowing small batches regularly.
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