Watermelon Radish Seeds

Sow Watermelon Radish seeds directly in the garden. Do not start them indoors or attempt to transplant seedlings, since disturbing the taproot early almost always results in forked, misshapen roots. Push seeds 1/2 inch into the soil and expect germination in 3–14 days when soil temperature sits between 55–75°F. Once seedlings are up, thin to 4–6 inches apart. For fall harvest, count back about 2 months from your first expected frost and sow once again. Spring sowing works too, but roots pulled in warm weather tend to be milder in color and bolt faster.

Watermelon Radish grows well in full sun and deep, rich, and well-worked soil. To get even better crops work compost into the soil before sowing. Rocky or compacted ground produces forked roots. Water consistently rather than heavily — the goal is evenly moist soil, not wet soil. Dry periods followed by sudden heavy watering cause the roots to crack through the center. Compost-amended soil that drains well but holds moisture between waterings solves most of these problems at once.

There is not much to do once the plants are growing, but the two things that matter most are weeding early and harvesting on time. Young Watermelon Radish seedlings are slow to establish and do not compete well against weeds in the first few weeks, so it is required to weed regularly. Roots are ready in roughly 50–60 days. Pull one and slice it open: if the interior is fully colored and the root is 2–4 inches across, harvest the rest. Store unwashed in the refrigerator and they hold well for up to two weeks.