Along with lettuce, beets and turnips, the radish is oldest vegetables to be cultivated by man. The radish first appeared in the United States arriving with the first English colonists and became a standard in early American gardens. Fast growing and undemanding the radish remains one of the most popular vegetables grown in modern gardens.

Radishes will grow almost anywhere in almost any type of soil making them an excellent choice for the beginning gardener. They can also easily be grown by those with limited growing spaces such as apartment dwellers. Once the seeds are planted they thrive in planters, terrace boxes and even window sill pots also making them a good choice for container gardening.

This zesty vegetable is usually grouped into two categories spring radishes and fall or winter radishes. The spring radishes are smaller, quick growing and mature in about 3 1/2 weeks.

Despite their name, spring radishes can be grown anytime indoors or outside when the weather is mild enough. Fall or winter radishes are larger and more pungent and slower growing than spring radishes and the growing period is two to three months.

Radishes do not tolerate extreme heat or cold. Keep them moist but remember that too little or to much watering will cause radishes to grow tough and the taste will be hot and bitter. They will grow in just about any type of soil but for the tastiest radishes are grown in a well drained sandy loam with plenty of organic materials worked in. Seeds for the smaller spring variety should be planted one inch apart, a half inch deep in rows spaced fourteen inches apart, The larger winter variety require more room, plant the seeds three inches apart and one inch deep.

For more information on home gardening please visit Garden Pros For information on planting vegetables indoors visit Indoor Vegetable Gardens

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