There is nothing as rewarding in the spring as harvesting the crop of vegetables and radishes are usually my first crop. The heirloom cultivar, ‘Cherry Belle’ is still my favorite radish and although I have tried many other kinds I always come back to it for its bright red skin and crisp, firm white mild-flavored taste. It has a nice shape, is about ¾” in diameter, and grows quickly. An All-American Selection winner in 1949, it has stood the test of time and remains popular for relish trays and salads. It also bunches well, and is a favorite cultivar at farmers’ markets and grocery stores.
Days to Harvest: 22-24 days.
Planting Date: As soon as the soil is 45 degrees or warmer in spring; again in fall a month before first frost.
Spacing: 1”.
Planting Depth: ½”
Germination: 4-7 days.
Size: Root- ¾” diameter at maturity.
Light: Full sun to part sun.
Water: Keep soil evenly moist but not wet to encourage rapid growth and avoid cracking.
Soil: Prefer loose soil high in potassium and phosphorus.
Care: Harvest when radishes reach maximum size and the top pushes out of the soil; root maggots may eat them if you delay harvest. Radishes will crack when over ripe or subjected to a dry period followed by abundant water.
Pests and Diseases: None of importance; the damage done by leaf chewing bugs does not seem to hurt the radish root.
Good for containers? Yes; grow in at least 4″ of soil.
Comment: Radishes do not do well in warm weather so do well in spring and fall; radishes that grow slowly tend to be tough and woody.
[…] but if you plan to bunch them up for sale you might. Radish varieties with small tops. Like ‘Cherry Belle’, can be made into bunches better than those with large […]