Growing Great Radishes: Checklist

Sun: 6 hours.

Timing: cool-season crop. Sow from early spring, and again in late summer. Skip midsummer.

Soil: loose, stone-free, pH 6.0 to 7.0.

Spacing: thin to 1 to 2 inches apart, or you get all leaves and no radish.

Water: evenly. Dry soil makes them hot, woody and split.

Feed: usually none needed in decent soil. Too much nitrogen gives leaves.

Succession: sow a short row every 10 to 14 days. They're ready in about 3 to 4 weeks.

Cover: row cover keeps out flea beetles and root maggots.

Harvest: promptly. A radish left a week too long is a sponge.

Rotate: radishes are cabbage family; follow the same 4-year rotation.