How to Grow and Care for Radishes

Radish (Raphanus sativus) is a plant species that represents a food staple in many cultures around the world. The radish has a wide range of variations, including variants that grow in the spring, summer and winter. The root is generally eaten raw and can be used in salads or as a garnish.

Wild radish is a plant that is entirely edible, with a flavor that is described as peppery and earthy. The leaves and greens can be consumed boiled or in salads, while the roots can be cooked and consumed after the tough outer peel is removed.

Unlike its close relative, garden radish does not grow an edible root. Instead, it produces seed pods on erect stems that appear shortly after flowering. The taste and texture of the seeds change as the pods mature becoming bitter and spicy. The garden vegetable has a long history of cultivation dating back to at least the third century B.C.E.

Wild radish is a common and widespread weed. It has clusters of small white or pale yellow flowers and can bloom from spring to summer.

Radish 'Ping Pong' are a radish cultivar named because they grow round, smooth and white – just like a ping pong ball! It is sometimes called the lunar radish, because it also looks like a moon. This cultivar reaches a size of about 2.5 cm in diameter.