Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Champion Radish is the perfect classic radish variety for any home garden. This delicious tasting red root is easy to grow and great for beginners. Champion radishes are small and juicy, making them perfect for slicing on salads or using as a garnish. Although radishes prefer direct sun, this variety does not tolerate extreme heat and does best during the cooler months in the spring and fall. Impress your friends during your next Taco Tuesday with fresh Champion Radish & Slow-Bolt Cilantro garnishes straight from the garden!
NAME: Radish (Raphanus sativus)
VARIETY: Champion
DAYS TO MATURITY: 25 – 30
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Annual
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 3 – 11
SUNLIGHT: Full sun recommended
SOIL: Rich, loose fertile soil with a pH 5.9 – 6.8
PLANT HEIGHT: 5 – 9 inches
SPACING: 1.5 – 2.5 inches
TEMP: 35 – 75 ºF
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
It is not recommended to start Champion Radish indoors due to their strong root system and preference for direct seedings.
If you choose to sow Champion Radish seeds indoors, start 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area.
Plant seeds in deep containers or seed trays filled with well-draining potting mix.
Sow seeds ½ inch deep and keep the soil consistently moist.
Maintain a temperature of around 50-70°F (10-21°C) for optimal germination, which typically occurs within 5-10 days.
Once seedlings have developed true leaves and are large enough to handle, they can be transplanted outdoors.
Directly sow into your prepared beds immediately after your last local frost in the Spring.
If sowing in the fall, plant 2 months before your first fall frost.
Sow seeds in rich, deeply worked soil, 1/2 inch deep and spaced 1 inch apart.
Once the seedlings are 2 inches tall, thin them out so they are 3 inches apart.
Plant another round of seeds every 10 days or so while the weather is still cool for continuous harvest of radishes in the late spring and end of summer, leading into fall.
Before sowing, be sure the soil bed you are planting in is fertile, well aerated, and tilled; compacted or infertile soil will not allow the radish bulbs to fully develop.
Radishes need plenty of sun, so grow them in an area where they can get 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight.
Radishes do well with consistently moist soil and the addition of organic matter such as compost; do not allow the soil to dry out, but also avoid overwatering as this can cause splitting.
Radishes do not tolerate high temperatures, which will cause them to bolt and get tough.
Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers, as they can promote excessive foliage growth at the expense of root development.
Champion radishes have the best taste when harvested at 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, which is generally 25 to 30 days after sowing.
To harvest, gently pull upward on the greens when the soil is damp.
Cut off the tops and store wrapped in a damp cloth in the fridge.
Champion Radish has a firm, mildly spicy flavor and works great raw or cooked.
Use fresh thinly sliced, chopped, or shredded and combined with tart and sweet ingredients to balance flavors.
