Radishes

2011 is our third season planting radishes.  The first season was sort of a let down because I had no idea of when to harvest them and as a result they were super woody and real spicy.   Some even went to seed!

The second season was a little better.  We planted a cool heirloom variety, Cincinnati Market, and I really stayed on top of them and harvested them at the right time.  This variety is pretty cool in that the radishes look like small radish colored carrots.  They make great garnish!  The problem I had was that I only made one planting early in the spring and a result we only had radishes for a short time in late spring/early summer. We also started including the radish leaves (best when they are small) in salads for a nice peppery flavor.  I also experimented with Radish Leaf Pesto (here is the recipe I used) to mixed results.  The pesto was a little too bitter for the kids but I liked it on toast as a sort of bruschetta, a little goes a long way!

Now in our third season of growing radishes I feel like we are finally getting them right.  We planted three varieties in multiple succession plantings and as a result have been harvesting radishes like crazy with more still to come.  Since we garden Square Foot Style, space is at a premium, and the great thing about radishes is that if we start them early enough we can harvest a batch before it gets too hot and then use that square foot for something like a pepper or a tomato we started indoors.   I also have been "late planting" radishes in shady spots to see if we can get some good ones in the heat of the summer.  So far so good.  

We also have two out of three kids who are now wild about radishes (don't worry, I will get that third kid eating them) since the old rule about "kids who grow it will eat it" definitively seems to apply.  It also seems as if we will have radishes throughout the entire season.

Here are my new rules about radishes:

1. Plant different kinds early and often to ensure a good variety and abundant supply
2. Harvest them when they start to pop out of the ground
3. Use a very sunny spot, very early in the season, to get a quick harvest of radishes and then use that spot for a sun worshiper like tomatoes or peppers
4. Use the greens also

Next up, I will try and tweak that Radish Pesto recipe and report back.

Ready to be picked

Use those greens!

Just add a little salt...goes good with beer...

Update:
Later in the day I read about this...Quick Pickled Radishes.  I will try it for sure!