Did you plant radishes with me 3 weeks ago? And how did that go? Mine certainly are not radishes yet! As gardeners, we are always learning something new or remembering something old. I moved back to the Midwest about 3 years ago, and I still have not adapted back to the long winter season. Our last average frost date is May 15th.
Cool-season vegetables, such as radishes, have a limit on how cool they want to be. The near-freezing temperatures we have been having at night are just too cold for the radishes to grow well, especially in containers. Ideally, the soil temperature should be around 50 ℉. Even if you planted your radish seeds directly in the ground, they may have still been too cold and revolted by not producing radishes.
Looking at my container of radishes, I knew they were too small. But I pulled one out anyway, and it immediately broke. Next, I dug up a second one, only to discover that I don’t even have a bulblet of a radish!
Have I failed at growing radishes? Of course not! I just need to stay patient, and lazy, for a couple more weeks. They will grow more as the weather warms up, and soon, I will enjoy fresh radishes in my salad or with butter on my morning toast.
If you tried growing radishes, share your pictures with us, and let’s see what you have grown.
Barbara Gregerson is a Consumer Horticulture Educator with Michigan State University Extension, offering research-based gardening advice and resources to help gardeners of all experience levels grow successfully in Michigan’s unique climate. You can contact her at [email protected]
Do you have gardening questions? Ask Extension
Need more information about gardening? Gardening in Michigan
Want to learn more about vegetable gardening? Vegetable Gardening
Featured photo: A young radish plant shows healthy leaf growth but little root formation yet, a sign that chilly spring weather is delaying development below the soil surface. Photo by Barbara Gregerson
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