Rural Smallholdings Magazine

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS OF HOW AND WHEN TO HARVEST YOUR RADISHES

TOOLS

All you will need for this job is a small hand fork to pick your
radishes.

WHEN TO HARVEST

Summer radishes are ready to harvest about 5 or 6 weeks after
sowing. They will be crisp in texture and between 1.0 and 1.5 cm in
diameter.

If you leave radishes in the ground too long after they have
matured they will be softer and have a taste of pepper.

HARVESTING

Using your hand fork, get underneath the roots of your radishes
from the side at an angle. Gentlly lift the plant away from the
soil.

For best flavour your radishes should be small. If you come across
one that you think is too large, give it a gentle squeeze. If it’s
soft to the touch then it is likely to be too fibrious to be nice and
enjoyable. As a guide when radishes grow over 2.0cm in diameter they
are not worth keeping – other than to put on the compost heap.

STORING RADISHES

Unfortunately radishes do not store well and need to be eaten as
soon as possible. You can keep them in a fridge up to about 5 days
though.