10 spring and summer radishes to sow almost year-round.

Radishes are often the first vegetables grown in the kitchen garden: early in the season, but also by beginner gardeners, as they are reputedly easy. We all know it, perhaps from sowing it as early as primary school, the famous 18-day radish… but far less the other varieties.

As we enter the peak season for sowing radishes, I invite you today to explore the range of possibilities offered by this irresistibly crisp little vegetable, which can be sown almost year round!

Forcing radishes

Forcing radishes are very early. They can be sown from January to February under protection (cold frame, frame or tunnel) or a little later, outdoors in the kitchen garden. Quick to mature, they grow quickly and brighten plates by Easter.

• The Fluo F1 radish: a F1 hybrid variety that stands out for its precocity. This radish yields semi-long roots, red with white tips. Sowing: from December to April
• The Gaudry 2 radish: very early, it produces beautiful round roots, bright pink with white tips. Sowing: from January under cover to September.
• The scarlet-round forcing radish : it grows quickly and produces pretty spherical roots, entirely red, with white, crisp flesh. Sowing: March to September


Gaudry 2 radish - La Ferme de Sainte-Marthe

Radishes all year round

The label "all year round" might suggest a certain blandness. It is far from it! If all these varieties share the flexibility of their broad sowing window (generally from mid-March to mid-September), they can be classic but also display original colours.

• The Flamboyant radish is one of the most popular varieties. Fast-growing, it yields cylindrical semi-long roots, red with a white tip. It is not spicy and stores very well. Sowing from March to August.
• The National 2 radish, semi-early, yields pretty pink roots with white tips. We like its pleasant flavour, a little peppery. Sowing from March to October.
• The Amethyst radish is a round radish distinguished by its colour: a pretty violet with metallic reflections. Very striking on the plate, it also offers a pleasant flavour and will only become sharp if you forget it in the garden. Sowing from March to August.
• The Pernot clair radish is versatile; it can be sown very early and offers elongated roots, bright red with white tips. Sowing from March to September.


Amethyst and Pernot Clair radishes

Summer radishes and daikon radish

• The Ice Candle radish offers a long white root, almost translucent, shaped like a stalactite. Its crisp flesh is fine and offers a slightly biting flavour. Sowing: March–April to November.
• The Zlata daikon radish comes from Czechoslovakia. Round, it wears a yellow skin that covers white flesh with an original taste, a little lemony, peppery. It does not hollow and resists bolting. Sowing: March to August.
• The Giant scarlet round radish from Würzburg forms very large round roots. Its flavour remains mild. Sowing: April to August.


Ice Candle radish

What a choice, isn’t it? If you’re not sure how to decide, don’t hesitate to opt for seed mixes… It’s an economical and practical option when you enjoy growing several varieties in a small kitchen garden.

Finally, although radish sowing is reputedly easy (our tips: "Sowing radishes"), it can, for the less deft, lead to a tedious thinning job. To avoid this, think of seed tapes: simple and easy, they will save you a lot of time!