Radish advice for newbie, please!

[Caro]

Hi,

I'm an enthusiastic newbie and got carried away with trying sll sorts of veg I've never grown before ...

I've sown some French Breakfast radish in a raised bed and it seems to be coming along nicely. How much thinning do I need to do, ie how far apart should the final plants be?

Also, I gather they're very fast growing, so how long should they take from sowing and how can I tell when they're ready?

Many thanks for any replies

Caro

[Hank_Hill]

I think you thin them out about 2inches apart from each plant in rows 9inches apart, they crop with in 4-6 weeks, if you sow a batch of seeds every 2 weeks you can get a continuous supply until the Autumn!

[Nicos]

Have you just sprinkled them over the surface???

You don't need to have them in rows- and you can thin them out by eating the largest ones when they are till tiny . It depends on how densley you have sown them! If they are in rows they'll just push any next to them to one side.

Take them when they are about the size of a grape - they're fine larger but can get woody or hollow when they get too big.
I left a couple of radish a few years ago and they grew to the size of a jam jar!!!!!...totally inedible of course!!!

If you've not grown them before, then check them daily- and take the largest as soon as you want to because you'll suddenly find you have hundreds ready at the same time!!!

[Alison]

I planted radish with my parsnips (as recommended somewhere or other), worked well in that the radish showed quickly so I could see where the rows were. However, didn't think that this would mean that I would have a lot or radish all at the same time. The parsnips are now doing fine but I'm in danger of turning into a radish - have hundereds of the things. Didn't thin them very well but as said above, they jush push each other to the side.

[sweetiepea]

I allow about 5cm between them, and approx 15cm between rows. Of course you can scatter them, as Nicos says, but I like neat rows (the perfectionist in me!). Don't let them dry out as this can cause splitting and bolting.

[glut]

I have French Breakfast that I've been eating for the last week or so. I have about 3 inches between each randomly placed. I pick the biggest first where ever they are and fill in the gaps with seedlings. They seem to be pretty tough so I'm sure you can't go too wrong.

[terrier]

If you are into dried flower arranging, let some of the early radish grow on and get woody, then pick them and dry them in the sun. As they are mostly water, you get some very interesting results, honest. Do the same with ornamental squash

[Caro]

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for their replies and useful tips.

For those with a glut (which i hope will be me in a couple of weeks ) here are a couple of recipes.

Warm halloumi with radish, apple & pecan salad recipe - Recipes - BBC Good Food

Radish & cucumber salad recipe - Recipes - BBC Good Food

Carrot & radish salad recipe - Recipes - BBC Good Food

Lemony radish & fennel salad recipe - Recipes - BBC Good Food

Thanks again

Caro x