radish?

[Mac]

Am new to all this GYO, but am having a fairly successful (by my standards anyway) first go I think. I've planted some radish in the good old Morrisons buckets, but they are growing really spindly. Most of the "radish" bit (the red yummy thing) seems to be growing above the soil and looks more like a stem, but having pulled a couple out, there is only the even skinnier root under the soil. Lots of leaf on top so it looks like it's growing well. Any ideas?

[rustylady]

Too much compost - Radish are fairly shallow rooted, so need around 6" depth of compost at the most. Also you might be giving too much feed - hence the abundant leafy growth. How long have they been growing? They may not be ready to form the swollen root we eat just yet.

[Mac]

Thanks rustylady, think it'll be the compost thing, as they are in all compost in the morrisons buckets. I did have some in the ground, but our pesky rabbits have munched 90% of them! It's the only crop they seem to be eating, so I'll let them off (for now). Will try something else as a container.

[johninblackpool]

Hi Mac

My radish are similar to yours but are in 6" troughs but i keep them in the greenhouse and have recently read that Lettuce, Radish and other salad leaves and such prefer it a little cooler
So i have now moved them outside to see if they do any better. Hopefully they won't Drownd with all the rain
This was only 2 days ago so will have to see if they grow better.
Hope this helps

[Mac]

Thanks for that John. I've had to cover all my outdoor seedling pots with cling film as they were getting drenched! Will take it off to give them a breather when I get home, then tuck them back up before bed time (or when it next rains if before that!). I'm going to try to find something a bit shallower than my buckets. Had just sown the purple ones free in this months mag the same way, so will try them in a shallower container next time too.

[kate&rob]

they may just need a bit more filling out time mac. as for looking for something shllower, i've got loads of the trusty morrisons buckets and cut them down to the size i want, after all, they are cheap enough aren't they!