Does mooli have a tap root?

[Nik]

This is a long shot as I have never seen anyone else growing this (it's a long white radish in case you were wondering, Chinese I think). I transplated some seedlings last year and ended up with a horrible forked woody mess. I thought maybe they were like snips and don't like root disturbance, so I've just sown some seeds in loo rolls and will plant out when seedlings come up.

Does anyone else have any tips to ensure I get a nice long straight white mooli this year?

[Alison]

I've grown them a few times but always direct sow as I do for all radishes. I'd have thought that any root disturbance would effect them as you eat the extended root as you do carrots / parsnips etc but you might be OK if you plant out quickly. Any reason why you don't direct sow?

[Nik]

Spose not, other than the seeds being quite expensive and I want to try and make sure I get something from each one. I hate wasting seeds!

[rustylady]

Yes, Mooli is a tap root. You could either sow in loo rolls and plant before the root hits the bottom, or chit the seed on damp kitchen towel and then sow them in a watered and prepared furrow.

[Bren In Pots]

I'm growing mooli for the first time this year mine were donated to me when they'd just germinated not too sure what to expect.

[Snadger]

I'ver grown mooli for the last couple of seasons. Always sow direct as it deffo doesn't like transplanting!

I always direct sow carrots as well.

[Flummery]

I love them. Sow direct and space about 2 or 3 inches apart. The seeds are big enough to sow individually - then you don't waste any. Transplanting will result in forking - it's why you don't do it with carrots. You can get lovely long 6" tap roots from mooli - fantastic!

[chris]

I was at the garden centre the other day - couldn't believe what I was seeing..

Carrots, growing in modules - being sold! I saw so many people ooh-ing and arr-ing over the fact that they could just plant these carrots and get on with it - even saw a member of the garden centre's staff recommend this carrot.

On my way back through - I saw a couple - getting on a bit, just getting into GYO (should have seen their trolleys!!) I couldn't help myself but swing by them and tell them to put them back - and grab a packet of seeds. Ended up speaking to them for 30mins, and even recommending stuff! Felt good, but at the same time I felt annoyed that a) the staff in the "veg" section aren't clued up, and b) so many people (I saw at least 8 people) will buy these and be dissapointed (especially with the fact it stated on the card they'd grow in any soil, but prefer free draining). I can just see people planting them in the garden, waiting all the weeks - then pulling them up to find a distorted knot of roots, hardly useable if at all

I probably should have said something to the staff, but they'd have probably just shrugged it off so decided it wasn't worth it.

Oh, and the packet of seeds were cheap than the carrots!