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How Do I Thin Radishes?
How Do I Thin Radishes?. Radish germinates quickly from seed and doesn't tolerate transplanting well, so it is typically seeded directly in the garden bed. The small seeds make it difficult to space the plants correctly at sowing. It's also necessary to sow the seeds thickly in case they don't all germinate. Thinning removes the extra plants so the...
Radish germinates quickly from seed and doesn't tolerate transplanting well, so it is typically seeded directly in the garden bed. The small seeds make it difficult to space the plants correctly at sowing. It's also necessary to sow the seeds thickly in case they don't all germinate. Thinning removes the extra plants so the radish roots have the necessary room to develop. Thinning also improves air circulation around the plants, which prevents some disease problems and minimizes plant competition.
Inspect the plants daily after the seeds sprout and the radish seedlings become visible. Not all seeds germinate and grow into successful plants, so wait until the radishes are at least 3 inches tall before you begin to thin.
Grasp the radish stem between your thumb and forefinger, near the soil surface. Pull the radish straight up and out of the soil. Young plants don't have deep roots, so they pull easily.
Thin spring radish varieties so the remaining plants are spaced approximately 1 inch apart. Thin winter radishes to a spacing of 2 to 4 inches. The larger the expected root size at maturity, the farther apart the remaining radishes in the bed must sit.
Tips & Warnings
Thin the radishes after the plants have three or four leaves. Use the pulled radish sprouts in salads or other dishes where their slightly spicy crunch complements the food.
Radishes germinate and grow quickly, so the plants may require thinning in as little as two weeks after planting, depending on the weather and radish variety.
