Green Luobo Radish is the same vegetable as Daikon radish but the difference comes from the fact that it’s harvested before it reaches maturity. That’s what makes it green in color and smaller in size than the plant would otherwise be.
It’s a type of radish with a spicy flavor, that’s more mild than its full size plant and that’s used in the same way as any other radish but with more variety due to that difference in flavor.
Green Luobo Radish Trivia
- It has many different names including Japanese radish and meat radish
- They can grow at subzero temperatures
- They also produce beautiful but not edible flowers
Green Luobo Radish Buying Guide
Starting checking the plant from top to bottom since that’s where it needs to be the firmest if it’s fresh. The greens of the plant shouldn’t feel wilted and old if the plant is still useable. You should also squeeze them a bit to make sure they are not hollow on the inside.
The plant should also feel like it’s a bit too heavy for its size if it’s ready to be eaten and spongy. It’s also best to buy them in season since they are a seasonal plant.
Green Luobo Radish Production & Farming in Texas
The same production rules apply as they would with any other radish except that this one becomes mature and useable faster. The radish is available during the spring and fall months since it has a rather long maturity period of as much as 60 days.
They prefer cooler weather which makes northern Texas the best place to grow them in our state, but even that can sometimes be a challenge. Plant seeds ½” deep, in rows spaced 18” apart. It’s best to sow 6 seeds per foot and to keep trimming them to 4-6 inches apart because they will spread.
The seeds and the plant needs to be kept moist at all times and that’s the biggest expense you’ll have in growing this vegetable. It’s also important to use crop rotation on the soil on which you’re growing them because that will keep the soil fertile.
When the radishes are harvested, you shouldn’t leave the roots in the ground, especially if the temperatures are high. Seeds should be saved since it’s a two-year plant. However, they should also be brought inside and cooled since that’s the only way for them to grow next year.
Pesticides
Due to its taste and the nature of the skin green luobo radish requires little pesticides to be protected. Fertilizers are still used on it even in most GMO free farms and gardens.
Geography
The plant is of the Chinese origin and it plays a big role in the local culture and cuisine. From there it has moved to Korea where it has become an essential part of stew and soup recipes due to its spicy but still mild flavor. It has also become an important part of Indian cuisine over time,
In the west, it’s mostly used in Britain and in the US, due to their history of migration. It’s mostly a common vegetable used by local Indian and Chinese population, but with the interest in world food and healthy dinning the market is expanding.
Packaging
There’s no need to pack luobo radishes with great care due to their size and skin. They can be put in large cardboard boxes and moved from the field to the stores with no more protection. They are sometimes kept with leafs on but not always.
They are mostly sold by the pound or individually depending on what kind of store you’re buying them in.
Enjoying Green Luobo Radish
If you want to keep the radish fresh you should keep them in ice cold water for a few hours before you start cooking. Wash them and chop of the green parts if there are any. Slice of the root with a sharp knife.
You can chop it or slice it any way you want depending on the type of meal you’re trying to prepare. It’s also useful to douse them in sauce or oil if you want to make sure that the taste is made even more mild.
It’s also possible to use a mandoline to chop the luobo radish into even smaller pieces and add them to salad.
Storage
Don’t wash or peal the radishes when you’re storing it. Just keep it in a plastic bag and put it in a cold part of freezer. They could stay there for up to ten days.
Cooking
There are a few ways to cook green loubo radish but its’ most commonly used in salads, sandwiches, and in soups. It’s spicy in taste and crunchy in texture meaning that it should be mixed with vegetables that will make the dish milder and more smooth.
They can also be added to stews and soup without any special rules or considerations on your part, you just need to add them according to taste and to allow them to cook with the stew and give them a punchy flavor.
Nutrition
Since ancient times, Chinese believe that eating radish and other brassica group vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and napa cabbage would bring wholesome health.
They are one of very low-calorie root vegetables. Fresh root provides just 16 calories per 100 grams. Nonetheless; they are an excellent source of antioxidants, electrolytes, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber.
Radish, like other cruciferous and Brassica family vegetables, contains isothiocyanate antioxidant compound called sulforaphane. Studies suggest that sulforaphane has proven role against prostate, breast, colon and ovarian cancers by its cancer-cell growth inhibition, and cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.
Fresh roots are a good source of vitamin-C; provide about 15 mg or 25% of DRI of vitamin C per 100 g. Vitamin-C is a powerful water soluble antioxidant required by the body for synthesis of collagen. It helps the human body scavenge harmful free radicals, prevention from cancers, inflammation and help boost immunity.
Also, they contain adequate levels of folates, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, thiamin and minerals such as iron, magnesium, copper and calcium.
When Are Green Luobo Radish in Season in Texas?
To find out when Green Luobo Radish are in season in Texas, please check the seasonal chart below. Why is this important? We are rarely encouraged to think about the physical lengths our food travels before arriving on the market shelves. And all of this travel comes with a hefty environmental cost that is concealed from the consumer’s eye. One of the most salient benefits to eating seasonally is that you are effectively reducing your carbon footprint and supporting a more geographically sustainable food economy. Check other fruit and veg that’s in season in Texas now.
