Spring Radishes

Spring Radishes grow quickly and last for only a short time. They love cool weather but can’t handle the heat. There are a few spring radish kind and the most popular is Cherry Belle. There are other spring radishes kinds like Celesta, April Cross, Champion, Red King, French Breakfast, Gala, Cherry Bomb, Rover, White Hailstone, Purple Plum, Snow Belle, Bora King, and Crimson Giant.

 

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Brassicales

Family: Brassicaceae

Genus: Raphanus

Species: R. raphanistrum

Trinomial name: Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. Sativus

Spring Radish Trivia

• Americans eat around four hundred million pounds of radishes and most of it is eaten in salads.
• The ancient Egyptians used the oil from spring radishes before the use of olive oil was popular.
• Christmas Eve in Oaxaca in Mexico is also the Night of the Radishes, which is an event where people cut large radishes in animal shapes.

Spring Radish Buying Guide

The easiest and the foremost way of knowing if the radish you’re buying is good enough for your needs is to look at the greens. They should be fresh and bright green. Avoid brownish and wilted leaves. The radishes should be dense and you should also watch out for any insect damage they may have caused. 

Spring Radish Production & Farming in Texas

These vegetables are grown for its root, but the leaves can also be eaten which are best when young and tender.

 

Radishes are usually grown in partial shade, they don’t require a lot of room and will ripe quickly making them one of the easiest and accomodating vegetables. Avoid crusty soil and preferably use well-drained and loose soil as it will allow the roots to expand more easily. To prepare it, remove the rocks, sticks, and anything unnecessary from the soil. You can mix grass and leaves into the soil to make it a bit richer.

 

Pesticides

 

Radishes are sometimes used as natural pesticides because of their hot and peppery flavor which insinuates they posses isothiocyanates. They are often used to keep pests and pathogens away from the vegetable.

 

Geography

 

It isn’t certain where radishes originated from but it is believed that they came from central and western India and China. Radishes were also grown by Egyptians and ancient Greeks. They were first grown in Europe in the sixteenth century. 

 

In Texas, you should plant the seeds as soon as you’re able to work on the soil in spring. The plants should be up between four to six days. To keep the soil from crusting, scratch it with a rake. Harvest them while they’re still young and tender, if they’re left in the ground for too long they will become tough and stringy.

 

Packaging

 

Radishes can either be sold with or without leaves. They are usually sold in batches where they’re tied together with a string. 

They can also be packaged and sold in plastic bags. But these aren’t used that much as of recently to try and ease up on the plastic.

 

Enjoying Spring Radishes

Spring Radishes may be eaten in many different ways but they’re usually best while eaten raw alone or in salads. They’re also often served raw with butter. Spring Radishes can also work thrown in tacos, roasted, sliced super thin as a peppery ingredient, made into a soup, or grilled with steak.

 

Storage

 

To store Spring Radishes, you should first cut off the leaves and roots. Put them in a paper towel before placing them in a plastic bag. Place them in the refrigerator and can last up to a week. They can last a few days more if you change the paper towel.

 

Cooking

 

Spring Radish Salad is in no doubt the most popular way to eat Spring Radishes. To get the dressing, put the grapefruit-juice over medium-low heat. After it’s done, put it aside to cool. When it cooled a little bit, whisk grapefruit juice, mustard, vinegar, honey, and soy sauce, while seasoning it with salt and pepper in a medium bowl. While whisking, slowly pour olive oil as well. When the dressing is done, combine the radishes with fennel and watercress in a medium bowl. Place the grapefruit, avocado, and oranges on a platter and sprinkle it with dressing. Top it with the radish mixture and serve.

 

Nutrition

Spring Radishes are healthy and there are a few benefits that you acquire from them.

• They are great in protecting your organism against cancer
• They support a healthy digestive system
• They hold antifungal properties

Spring Radishes are also a great source of:

• Vitamins K and B6
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Folate

When Are Spring Radishes in Season in Texas?