If the radish shoots up early and suddenly develops flowers, it is too late for the harvest. The plants need optimal growth conditions. If the plant has been able to complete its development phase, speed is required.
Radish bears beautiful white flowers
This is how radish grows
Most cultivars grow as biennial vegetables, so the inflorescence develops in the second year. If the crop develops excessive leaves in the first growing season, root growth stagnates and the plant prepares for flower development while the roots do not gain mass. This development cannot be stopped or reversed.
Causes of growth spurts
If it comes to premature shooting, the environmental conditions are suboptimal. Even if the root vegetables are no longer producing crops, you should get to the bottom of the stressors. This will prevent the error from repeating itself.
Nutrient supply too high
As a medium eater, radish needs a balanced ratio of nutrients. Overfeeding will cause the vegetable plant to overgrow and develop a lot of leaf mass. It is not uncommon for these suboptimal conditions to lead to premature bolting. It is sufficient if you improve the bed with compost four weeks before sowing. Alternatively, the plant is suitable as a catch crop or subsequent crop.
Wrong installation time
Spring and summer radishes are suitable for early to mid-early sowing from April to early August. If the sowing dates are between February and March, low temperatures of less than ten degrees can trigger premature flowering. The plants do not tolerate night frosts.
You should also not wait too long before spring sowing, as these varieties show a growth spurt when the weather is too warm. Summer varieties are a bit more tolerant, with mild and not too hot weather proving to be favourable. Autumn and winter radishes need late direct sowing.
tips
Radish is one of the long-day plants that flower from a day length of at least twelve hours. Planting in partially shaded conditions can have a small impact on growth.
Harvest radishes on time
Early varieties are ready to harvest in eight to ten weeks, while winter radishes take between 13 and 15 weeks to develop. The harvest window is very narrow in the summer months as the conditions easily induce the plants to develop buds.
Although strong taproots have developed by this time, these become inedible over time. They become lignified and taste increasingly furry. There is often only a week between when it is ready for consumption and when it is overripe. You can give yourself a little more time with winter varieties, as the plants will no longer grow due to falling temperatures.
Recognize harvest maturity
Ideally, spring varieties should be harvested shortly before the recommended harvest time, even if the roots have not yet reached their optimum size by then. If the tissue does not give way when pressed between the thumb and forefinger, it has reached its ripeness for consumption.