Radishes are hugely popular crops to grow at home. Most of the time it is the same small cylindrical radishes picked throughout summer, but there is a whole world of radish types to discover.
Daikon radishes, also known as mooli, are becoming increasingly popular among growers and these cool-season types are simple to grow. Their larger white roots can be eaten raw or cooked to add a milder flavor to dishes than summer radishes.
If you want to add more variety to the radishes you grow each year, then daikon radishes are worth considering. I have grown them in vegetable gardens and on my home plot over recent years and found them simple to cultivate and a great crop to harvest during the cooler months.
What is a daikon radish?
A daikon radish is an Asian variety that produces large white roots. These can be oblong, tapered, or round in shape, and reach many pounds in weight. The roots themselves have a crunchy taste and are often used in salads, soups, and stews.
Daikon radishes have a longer season than other types of radish and are also often used as a cover crop to improve soil health, as their roots are great at loosening compacted soil.
How to grow daikon radish from seed
As with growing any type of radish, it is best to plant daikon radish seeds directly into the soil where they will grow. The time to sow seeds outdoors will depend on your US hardiness zone as they are a cool-season crop best sown directly in late summer - around two months before your first predicted frost date.
While many radish varieties are grown from early spring onwards, oriental types like daikon are better suited to late summer sowings. They are not as fast-growing vegetables as other types of radish and prefer the cooler weather of fall, rather than the warmer temperatures of late spring and early summer.
You can plant daikon radish seeds in beds or raised garden beds. While you can grow many types of radishes in pots, daikon have larger taproots and need more space to develop - which unfortunately makes them trickier for vegetable container gardens.
‘Grow daikon radish in full sun to partial shade, says Ashleigh Smith, managing editor at True Leaf Market. ‘Daikon winter radish grows best in loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a pH of 6.5-7. However, it is also known to help improve compact, heavy soils when grown as a cover crop and allowed to decompose back into the soil.’
Prepare the soil by weeding, removing large stones or debris, and raking it level. Sow the seeds half an inch deep and 1-2 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. Keep the seeds moist for germination and thin the seedlings as they develop to a spacing of 4-6 inches.
Seed packets of daikon radish that can grow roots 2 to 4 inches in diameter and 6 to 20 inches long in as little as 45 days
Caring for daikon radishes
Daikon radishes tend to grow in the cooler temperatures of fall, though watering is still an important part of looking after the crop. The plants do not have high watering requirements yet the ground wants to be moist, but not sitting too wet. Keeping the crops too wet when developing can cause the roots to split.
Ashleigh Smith advises: ‘As a root vegetable, the soil must be allowed to drain between waterings. Maintain moist but not saturated moisture levels. When the top inch of soil begins to feel dry, it is time to water again.’
Incorporating compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting can provide all the nutrients the crop needs over its lifetime. Avoid adding high-nitrogen fertilizers to the soil as this will encourage lots of leafy growth, rather than developing the roots.
How to harvest daikon
Daikon radishes can be ready to harvest around 60-70 days after planting the seeds, though the exact time will depend on the variety and growing conditions. Always refer to the seed packet for information on the days to maturity for any specific variety of daikon.
The roots can be lifted once they reach a usable size - it can be a useful trick to pull one to gauge its size and determine if the crops are large enough for your needs. Once the leaves reach at least 8 inches long it should be a sign that the roots have developed enough to start to be harvested.
‘Daikon radish is best harvested when the roots begin to show 1-2 inches above the soil but before the arrival of the first fall frost,’ recommends Ashleigh Smith.
To harvest radishes, gently grab the crop by the base of the leaves and lever the roots out of the ground. Take care not to tug too hard - and use a fork if required to assist with longer-rooted varieties in getting the crop out. Using too much force is a vegetable harvesting mistake that could snap the root.
Harvest the roots regularly, leaving the crop in the ground too long will cause the roots to go woody. As Ashleigh mentioned, harvest the crop before the frosts arrive. While you can use garden cloches or horticultural fleece to protect plants from frost, the quality of the daikon radishes will deteriorate after a frost.
An elegant and lightweight growing cover measuring 39"L x 20"W x 14"H that can be conveniently used to protect plants from frosts
How to grow daikon radish microgreens
Daikon radish can make fantastic microgreens to grow at home to add a spicy accompaniment to dishes. You can have a harvest within 10 days and in only four simple steps:
- Sow the seeds densely into pots or trays of quality multipurpose compost
- Cover them for two or three days so they germinate quickly in darkness
- Uncover the seedlings and grow them somewhere warm and bright for another few days
- They will be ready to harvest once the white stems have developed and before the first true leaves have formed
Organic daikon seeds to grow as microgreens that can potentially be harvested in as little as 6 days from sowing
FAQs
How big do daikon radishes get?
Daikon radishes can produce roots up to 20 inches long and four inches wide when fully mature, depending on the variety. The largest varieties can reach 20 pounds, however, the types most commonly grown in backyards produce roots weighing under two pounds.
Do you eat daikon raw or cooked?
Daikon can be eaten raw and added to salads or slaws. The root can also be cooked or baked and added to stews, stir-fries, or soups.
Radishes of all types are great vegetables for succession planting. By doing regular smaller sowings every few weeks you can be rewarded with a long harvesting season.
