July is not the best time to grow radishes. But if the first crop has already been harvested, but you still want fresh radishes, you can try to go for the second run. The main thing is to follow a few rules.
What's the problem with radishes in July?
Radish is a fast growing crop. It would seem that such a thing: sow the seeds on the bed vacated after the first harvest - and you will have radishes again by autumn.
I myself used to reason like this before, until I ran into a problem: it’s not enough just to sow - a radish can either wither right in the ground, or start shooting. As a result, instead of good juicy and spicy root crops, sluggish who knows what grows.
The problem is daylight: radishes need 9-10 hours to grow, and in summer the sun can illuminate the garden for up to 14 hours. In nature, wild relatives of radish in the second half of summer cease to gain mass of the root crop and, focusing on sunlight, proceed to reproduction - they release an arrow with peduncles, grow flowers and future flowers on it seeds. Since we gardeners do not grow radishes for the sake of seeds, we do not need this.
And just in July, when the “crown of summer” has passed, the daylight hours are slightly shortened - and it is quite suitable for the vegetable to grow suitable for the table.
The second problem is temperature. Radish loves warmth, but the summer heat "bakes" it right in the soil. Even daily watering does not help.
What to plant?
But it's still better to be safe. For the second planting, I choose those varieties and hybrids that shoot less and are more resistant to high temperatures:
- Sora;
- Ilke;
- Rebel;
- Carmen;
- Pharaoh;
- French breakfast.
All these varieties can be grown in the summer - until August (then they will ripen in September).
Where to plant?
Sowing radishes in the summer is not worth it after horseradish, cabbage, daikon or swede. But, let's say, if you decide to dig up an overgrown and degenerated area with strawberries, this will be just right.
Sowing radishes on radishes is also highly undesirable. If there is no other choice, you can, but still it is better to find another bed.
For the second planting of root crops, I choose a site where the sun appears only in the first or only in the afternoon. This also solves the problems with too long daylight hours. Before that, I dig up a plot to the depth of a bayonet, adding compost (a bucket per square meter) and wood ash (at least a glass for the same area) there. I harrow the dug-up bed with a rake, spill it with plenty of water - and the next day you can already sow.
Before planting, I sort out the seeds. I throw out the doubtful, damaged and ugly ones, the rest I soak for a day on wet wipes. After that, I start seeding.
How to sow and grow?
You can sow in several ways:
- Just spread the seeds over the bed with your fingers. I do not like this method - I have to thin out.
- "Five by five" - the seeds are manually laid out in the garden at a distance of 5 cm from each other. For simplicity: 5 cm is the average length of a matchbox.
- Sowing in egg cartons: the carton is pressed into the soil, the seeds are laid out in cells, then they are covered with fertile soil on top and spilled abundantly. While the plant is developing, the cardboard in the ground has time to rot. I tried this, but this method is more suitable for spring planting, and it's a pity to rot in the summer.
- With a mechanical seeder. The simplest can be done with your own hands: a round plastic box is taken (for example, from under seaweed), holes are pierced in the sides with a hot nail at the right distance. Seeds are poured into the box, and it rolls over the bed like a wheel: the seeds themselves will fall at the right distance from each other.
In any case, I usually sow at a depth of 1 to 3 cm - depending on the variety.
Well, then everything is as usual: water, powder with wood ash from insects and for feeding, loosen the soil. If it was not possible to choose a suitable site, then every day I shade the bed with covering material for 2–3 hours to avoid overexposure.
After about 25-30 days, the first radishes can already be pulled out for salad.
Conclusion
Growing radishes in the summer is not practiced by everyone, but in vain: it grows no worse than in spring. But since this case has its own subtleties, I will be glad if you write about your experience.
Read also: When to plant radishes in the summer for the second time and how to do it right
Another related article: Morozko pepper: description, secrets of successful cultivation
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