Pulled a couple of radishes and there was nothing but a skinny root. I didn't keep them in the ground for the required # of days, but they were about 80% done. The type of radish I have look like a carrot. Shouldn't there be something there? How do you know when radish is big enough to eat?

When radishes are ready, it's obvious. The shoulders of the bulbs will be visible beneath the crowns and you can very easily pluck them from the ground after watering the row.

Mid-July is pretty late for radishes. I start sowing them in March (under row covers) and replant about every two weeks. They like it sunny and cool. Most years mine are done by July 4, and after that it's just really healthy, but inedible radish greens and thin little roots. You can still eat the roots, they just aren't as nice and easy to work with like real bulbous radish roots.

What variety did you plant? I do Cherry Belle and French Breakfast. I still have radishes coming on, but it's been really cool this year, still haven't seen consistent night time temps above 50 (43 degrees last night).

Don't know the name off hand. Maybe Burpee and they look like litle carrots and make giant greens. Will have to dig the pack out of my shed.

Did you thin them? They need room. The long varieties take up to 45 days or more. I plant Giant Salad Radishes and German Giant. And always let some go to seed for the next year. They will even self-seed themselves in Fall.

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Originally posted by Mumsey:
Did you thin them? They need room. The long varieties take up to 45 days or more. I plant Giant Salad Radishes and German Giant. And always let some go to seed for the next year. They will even self-seed themselves in Fall.

No thinning. Planted them 2 inches apart (I think) Thought that was enough space?

Radishes need full sun and constant damp ground. If they dry out they will bolt and never make a decent root. They also need room as stated. Putting a seed every 2 inches in the row is a good plan. It makes good radishes for me. Cherry Belle has been the most reliable producer for me. The long rooted ones seem to be pretty picky about conditions to make a decent root.

Here I can plant radishes any time all season, as long as I keep them damp they do well. We get very few days in the 90s though. I think if it gets hotter radishes will fail.