The first seasonal vegetable to appear on sale in the spring is radishes. With it comes a spring mood, and the body rejoices in the first vitamins. Plants grown with your own hands are always tastier and more environmentally friendly, so many people with a summer cottage try to grow early vegetables with their own hands. In order for growing radishes in a greenhouse to achieve the desired result, you need to know not only agricultural technology, but also the characteristics of this crop, and the tips and tricks of experienced gardeners will also come in handy.
It’s easy to grow radishes in a greenhouse
Radish is an annual plant; according to its biological classification, it belongs to the Radish genus, which, in turn, belongs to the Brassica family. All parts of the plant are edible: root vegetables are used in salads, leaves are used for soups. Even if you plan to eat only the fruits, the green tops will also need to be given attention when growing radishes in a greenhouse.
Photosynthesis occurs in the leaves of plants (the absorption of carbon dioxide from the environment and its transformation into useful substances necessary for development), so their condition directly affects the formation of the underground part.
Interesting: Radishes were also selected for a project to study the characteristics of growing plants in zero gravity, carried out on the International Space Station. Scientists have considered that this vegetable, due to its short growing season (only 20-45 days), is excellent for cultivation in space. In addition, the entire plant is eaten, which is very economical.
Radishes are rich in vitamins B1, A and C, they contain iron, potassium and phosphorus
A little about the variety of varieties
Radish roots come in different configurations and different colors. The most commonly bred varieties are those with a round or cylindrical (elongated) shape that are pink or red-pink in color. There are also unusual colors: white, yellow, purple. When choosing such varieties to grow for sale (and for yourself), it is worth considering that the word “radish” is still associated with shades of red, so the original colors may not cause either delight or appetite.
Which color will you choose?
Choosing varieties for planting is the simplest thing; it all depends on your own desires. Hybrids (marked F1) are characterized by greater resistance to diseases and demonstrate increased productivity. Varietal varieties have more pleasant taste.
Hybrids are not suitable for enthusiasts who prefer to grow radishes in a greenhouse from their own seeds. In order for a radish to bloom, it is not dug up, but left; over time, the plant produces arrows on which flowers appear, and then the seeds ripen. From three plants you can collect up to 100 g of planting material.
You can harvest radishes in a greenhouse from March and throughout the entire season - until November. The varieties are characterized by a ripening period: early ripening (up to 25 days), medium (35 days) and late (up to 45 days). You can grow one variety, then, for uninterrupted supply to the table, you need to sow new seeds every two weeks. You can select varieties with different growing seasons: from 20 to 45 days, in which case you will need to plant seeds less often - once a month.
- “French Breakfast” has elongated, dense root vegetables of a soft pink color with a white tip, does not produce shoots, and is an early ripening variety.
- Dutch hybrids, for example, “Irene F1″ and “Celeste F1″ are characterized by round fruits of bright red color, the varieties are intended for greenhouse cultivation, develop well in conditions with insufficient light, and ripen 25-30 days after sowing.
French Breakfast radishes look sophisticated and appetizing
From domestic varieties, it is better to choose those that are intended for cultivation in closed ground, for example, “Okhotsky” or “Molniya F1”. Also pay attention to such characteristics as resistance to bolting, the formation of hollowness in root crops, and disease resistance will not hurt.
Agricultural technology for growing crops
Growing radishes in a greenhouse is not difficult; the plant is not considered capricious and does not make serious demands on living conditions. The main problems that vegetable growers face in the process of growing crops:
- looseness of root crops;
- bitterness;
- formation of flower stalks before harvest (the taste spoils).
All problems can be solved by the correct choice of varieties and adherence to growing methods.
Preparing the soil for planting
Work on growing radishes in a greenhouse begins with preparing the soil. It is processed twice: in autumn and early spring. In October, they dig up to a shallow (10-15 cm) depth, loosen and add humus. Its consumption per square meter is approximately 3-4 kg.
You can use complex formulations, for example, azofoska according to the instructions, or add superphosphate (50 g) and potassium salt (15 g) per square meter. Spring work consists of fertilizing with nitrogen-containing compounds, for example, ammonium nitrate, which will need 12-18 g per square meter.
If grown incorrectly, radishes begin to bloom instead of forming root crops.
Radishes grow well in lands where tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, onions or legumes previously grew. It is not recommended to grow it after cabbage and radish, as there is a high risk of infection by mucous bacteriosis and powdery mildew.
Radishes are not picky about soil composition, but plants prefer loose soils with a pH of 5.5-7.0. Too acidic soil is limed to prevent the plants from getting sick. On heavy soils, radishes feel good, but quickly produce flower stalks, which leads to the fact that the root crop becomes tasteless or completely inedible.
Advice: Radishes are not fertilized with manure, as this leads to the formation of shapeless roots.
Seed sowing technology
Seedlings are not grown, since radishes are considered a cold-resistant vegetable with a short growing season. Sowing radishes in a greenhouse is immediately carried out on the beds. After the spring application of fertilizers, the soil is loosened and furrows or holes are prepared. When grown in rows, the grooves are laid at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. A more professional method is to use markers: radishes are planted according to a pattern of 5 by 5 cm, 6 by 6 cm, and so on. The holes and trenches are spilled with water and lightly sprinkled with ash, which is a source of potassium and trace elements.
To prepare the holes, special mats (markers) are used, but you can also use a rake with a suitable tooth spacing
In order for the seeds to hatch faster, they are soaked for a couple of hours in warm water. A number of vegetable growers, adherents of eco-farming, recommend using the water in which eggs were boiled for these purposes. There is also a modern way - the use of growth stimulants. In this case, it is better to give preference to natural and biological drugs, for example, “Zircon” or “Epin” show good results.
After the procedure, the seeds are slightly dried and carefully placed in the grooves, maintaining a distance of 2-3 cm between them. The depth of planting material is 2-2.5 cm. The top is covered with soil and lightly compacted. It is useful to mulch the planting with a layer of peat.
When to plant radishes in a greenhouse? Work begins in the first ten days of March, when the soil has already warmed up sufficiently (temperature at least 0-3 °C). Plants can be grown in heated greenhouses all year round. In other cases, you will have to wait for suitable weather.
For seeds to germinate, an air temperature of 15 °C is required, so the planting is covered with film at first. The peat layer and film provide the necessary temperature conditions. After germination, the film covering is removed, the planting is loosened and kept moist. Removing the cover leads to a drop in temperature, which is very good for plants. The sprouts can withstand frosts down to -4°C. In the future, it is not recommended to increase the temperature in the greenhouse above 16°C.
If the planting is thickened, thin out, removing weaker specimens
The crop does not tolerate dense planting well, so thinning is necessary, especially in cases where the seeds were sown not in a spot pattern, but in a row. The distance between seedlings is left 2-5 cm so that the plants do not flower prematurely and the root crops do not become loose.
Caring for radish beds
This plant does not welcome excessive amounts of nitrogen fertilizers, so radishes are not additionally fed. In addition, root vegetables are prone to the accumulation of nitrates, but the plants like to be watered. Soil moisture must be controlled to prevent the radishes from becoming flabby.
Watering is carried out as necessary. During the period from the appearance of sprouts to harvesting, one or two full waterings should be carried out: 10-15 liters of water are used per square meter. Hybrids tolerate insufficient light well, but varietal varieties may develop worse, although during the spring-summer period radishes have enough light.
Tip: radishes grown at soil moisture of 60-65% have large root crops and high taste. Such earth, when squeezed in the hand, becomes compressed, and when the palm opens, it easily disintegrates.
Weeding is a mandatory part of agricultural technology
For preventive purposes, to protect plantings from the cruciferous flea beetle, which can destroy plants within a couple of days, they are dusted with wood ash mixed with lime and tobacco dust. Powdering is done once a week from the moment of the first shoots.
The crop is harvested every four to five days. Usually the return occurs within 1-2 weeks.
Advice: if some seedlings have stretched out, you need to add soil around the plant, that is, hill up. The procedure is carried out during the period of “molting” of the root, when its skin cracks and it begins to thicken. Powdering and hilling delay bolting and favor the formation of juicy root crops.
Features of breeding in winter
Growing radishes in a greenhouse in winter is quite possible, but in the northern regions it is only feasible in heated greenhouses.
Important rules for winter gardening
In the middle zone, heating is not necessary, but is desirable in case of force majeure cold snaps. The greenhouse must be covered with polycarbonate. Radishes are planted in unheated rooms before winter, that is, at the end of October or November. In fully equipped premises, the crop is grown throughout the year.
The agricultural technology for growing radishes in a greenhouse in winter does not differ from the generally accepted one. Sown beds are also mulched and covered with film. If the air temperature “overboard” drops below -7-10 °C, add another layer of shelter (made of agrofibre). Although the crop is frost-resistant, the soil should be warm - from +2-7°C.
Shelving makes cleaning easy
Dutch varieties that tolerate low light levels are especially useful for winter breeding. If you use them, you can do without additional lighting and save money on electricity bills. Based on reviews from professional farmers who have been growing radishes in winter for many years, we can distinguish the following varieties:
- “Cherriet F1″ is a high-yielding variety that does not produce shoots; The root vegetables are quite large, do not taste bitter, and voids do not form in them.
- “Sora F1” is suitable for year-round cultivation, has large fruits, and tolerates any daylight conditions well.
- “Fanal” is an ultra-early ripening variety: radishes ripen already on the 20th day after the sprouts appear.
The nuances of regular care
After the seeds have sprouted, the covering is removed in the morning to allow access to light, and returned back in the evening. They usually sow using the point method: 6 by 6 cm, or 7 by 7 cm; the greater the distance, the earlier the radishes ripen and have larger root crops. Dutch breeders give agrotechnical recommendations on packages with their products; it makes sense to use them.
Caring for plants comes down to watering, but the main thing is maintaining a certain regime of heat and humidity. Before the first shoots, the air temperature should be around 20-25°C, then three to four days it is sharply reduced to 5-6°C. After the cotyledon leaves unfold, but before the true leaves appear, the temperature is maintained at 8-10°C; after a couple of days, a constant regime is set at 12-18°C. Humidity should be around 60-70%. Before the formation of root crops, the beds are watered rarely, then the amount of water is increased.
Harvest of radish variety Sora F1
Growing radishes in a greenhouse is a simple undertaking that allows you to get an early, environmentally friendly harvest for your family and friends. Of course, when growing vegetables for commercial purposes or in winter, more experience, skills and special equipment will be required, but even novice vegetable growers can do this procedure.
Radishes are one of the most favorite root vegetables among our compatriots, and this is understandable. What is okroshka without fresh radishes?! Opportunity grow all year round vitamins in the garden only the greenhouse gives. In addition, it is also . In winter, a fresh vegetable grown not by an industrial producer, but by a caring gardener, will go in great demand.
Greenhouse requirements
In winter, especially in the middle and northern parts of our country, grow radishes will not work, so it’s better to stop at . Growing radishes in a polycarbonate greenhouse has several advantages:
- protects well from adverse weather conditions (wind, precipitation);
- can be equipped with artificial lighting;
- in it easier to install an irrigation system and heating;
- There are special windows for ventilation.
Growing radishes, in the southern regions, where negative temperatures are rare, bioheating can be used(rotted manure, preferably horse manure) or biofuel.
In the middle zone and in the northern regions, technical heating is more suitable - solid fuel or electric boiler, with the help of which the water will be heated in the pipes that form a circuit throughout the greenhouse.
How to grow radishes in a greenhouse? To grow radishes in a greenhouse in spring and winter for sale, the cassette method or on racks in containers is used. In this case, the heating circuit will maintain the desired temperature at all times soil.
Varieties for the greenhouse
How to grow radishes in a greenhouse in winter? More for year-round cultivation early ripening and early varieties are suitable radishes for greenhouses. Although the combination of varieties with different ripening speeds is more worthy of attention.
- An early ripening variety will produce a harvest in 20 days;
- The early variety will ripen in 30 days;
- Mid-season can be harvested after 40 days;
- Late varieties have planting and ripening periods of more than 40 days.
If you plant radishes with different ripening periods, you can have a constant harvest.
Early ripening varieties radishes for greenhouses, recommended by experts:
- « Ultra early red» can be eaten already 20 days after sowing. This is a beautiful round red root vegetable weighing up to 15 g with excellent taste. By the way, its leaves are used in salads and soups.
- « Children's F1"When to plant radishes of this variety in a greenhouse? According to the manufacturer, radishes will appear on your table within 16 days after planting. Juicy, mildly spicy variety.
- « 18 days“—radishes of this variety actually ripen within the period indicated in the name. It has an elongated cylindrical shape and a mild, not spicy taste. The pulp is juicy and tender.
- « Firstborn F1"will please you with a harvest on the 16-18th day. It is characterized by high yield and resistance to fruit cracking. The yield of radish per 1 square meter in a greenhouse is up to 3.5 kg. Radishes are large – up to 35 g, strong, juicy and sweet.
Early varieties radishes for greenhouses:
- « Early red» produces a high yield and is resistant to bolting;
- « French breakfast»has a cylindrical shape and good taste;
- « Heat"- classic radish in shape and taste.
- « Celeste F1» - producer of this variety of radish for greenhouses - Holland. It has good yield, excellent taste, and is also unpretentious in cultivation and care.
Of course, there are a huge number of radish varieties. What are the best radish varieties for greenhouses? When choosing seed material, it is better to focus on the zoning of the variety and the soil composition favorable for its cultivation.
Selecting and preparing seeds
When choosing seeds, pay attention to their size. Radish seeds for greenhouse must be large, up to 3.5 mm. Standard home sorting is to sift them through a sieve with large mesh (2 mm). Those that remain in it are planted in the greenhouse, those that have been sifted - in the spring in open ground.
Sowing radishes in a greenhouse: before planting soak the seeds for a couple of days. To do this, wet a soft cloth or gauze and place the seeds between its layers. Keep the gauze damp at all times. The seeds should produce tiny sprouts. Then treat the seeds with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Rinse them and immerse in a growth stimulator solution for 4 hours, diluted according to instructions.
Then rinse lightly again and dry on a cloth until it flows. That's it, the seeds are ready. It is recommended to use different varieties when planting for the first time, so that later you can decide on your taste preferences.
Planting and care
Technology for growing radishes in a greenhouse.
How to plant radishes in a greenhouse? Planting in a greenhouse radishes: for sowing seeds furrows are made in the garden bed at a distance of 10 cm from each other. The furrows are shed with water. Hatched seeds are sown to a depth of 1.5 cm with an interval of 3-4 cm.
It is important to maintain planting depth. If you plant seeds deeper, there is a risk of losing 50% of the harvest.
The soil
How to grow radishes in a greenhouse? The soil is prepared in the fall, plant residues from previous crops are removed from it. It is dug up and fertilized with humus. Radishes do not like acidic soil, so liming may be required. Before planting, the soil is loosened well and, if necessary, warmed up. To do this, pour hot water over it and cover it with film for 2-3 days.
In the southern regions and in the temperate climate, this is not necessary. The soil for radishes should be loose and well-permeable to moisture. The best drainage for it will be wood ash. A potassium-phosphorus mixture is used as a fertilizer.
Temperature
For planting seeds in a greenhouse temperature maintained at 10-12°C. In order for radishes to germinate, a temperature of 16-18°C is needed. When the first cotyledon leaves appear, the temperature is reduced to 8-10°C and kept this way for 3 days. Then it is raised again to 16-20°C.
Lighting
Ideal lighting would be 1200-1300 lux. Daylight hours should be 12 hours V. If it is winter or the beginning of spring, the plantings must be illuminated using LED or fluorescent lamps. The radish does not need more than 12 hours of light, otherwise it may shoot out. When growing radishes in a greenhouse in the summer, when daylight hours are long, the ridges are shaded so that flower stalks do not form on the radishes.
Watering and fertilizing
Radish loves moist soil, so you can’t let it dry out. This is fraught with loss of harvest. If you choose the cassette growing method, keep in mind that watering should be done from below, through the drainage hole.
Watering is carried out to a depth of 10-15 cm. To reduce moisture evaporation, the soil can be sprinkled with peat or humus. To avoid sudden increases in humidity in the greenhouse after watering her needs to be ventilated. Otherwise, there is a risk of plant disease with blackleg.
Fertilizing should be done only if it was not sufficiently enriched in the fall or before planting. In this case superphosphate diluted in water is added, urea and wood ash.
Thinning and weeding
How are radishes grown in a greenhouse? Cylindrical radishes are planted at a distance of 3-4 cm, round ones - 5-6 cm. After the seedlings are several days old, they needs to be thinned out. If this is not done, then each plant, trying to gain space, will increase green mass to the detriment of the developing root crop. During the growth of radish beds light loosening and weeding required from weeds.
Disease Prevention
The same soil used in the greenhouse is used in the garden. And just like other vegetables, radishes are susceptible to diseases. To prevent them, seedlings are sprayed with a solution of laundry soap and wood ash in a ratio of 1:2.
This will protect the plantings from powdery mildew and blackleg, and will also repel cabbage moths, caterpillars and cruciferous midges. As you can see, with minimal labor and financial costs you can harvest radishes all year round. Radishes grown in a greenhouse are in no way inferior in taste and beauty to their soil counterpart.
Video about planting radishes in a greenhouse:
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Radishes are one of the first vegetables to appear on tables. The vegetable has earned its popularity not only due to its unique harsh taste, but also due to its ability to replenish reserves of vitamins and other useful substances used up over the winter. That is why every gardener is in a hurry to get his harvest early. When is the best time to sow this wonderful vegetable called radish in a greenhouse? How to plant it correctly in spring? The answers to these questions will be covered in the article.
What radishes can be found in the garden beds?
Radishes are an annual plant from the cruciferous family that has a very short growing season.
Nowadays, many varieties have been developed that differ in ripening time, appearance and taste. Root vegetables can have round, conical and cylindrical shapes. Their color can be pink, red, purple, with or without a white tip. There are also varieties with pure white root vegetables. There are two groups of this early vegetable:
- Asian radish;
- European.
Varieties from the first group ripen late, are large in size, and are stored for a long time. They are not suitable for sowing in early spring in greenhouses.
European varieties are small in size, ripen early, and are not stored for a long time. They are recommended to be planted in greenhouses to obtain an early harvest.
Which greenhouse is suitable for radishes?
Here you need to make a choice in accordance with the purpose of growing the vegetable. If you plan to grow radishes in winter, you should install a polycarbonate structure with a heating system. And if you want to get a harvest only in the spring, an ordinary film greenhouse will be enough.
Attention! When installing the structure, regardless of the frame material, the possibility of ventilation should be taken into account. Lack of ventilation will create problems with growing radishes.
When to sow radishes
The suitable temperature for its germination is +12..+18°C. Therefore, radishes can be sown in an unheated greenhouse in mid-March to early April, depending on the region.
In order to enjoy your own harvest longer, you need to continue planting radishes of other varieties in neighboring beds at intervals of a week.
Sowing can be done in the snow. To do this, a thin layer of it is thrown into the greenhouse, and seeds are scattered on top (30 g per 10 m²). Everything is sprinkled with soil on top to form a layer of no more than 1 cm.
You can also sow in furrows no more than 1 cm deep.
Advice. Before planting, the seeds should be placed in a glass of water. Those that have sunk to the bottom can be sown. Floating specimens must be collected from the surface and discarded - they do not sprout.
Only certain varieties are suitable for early forcing.
- From domestic selection: Zhara, Rubin, Early, Zarya, Gribovsky, Teplichny. They all ripen in about 20 days.
- European varieties: Soffit, Variant. The root crops of this radish ripen, like the previous ones, after 20 days.
- Early ripening varieties: Basis, Corundum, Rhodes, Early Red, Vera, Ice Icicle. Their growing season is 18 days. They are distinguished by abundant harvests and excellent taste.
Basic growing rules
- The place in the greenhouse reserved for radishes should be well lit.
- Before planting radishes in early spring, the soil in the greenhouse is sprinkled with humus and dug to a depth of about 12 cm.
- Crops should be thinned out on time - radishes do not like thickening.
- The plant requires quite frequent watering - once every 2-3 days. 6-8 liters of water are required per 1 m².
- A cold-resistant vegetable requires frequent ventilation.
- You need to feed radishes if the tops turn yellow, which indicates a lack of nutrients. The best fertilizer is made from urea and mullein in a ratio of 1:40.
Advice. To make the soil in the greenhouse warm up faster in March, you can pour boiling water over it.
The radish harvest, if desired, can be obtained in a greenhouse all year round, which will allow you to constantly consume this healthy vegetable.
Radishes in a greenhouse: video
One of the first vegetables harvested at the dacha is radishes. Thinking about this vegetable, one immediately thinks of aromatic spring salads and, of course, okroshka made with natural bread kvass. Today there is no problem finding Israeli or Egyptian radishes on the shelves. But all this is not the same, I want something native, fresh, from my own garden and as quickly as possible.
In 2014, we bought and installed a round 4 m polycarbonate greenhouse on the site. The first thing that was planted in it in 2015 was radishes. Planting was carried out in the second half of April. Before this, compost was added to the soil and the top layer of soil was thoroughly dug up, after which it was leveled. Our soil acidity is close to neutral, maybe slightly acidic.
Be sure to carefully consider the choice of planting material. The seeds should be quite large - with a fraction of at least 2.5 mm. In polycarbonate greenhouses you can safely plant the following proven varieties: “Early Red”, “Silesia”, “Zarya”, “Rova”, “Helro” and “Warta”. Each of these varieties has early harvest ripening periods.
When planting, calculate that about 5 g of seeds should be planted per 1 m2 of greenhouse area. It is advisable to sift them through a sieve with a 2 mm mesh before planting. Additionally, I advise treating the planting material with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent the development of various infections in the seedlings.
Distribute the seeds over the surface by eye. It is better to spend a little more time and immediately arrange them evenly. In this case, you will not need to spend a lot of time on thinning in the future.
For planting, I make parallel rows-furrows at a distance of about 6 cm from each other, about 1 cm deep each. I place selected seeds in each of them at a distance of about 2 cm from each other. They germinate well already at a temperature of +2...+4 C. But the most comfortable for the growth and development of plants are indicators at damage from +16 to +20 C.
After the mass emergence of seedlings begins, it is advisable to lower the temperature inside the greenhouse to +6...+8 C for 4-5 days, so that the sprouts do not stretch too much at the beginning of growth (otherwise they will be weak).
You don’t have to worry too much about slight return frosts; radishes can tolerate short-term temperature drops down to -5 C without consequences.
An important point in growing radishes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is protecting the crop from pests. You can treat with various insecticides, but I prefer natural, proven products such as tobacco dust and wood ash (I mix them in equal proportions).
If, despite all the preparations, the seedlings are too thick, be sure to thin them out. Otherwise, neighboring plants will begin to shade each other, and the volume of “food supply” for root crops will be insufficient (leave about 2-3 cm between “neighbors”). If you neglect this rule, you will most likely end up with inexpressive small radishes.
Radishes in polycarbonate greenhouses should be watered as the top layer of soil dries, approximately once every 2-3 days. If you miss the next watering, your radishes will become coarse and will almost certainly crack as they develop. Therefore, if there are problems with the frequency of watering, perform
Radish belongs to the cabbage family, its homeland is Southeast Asia, this root vegetable spread to Europe and became a garden crop thanks to the Roman Empire. Today the vegetable is grown all over the world, and a wide variety of varieties have been obtained. The fruits themselves are small, but in the 16th century it was possible to grow radishes with a record weight of 45 kg. Growing radishes in a greenhouse is especially popular - this makes it possible to harvest several harvests a year even in regions with a cold climate. The peculiarity of the root vegetable is its easy care, rapid ripening and consumption raw, which guarantees the receipt of a large amount of vitamins.
Features of cultivation
The growth rate of radishes allows it to be planted up to four times per season. If you plant seeds in a polycarbonate greenhouse, then in conditions of sufficiently moist soil and at a temperature of +18...+25 ° C, the first shoots will appear in 3-4 days. If air is passed through the seeds in water in the laboratory, they begin to germinate within 18 hours.
Radish is a long-day plant: if daylight hours last at least 13 hours, the vegetable begins to bloom. Root crops are most actively formed at a temperature of +10…+18 °C. Average temperature conditions allow harvesting after three weeks; if the climate is colder, full ripening may be completed in 6–8 weeks.
There are several other features of growing this root vegetable:
- the best soil is sandy loam;
- the top layer of the bed should always be wet;
- radishes are not able to fight weeds on their own, so the beds need care;
- indoors, radishes do not lose their quality for a maximum of three days, so it is recommended to store root vegetables in the refrigerator (without leaves).
How to prepare the soil for sowing and choose varieties
Work on soil preparation can begin in the fall. Radishes need neutral soil, as acidic soil can cause a number of diseases in the plant. Therefore, mineral fertilizers are needed: potassium chloride (15 g per 1 m²) and superphosphate (40 g per 1 m²).
If the soil is poor in organic matter or there is its depletion caused by the previous crop, then you will have to add 5–6 kg of compost per 1 m². When this is done, the beds can be dug up, leveled with a rake and left in this state until spring.
The quality of the harvest greatly depends on the choice of seed variety, since not everyone will give the desired effect when planted in a greenhouse. The best results are achieved by varieties such as:
- “Greenhouse”, resists shooting well;
- "Zarya", resistant to stress;
- “Heat”, the variety is good for planting in early spring;
- "Saksa", the harvest is ready in less than a month.
Optimal sowing dates
Radish harvests in a greenhouse covered with polycarbonate can be harvested from April to June and later from September to January. To determine the timing of planting, you need to know the soil temperature, which should be within +12...+15 °C. When the shoots have appeared, the doors and windows of the greenhouse can be opened during the day (or the film removed) and closed at night. As soon as the average daytime air temperature reaches +25 °C, the greenhouse can be kept open during the day. However, you still need to monitor the weather: radishes can only withstand short-term cold snaps (down to -3 ° C).
If there are appropriate varieties, then the plants can be planted a second time in a month or a month and a half in order to harvest before the onset of the hot summer period. At this time, the seedlings do not need to be covered. Care consists of weeding and loosening the row spacing. Once again, radishes can be grown in a greenhouse in September, when the average temperature drops below +25 °C. Autumn fruits are considered the most delicious, since the sunlight is still strong and the plants accumulate sugar well.
If you have a heated greenhouse (the temperature must be regulated), then you can plant radishes from November to January. Special varieties that tolerate shady growing conditions will be required. Radishes in a greenhouse can be planted on any convenient day at +25 °C. When root crops begin to set, the temperature can be reduced to +22 °C, at night - to +15 °C.
Sowing
Seeds are planted in a polycarbonate greenhouse around April. The process involves placing the seeds at regular intervals into previously prepared grooves. The best depth is 1–1.5 cm.
If planted too deep, the fruits will grow very elongated; if shallow, there is a risk of the seeds drying out.
There are 3 most common methods of planting seeds: manual, mechanical (using a special seeder) and belt. The first method is the most labor-intensive, but reliable - it is used in small areas (usually up to 10 m²). At the first stage, make parallel grooves no more than 2 cm deep. The seeds of the selected variety can be dry or already soaked in advance (these will germinate faster).
The shell of radish seeds is quite delicate - they cannot be squeezed too much in your hand.
Read on the packaging what size the root crop will grow - it depends on the specific variety. Depending on the information received, the distance between the planted seeds will be within 4–10 cm. You can maintain the distance, for example, using a matchbox (5 cm) or using egg packaging: it needs to be pressed into loose soil: as a result, you will get ideal depressions on the same distance. When planting is done, cover the seeds with soil and lightly press down with a board (but do not tamp!). Now water the planted seeds so that small puddles form, just do not overdo it.
If you plan to plant radishes on an area significantly larger than 10 m², it is recommended to use a seeder. Manufacturers offer different types of hand-held devices, including:
- tape;
- single row;
- double row.
When using a seeder, whose task is to distribute planting material evenly, it is necessary to take only dry seeds. First, adjust the device to the desired depth and the optimal number of seeds to be sown. During planting, you can control the process by checking at what depth the planting is being done. In case of deviation from the norm, the seeder must be reconfigured. The downside is that if you have not checked the optimal depth or seeding rate in time, it is no longer possible to correct the bed. But once you acquire the skill, you can quickly sow a large area.
Another method of planting radishes is called strip; he is rightly considered the fastest. To carry out strip planting, you need to prepare paper strips in advance and stick seeds on them at the required distance (this can be done, for example, in winter, when you have free time). The length of the tapes is up to 2.5 m, width 5 mm. The seeds are glued with a pre-cooked paste (starch and water are boiled to the consistency of sour cream). The work is quite tedious, but planting in the spring is done in literally minutes. Before planting, make grooves, lay strips in them and sprinkle with soil, then tamp lightly.
How to care for radishes
Care is not that difficult: if the soil is well prepared, then all you have to do is monitor the temperature and humidity. At the seed germination stage, maintain +18 °C; for mass germination, it is recommended to cool the greenhouse (if possible) to +8 °C for 3–4 days so that the sprouts do not stretch.
Further care consists of maintaining +15…+20 °C during the day and +8…+10 °C at night. To prevent the appearance of pests, treat the crops with tobacco dust mixed with ash (1: 1). It is also necessary to monitor the frequency of germination: care here consists of thinning the plants, otherwise you will get small fruits (the best distance is at least 3 cm).
Watering should be done when the top layer of soil begins to noticeably dry out (about once every couple of days), but in hot weather the intensity of watering can be increased. With a lack of moisture, root vegetables become rough and tasteless (bitter).
If you try to correct the mistake and water the radishes, cracks will begin to form on the body of the fruit. Therefore, watering must be done in a timely manner.
It is also advisable to take care of the soil during ripening, which consists of filling it with peat (1 cm layer): this will retain moisture and slow down evaporation. Do not forget to ventilate the greenhouse after watering, otherwise there will be a risk of plants becoming infected with blackleg. Fertilizers can be applied simultaneously with watering. Care consists of feeding with nitrogen microelements (no more than 30 g per 1 m²).