Daikon (Red)

(01/02) This will be the third type of Daikon Radish I've grown. I am currently growing the giant White Daikon Radish that can grow 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) long and weigh 5-6 pounds (2-3 kg). 

Previously I've grown the medium sized Red Daikon Radish that gets between 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) long. This type is a smaller verity that will mature in about 30 days and get about 2 to 2.5 inches (6-7 cm) long. I'm planting these a little past the recommended planting season, but the temperatures here will be in range for this radish to grow, so expect a good harvest. 

I planted them on 27 December and noticed sprouts today. Radishes are one of the fastest growing vegetables a gardener can grow.

On 3 January, I noticed a lot of seeds had sprouted. Many people will simply clip the excess sprouts, but I find that wasteful; instead, I gently dug them up, seperate the sprouts and replant them. I may lose a few if I damage the roots, but just a few compared to cutting them. I suspect I will get about 40 radishes. I checked them today, 5 January, and did not notice any that died. All seem to be doing well and growing quickly. 

Daikon (Red)

(12/30) I planted some more Daikon (Red) radishes. This verity is different from the Red Daikon I grew previously that was 6-8 inches long. These are much smaller (2-3 inches), but larger than the typically round radish you would find in a supermarket.

Red Daikon Radish

(6/25) Planted Red Daikon Radish seeds that I collected.

Red Daikon Radish

I pulled my last Red Daikon Radish today. It was about 8 inches (20 cm) and weighed about 1.2 lbs (550 grams). Red and White Daikon radish taste like a radish, but milder. Daikon radishes are firm and absorb flavor well. They are added to soups, minced to enhance the flavor of fish and pickled. 

Red Daikon Radish Seed Pod

I never collected the seeds from Radish (left) or Cauliflower (right) plants, but noticed today that not only due the flowers look similar, but the seed pods as well.

Red Daikon Radish

Harvested one Red Daikon Radish (20 weeks old). Daikon Radishes are sweet and very mild compared to the standard small round radishes. We use minced Radish with a dash of soy sauce when eating fish, add it to Oden and my favorite is to cut it about an inch thick, boil it until it is tender, fry it with a drop of soy sauce and melt some mozzarella cheese on top.  Yummy!

The average length of a Red Daikon Radish is between 5-8 inches (12-20 cm)

The Radish was 6.5 inches (16 cm) and weighed 589 grams (1.3 lbs)

Red Daikon Radish

The Red Daikon Radish are doing well. Technically they can be harvested at anytime, but I'm pulling them as I need them. I have about six left to harvest.

Red Daikon Radish

Red Daikon Radish grow to a length of 5 to 8 inches, but it is difficult to know when to pick them so I've been picking one every week or so. It is cool, so I suspect they are growing slowly. Normally they will reach maturity in about 6 weeks.  

This Radish was 5 inches long. I'll make sweet pickled Radish.  

It weighted 249 grams (1/2 lb).

Crowd Growing (Crown Daisy, Red Daikon, String Beans, Sweet Potato)

I have a lot going on in this planter and pleased to see everything growing so well. I want to harvest the Red Daikon, but not sure when to harvest. I read that the Daikon grow 5-8 inches, but since it is in the dirt, I'm not sure how big it actually is. I guess I'll just have to pull one and see. Stay tuned.

Swiss Chard and Red Daikon Radish

(Left) Swiss Chard (6 weeks old)

(Right) Red Daikon Radish (4 weeks old)

Fall Planting in a Sub-tropical Climate (Update)

Cilantro (Pakuchi) 

These plants are from seeds that dropped last season, but estimate they are 6 weeks old.

Sunny Lettuce (Red Leaf Lettuce)

(6 1/2 weeks old)

Crowd Growing - Planter 1

Shungiku (5 1/2 weeks old)

Red Daikon Radish (5 1/2 weeks old)

Bush Beans (6 1/2 weeks old)

Crowd Growing - Planter 2

Celery (6 weeks old)

Red Daikon Radish (5 1/2 weeks old)

Yellow Potatoes (6 weeks old)

Celery (6 weeks old)

Red Daikon Radish (5 1/2 weeks old)

Not maturing as quickly as the package claimed, but I suspect this is due to the cooling temperature, which is between mid-60's (18°C) to mid-70's (24°C). 

Green Peppers (11 1/2 weeks old)

The plant to the right is flowering and has a few small Peppers.

Eggplant (12 weeks old)

I cut off most of the diseased leaves and added some nutrients and fertilizer. It has rebounded and has about ten Eggplant growing, plus it is still flowering. As I predicted from a previous post, the Eggplant are beautifully purple with no scaring now that it has cooled down.

Green Peppers (9 1/2 months old)

Tons of Green Peppers and flowering again. I keep adding nutrients and fertilizer and it keeps going. This plant has produced over 45 Peppers in the past. We just picked six Peppers today and there are still 6 more Peppers on the plant, plus there is new leaf growth and blooming flowers so I expect many more Peppers from this one hardy plant.

Six Peppers picked today.

Japanese Sweet Potato (Beni Imo)

(1 week old)

These Beni Imo vines look wilted, but have since perked up and taken root.

Chili Peppers (Togarashi)

(8 weeks old)

Abiu Pouterie Caimito Tree

(6 weeks old)

Yellow Potato (Jagaimo)

(10 weeks old)

Swiss Chard and Red Daikon Radish

The Swiss Chard and Red Daikon Radish in my back yard are doing well. They are not growing a fast as I would like since the soil sunk quite a bit in the planter, but this will be beneficial when the plants get taller since it is so windy. I am also pleased to see no major pest problem. Raised planters are definitely the way to go.

Red Daikon Radish

Red Daikon Radish growing strong.

Red Daikon Radish, Celery

The Red Daikon Radish and Celery are growing quickly.

I separated and transplanted some of the Red Daikon Radish sprouts to a different planter because multiple seeds sprouted. They are doing fine as well.

Red Daikon Radish

I planted Red Daikon Radish seeds about a week ago and was surprised to see sprouts today.

Red Daikon Radish grows to a length of 5-8 inches (12-20 cm) and reaches maturity in 30-40 days, which is why the sprouts are growing so quickly. The planter is deep with lose organic rich soil, so I expect great results.

Red Daikon Radish

I planted some Red Daikon Radish seeds today. It is a little past the planting season, but will try anyway. It takes 30 to 40 days to grow these types of Radish. These are not the more well known round red radish, but a smaller and red version of the Japanese Daikon. I've never grown these, so stay tuned.