How to Grow Watermelon Radish

You may have heard of watermelon radish before, but do you know what exactly it is and how to grow it? Today we'll show you how to grow watermelon radish, a super cool exotic vegetable that will be the talk of your neighborhood!

The watermelon radish plant is an heirloom variety of the Daikon radish and are a member of the mustard family, which include arugula and turnip. The name watermelon radish comes from the fact that once sliced into, they look a lot like a cross between a watermelon and a radish, but they differ in taste as they have a much milder flavor and are a bit less peppery in taste. Let's keep reading to find out how to grow watermelon radish!

How to Grow Watermelon Radish in Your Garden

Planting Watermelon Radish:

• Purchase seeds from a reputable nursery or online. Watermelon radish seeds may be hard to find, but you'll have no problem ordering from from an online seeds catalog.
• Like radishes, watermelon radishes are just as easy to grow and very similar in planting and growing methods.
• Plant anywhere from early to late spring, and give them about 65 days to mature.
• You can plant every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest.
• Plant seeds in well drained, fertile soil.
• Soil must be sandy and rich in organic matter.
• Before planting watermelon radish seeds, amend the soil with 2-4 inches of well composted organic matter and 2-4 cups of all purpose fertilizer (16-16-8 or 10-10-10) per 100 square feet. Work these into the top 6 inches of the soil.
• Once soil temperatures have reached 40F (4C), you can sow the seeds directly into the ground.
• Sow seeds in rich soil evenly spaced in rows 6 inches apart at a depth of 1/2 inch.
• Tamp the soil down lightly and water the seeds in.
• Once seedlings are 2 inches tall, thin them to 2 inches apart.

Care:

• As the radishes grow, water them regularly
• Thin them as needed.
• Harvest radishes after about 65 days.
• Watermelon radishes are very similar to growing regular radishes.

What to Do With Watermelon Radish:

Storage:

After you've harvested your watermelon radish, it's time to use them up! You may be wondering what do you do with watermelon radish? The uses are plentiful and oh-so-delicious! First and foremost, it's important that you store them in a cool and dry place, similarly to storing potatoes or apples. You can store them for about a month, and they also keep well in the fridge.

Preparation:

Before using your watermelon radish, be sure to wash very well, removing any dirt or debris on the vegetable. Use a vegetable scrubber and water to do this. They do not have to be peeled, just like a regular radish, the entire vegetable is edible.

Quick Pickled Watermelon Radish:

One of the most common ways to use watermelon radish is to pickle them. Pickled watermelon radish are absolutely delicious, especially if you like pickled veggies. To do this, use a mandolin or a sharp knife to thinly slice the radishes and stack them on top of one another. Place the stack in a clean jar and splash with vinegar, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of sugar. Let sit for about 15 minutes, and toss to coat again. The watermelon radish should have released some liquid by now and softened. This is a quick pickle that's great to make in a pinch and works best as a side dish or in salads. If you'd rather make a bulk pickle though, check out this video courtesy of Hollis & Nancy's Homestead!

Raw Watermelon Radish:

Just like regular radish, watermelon radish can simply be thinly slices or julienned and added to all sorts of different salads. Get creative with your exotic radish!

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