Radish is quite simple to harvest, the only problems can arise from leaving an already ripe radish in the ground for too long. Even if it does, you could still use it to collect its seeds later on.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Collect the Radishes
Step 1. Give the radishes time to ripen
Many varieties will ripen quickly, in just three weeks they will be ready to be harvested and consumed. Give the radishes in your garden time to ripen but, when they are ripe, be prepared to harvest them immediately.
- Spring radishes ripen quickly and tend to degrade just as quickly if you leave them a few days too long in the ground. Winter radishes require a little less attention, as they are slower to both ripen and decay when left in the ground.
- Winter radishes usually retain their properties despite the harsh climate. Some varieties can safely be kept in the garden during the winter if covered with a layer of mulch.
- While each variety has its own timing, overall, spring radishes ripen in about 20-30 days, while winter radishes need 50-60 days to ripen.
- If a radish stays in the ground for too long and goes bad, it will have a spongy and uninviting texture, as well as an almost spicy flavor.
Step 2. Check the roots
The roots of a mature radish plant are about 2.5cm long, or a little less. To check its size, remove some of the earth next to the plant.
- You can remove the dirt with your fingers or with a garden shovel.
- Radishes with roots of the right size should be harvested. If you notice any roots that are too short, cover them with soil again and allow that plant to mature further.
- Since spring radishes ripen very quickly, you should check their roots frequently when they are close to ripening.
- If you plan to harvest your winter radishes during the fall, do so before the ground freezes. If you want to try and survive through the winter, cover them with plenty of mulch and harvest them before they show signs of further growth in late winter or early spring.
Step 3. Simply pull the radishes out of the ground
Collecting radishes is pretty simple. To get them out of the ground, grab the radish at the base of the green part and pull it up. You may have to move it gently to be able to free it from the ground it is clinging to, but for many radishes a little force will be enough.
- It is important to harvest radishes as soon as they are ripe, even if you do not intend to consume them immediately. They tend to last longer if stored in the fridge than left in the ground.
- If you haven't planted your radishes too close to each other, you should be able to harvest one without disturbing the roots of the surrounding ones. It is important to be able to do this, as some radishes will ripen earlier than others.
Step 4. Cut and save the green part
Cut the green part from the top of each radish using shears or a sharp knife. If you want, you can wash them in cold running water and use them in the kitchen.
- If you plan to keep the green parts, wash them under running water and try to remove any dirt or dirt with your fingers. When you're done, pat them dry with clean paper towels.
- Put the green parts, now clean and dry, in a plastic bag. Once the sachet is closed, you can keep them in the freezer for up to three days.
- The green parts of the radish can be used for salads or other dishes that require the use of green leafy vegetables.
- If you're not going to use them, you can just throw them away right away.
Step 5. Wash and store the radishes
After cutting the green part, you can wash the radish itself under cold running water. Place the cleaned radishes in a resealable airtight bag, and refrigerate them for up to two weeks.
- You can remove most dirt and grime using your fingers but, for more stubborn dirt, use a vegetable brush while scrubbing the radish.
- Make sure the radishes are dry using paper towels before placing them in the refrigerator.
- Place the radishes in the vegetable and fresh food compartment if your refrigerator allows for it. It is an area in which the fridge will maintain the ideal conditions of humidity and temperature, allowing the radishes to keep longer.
Part 2 of 2: Collecting the Radish Seeds
Step 1. Choose which plants to use for seeds
A plant that produces seeds will no longer be good to eat. For this reason you should have radish plants in your garden separated from the others and for the sole purpose of producing seeds.
Of course, any radish accidentally left too long in the ground can be used for seeds. Having plants destined for seeds is helpful, but it doesn't mean that all of your seeds will have to come from them
Step 2. Do not touch the plants for the seeds
Continue to care for your seed plants just like you do the others, but don't disturb them. It may take another couple of weeks after ripening for the flowers and, therefore, the pods containing the seeds to begin to develop.
After ripening, the seed plants will continue to grow, and will begin to produce stems that do not have leaves. When these stems are long and strong enough, they will start producing buds. From these buds, pods will soon emerge. The pods will begin to grow, until they take on an elongated and pointed shape
Step 3. Collect the pods
Use a sharp kitchen knife or garden shears to remove the pods from the plants once the buds have completely fallen out.
If you just want to harvest the seeds so you can plant them in the future, you can also wait for the pods to turn yellow and dry before cutting them. Waiting will also make them detach more easily
Step 4. Enjoy the pods
You can wash the pods under cold running water and put them in a salad if you want. The pods are edible, and are similar in both appearance and texture to pea pods. They can be added to a salad or eaten raw as is.
Radish seeds can be sprouted while still fresh. To do this, you need to open the pods before they are dry. Collect the fresh seeds and sprout them as you would with chickpeas or beans
Step 5. Dry the pods if you intend to harvest the seeds
If you want to harvest the seeds for future use, hang the pods in a dry place, and let them dry until they take on a brownish color.
Of course, if you have dried the pods while they were still on the plant, you can skip this step and move on to the next, as they will already be dry without wasting any more time
Step 6. Open the pods
At this point, the pods are crumbly enough to open without having to use who knows what tool. Use your thumbnail to open them and pull the seeds out using your fingers gently.
- Cover your work surface with paper towels to catch any seeds that have flown away when opening the pods.
- The seeds will turn brown when dry enough. They should already be ready by the time you take them out of the pods, but if they are still too light you will need to dry them further. Dry the seeds by arranging them on paper towels to form a single layer and store them in a warm, sunny logo. They should be ready within a day.
- Alternatively, you can leave the seeds in the dry pods and open them only a few moments before planting the seeds. Sure, you will need more space to store the pods, but the seeds will certainly be more protected.
Step 7. Store the seeds
If the seeds are not completely dry, allow them to dry completely before storing. When they are dry, place them in a letter envelope or airtight container so you can keep them until you need to plant them.
- The best solution is to use a small envelope. It must be small, but large enough to hold all the seeds while still retaining some space. Make sure you close the bag tightly after putting the seeds inside.
- Whichever container you decide to use, remember to label it to remind you of what it contains and when you filled it.
