Bamba Bio Radish - Vilmorin seeds

The Vilmorin organic Bamba radish is a variety that can be grown all year round or forced, and is easy to cultivate. It produces medium-length radishes with white and very firm flesh. It has the advantage of not becoming hollow.

The radish is a hardy annual or biennial vegetable plant. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family and is mainly consumed for its raw root, but its freshly picked leaves can also be used to enhance soups. Radishes come in different colours, with red being the most common, but they can also be pink, white, or gray. They are generally classified into 2 main types: the monthly radishes, which are represented by varieties with small roots, and the radish turnips, represented by varieties with long roots.

There are also Japanese radishes, known as "daikon," which have long white and conical roots and are sometimes sold as turnips. Winter radishes have a large taproot with black, pink, or purple skin. The flesh is white and the leaves are green and divided, forming a compact tuft at the base of the plant. Winter radishes have a much stronger taste than monthly radishes. They have a pungent flavor and can be eaten cooked, like turnips, or raw, like carrots. Winter radishes have many virtues: they contain vitamin C and sulfur, as well as phosphorus and magnesium. They are anti-scorbutic and diuretic, and are recommended for people with liver and gallbladder problems.

Harvesting and storage:

The monthly radishes and summer radishes can be harvested 4 to 6 weeks after sowing. Regular harvests as soon as the radishes are formed, without letting them grow too large, help to prevent them from becoming hollow, pungent, or indigestible. Monthly or summer radishes should be consumed quickly. The freshly harvested leaves can be cooked into a delicious soup.

The harvest of radish turnips takes place 4 to 5 months after sowing. Harvest them by gently lifting with a fork-spade and let them dry on the ground before bringing them indoors. If they are left in the ground over winter, cover the soil with straw.

Gardener's tip:

Sow radishes and carrots in the same row and at the same time, which naturally separates the carrot seeds. Once the radishes are harvested, there will be space for the carrots to grow. Planting mint alongside the radishes will help protect them from attacks by flea beetles, insects that feed on the leaves and create small irregular holes.

To have crunchy radishes throughout the season, it is good to spread out the sowings every 2 to 3 weeks in your garden or in containers.