Kiva Radish - Vilmorin seeds

The Kiva radish is a variety of excellent taste quality that stands out for its earliness. This radish, which can be planted every month, offers semi-long, red roots with a small white tip.

The radish is a fairly hardy annual or biennial vegetable plant. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family and is mainly consumed raw, both its roots and its freshly picked leaves, which can be added to soups. There are radishes of different colours, from red, which are the most common, to pink, white or grey. They are generally classified into 2 main types: monthly radishes, represented by varieties with small roots, and winter radishes, represented by varieties with long roots.

There are also Japanese radishes, known as "daikon," which have a long, white, conical root and are sometimes sold as turnips. Winter radishes have a large, taproot with black, pink, or purple skin. Its flesh is white. Its leaves are green and deeply divided, forming a compact cluster at the base of the plant. Its taste is much stronger than that of monthly radishes. It has 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 antiscorbutic and diuretic and are recommended for people with liver and gallbladder problems.

Harvest and storage:

Harvesting monthly and summer radishes takes place 4 to 6 weeks after sowing. Regular harvests, as soon as the radishes are formed, without letting them grow too large, help to limit the risk of them 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 winter radishes takes place 4 to 5 months after sowing. Harvest by gently lifting with a fork-spade and let them dry on the ground before bringing them in. If they stay in the ground during winter, cover the soil with straw.

Gardener's tip:

Sow radishes and carrots on 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. When accompanied by mint, radishes are less susceptible to attacks from 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 a planter.