"Bob Minchin" wrote ...
Bob Hobden wrote:
"Bob Minchin" wrote ...
This year we have tried to grow radishes having given up years ago as we
have very stony soil.
I prepared a bed with more finely sieved soil but still with small
stones in to stop it getting waterlogged.

This bed is supporting runner beans and lettuce quite successfully but
the radishes are very poor. only a few % are swelling up into the
correct globe shape. The rest are turning red OK but being very spindly
3-4mm in diameter and running along the surface of the soil.

They were sown in a shallow drill 10mm or so and covered over with fine
soil but not tamped down in any way. Should they be sown a bit deeper or
pressed in?

We have had plenty of rain in the last month or so - I guess it can't be
that it is too dry!

I am not a garden expert at all but my wife manages to grow most things
OK but we are having no luck with radishes over about 3 sowings this
year. Some seed was last years and the rest is fresh this year (Unwins I
think).

Can anyone suggest what we might be doing wrong please.


Just a thought, have you checked the pH of the soil?

No I have not got anything to do that with. I know my wife uses special
ericacious (sp?) compost for some plants like blueberries if that
indicates anything.
What pH range is best for radishes please?

It's a brassica so above pH7 if possible. Certainly not ericaceous.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
just W. of London