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.

TIA

Bob

In article ,
Bob Minchin wrote:
This year we have tried to grow radishes having given up years ago as we
have very stony soil.

Can anyone suggest what we might be doing wrong please.

And please tell me. I have been trying for 30 years, and succeed
(partially) about once in every 5 sowings!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Mon, 10 Aug 2009, Nick Maclaren wrote:

This year we have tried to grow radishes having given up years ago as we
have very stony soil.

Can anyone suggest what we might be doing wrong please.

And please tell me. I have been trying for 30 years, and succeed
(partially) about once in every 5 sowings!

I'll tell you in three weeks' time. I sowed some today for the first
time this year!

David

--
David Rance
writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados, France

In message , David Rance
writes
On Mon, 10 Aug 2009, Nick Maclaren wrote:

This year we have tried to grow radishes having given up years ago as we
have very stony soil.

Can anyone suggest what we might be doing wrong please.

And please tell me. I have been trying for 30 years, and succeed
(partially) about once in every 5 sowings!

I'll tell you in three weeks' time. I sowed some today for the first
time this year!

David

I have different problems with radishes (French Breakfast 3).

Firstly, harvesting them before they go woody. (One batch has been left
to go to seed, for next year's crop.)

Secondly, either slugs or snails eating the swollen roots.

Thirdly, hollow radishes.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

"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?

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
just W. of London

In message , Bob Minchin
writes
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.
[...]
Can anyone suggest what we might be doing wrong please.
TIA
Bob

If it's any consolation, my radishes were similar to yours.
I grew them in a container of compost along with some spring onions,
which are also a failure.

OTOH, the Early Nantes carrots in a similar container and compost were
fine, if rather small. I'm blaming the compost, which I bought
from Morrisons, mainly because the bag was light enough to carry on my
shoulder to the till. There must be a reason why it was lighter.
:-)
--
Gordon H
Remove "invalid" to reply

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?

Bob

"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