CHAPTER XXIX. 



RADISHES. 



THE RADISH. Raphanus sativus. 



French, radis; German, radies; Dutch, radijs; Danish, haverdoedike ; 

 Italian, ravanello; Spanish, rabanito ; Portuguese, rabao. 



HORSE-RADISH. Cochlearia Armor acia. 



French, raifort sauvage; German, meerettig; Dutch, peperwortel; Danish, 

 peberrod; Italian, rafano; Spanish, taramago; Portuguese, rabao de cavalho. 



The radish is a relish which can be had continuously through- 

 out the year in most parts of California, if proper soil and moisture 

 conditions can be arranged. It is almost a hopeless task to under- 

 take to secure a crisp, delicately flavored radish unless heat and 

 moisture are favorable to quick growth of the plant. It takes some 

 gardening skill therefore to produce good radishes in winter locali- 

 ties with sharp frosts and heavy rainfall, while in regions of light 

 frost and light rainfall, winter heat is usually adequate to satis- 

 factory growth. 



The best soil for radishes is a rich, sandy loam, though any 

 good garden soil will -grow them if a small piece is improved for 

 the purpose as described on page 48. 



Preparation of the soil is essentially the same as that already 

 described for other root-crops, and sowing, as already intimated, 

 can be done whenever the soil is in good condition, if irrigation is 

 available for use in the dry season, and there is free drainage in 

 the winter. Temperature is, however, of more moment to the radish 

 than to some other hardy garden plants, and during the colder 

 months, the raised bed, as described on page 86, located on the 

 sunny side of a wind-break, will afford heat enough usually. In 

 other places where cold and rain are greater the "warm heap" 

 described on page 132 may be used. By thus adapting the method 

 to local conditions winter growth can be had anywhere in the valley 

 and foothill regions of the state. Summer growth is mainly a 

 question of soil-moisture which can be regulated by irrigation and 

 cultivation. 



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