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 in Chapter IV. 



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 in Chapter VII, 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" de- 

 scribed in Chapter XI, 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 ques- 

 tion of soil-moisture which can be regulated by irrigation and cul- 

 tivation. 



As the radish is naturally of quick growth and as crispness 

 and mild flavor are largely conditioned on pushing it to the utmost 

 of its speed, it can be grown to advantage as a catch crop here and 

 there in the garden on ground that is temporarily out of use for a 

 few weeks, or between the rows of more slowly growing vegetables. 

 The gardener should always be ready to scatter good radish seed 

 when he has a little stretch of light, rich, moist soil at command. 

 A little attention and ingenuity will in this way secure a constant 

 supply. |j 4 



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