The shape of the radish – oblong or round – depends on the plant variety. Everything else depends on the gardener’s skills.
Having made just four annoying mistakes, a summer resident will have to harvest gnarled, dry and hard as a log radishes.
Anastasia Kovrizhnykh, an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", a scientist, agronomist and landscape designer, told what prevents a good harvest.
First: watering
Regular and moderate watering is rule number one in caring for root crops.
Drought causes root crops to develop poorly and grow small.
And excess moisture causes the fruit to crack.
Second: fertilizers
Preparing the soil for sowing radishes requires special attention. Organic matter should not be added to it, but if the soil is poor, there will be no harvest.
Therefore, it is necessary to add phosphorus and potassium in advance, without which it is difficult to imagine the formation of fruits.
Avoid using nitrogen, as it will force the radishes into the tops.
Third: lighting
It is recommended to sow radishes in the shade or protect them from bright sun, otherwise they will bolt.
Fourth: soil
No root crop will produce a good harvest if it grows in hard soil.
Therefore, the soil is loosened before sowing, and then it is better not to disturb the plants with loosening.
And finally, remember, to avoid thinning, sow seeds at a distance of 4-5 cm.
Expert: Anastasia Kovrizhnykh
