iGrowVeg

Windowsill Challenge – Growing Radish in a Pot

Posted on 08. Jun, 2009 by Tracey in How to Grow Veg

As you may know I recently launched my Grow Your Own Vegetables on a Windowsill Challenge (Shortened to GYOVWC on Twitter). This post follows on from my last post in the series: Get Started – How to Grow Your Own Veg on a Windowsill.

If you’ve missed out on any posts in this series, please click on my GYO Veg Windowsill Challenge page to keep up-to-date with the full collection of posts.

How to Sow Radish in a Pot on the Windowsill

When do I Sow? March to August

You will need:

• A pot approx 18 – 20 cm diameter, a few jam jars or a fizzy drinks bottle cut in half.
• Multi-purpose or seed/potting compost,
• Watering jug,
• Radish Seeds – Type: French Breakfast 3 or Scarlet Globe, Sparkler 3 or similar round variety and
• A sunny windowsill.

Instructions:

1. Refer to your own seed packet or take these instructions as a guide only.
2. Fill the pots with multi-purpose or potting compost.
3. Water the compost lightly.
4. Open the seed packet and place the seeds spaced out on the surface of the compost.
5. Cover the seed with a sprinkling of compost.
6. Water the compost lightly again.
7. Label if necessary and keep the seed packet handy for repeat sowing.
8. Place on a sunny and light windowsill.

Caring for your Windowsill Radish

Over Watering – Pots on the windowsill will not have drainage holes in therefore a pot may become water-logged quite quickly. Please water lightly and only if the surface is dry.

Under-Watering – When the windowsill is sunny for long periods it will dry out your compost quite quickly. If the soil looks dry on top then please water lightly. You can always add water a little at a time but you cannot take it away.

Leggy Seedlings
You may experience ‘leggy seedlings’ which is where the stem is quite long as the seedlings are trying to stretch towards the light. This condition also occurs if it is too warm on the windowsill usually because a radiator is on under the window. Either move to another windowsill with more light and no radiator or add a bit more compost to the pot (if there’s enough room) to cover the stems.

Little Black Flies, Sciarid Flies or Fungus Gnats
If you use peat free compost, keep the compost moist and the windowsill is in a humid area, you may see little black flies or gnats in the top of your pot or on the compost. These are know as houseplant fungus gnats or Sciarid flies. They do not do any harm to your plants but are a pest indoors. They can be removed by using yellow or white sticky fly papers which can be mounted on a stick in the compost to remove the flies.

Please view my photo-slide show below to see Radish growing from seeds to harvest.

Growing Radishes (Seed to Harvest) – Video Slide-Show

Harvest Months: Harvest 4-5 weeks after sowing.

How to Harvest:
Pull the radish from the compost, taking care as the leaves are slightly rough and prickly, wash and use in salads and sandwiches. They can be stored in a refrigerator in a perforated bag for 3 to 5 days.

Other Posts in the GYO Veg Windowsill Challenge:-

• What you will need to Grow Your Own Vegetables on a Windowsill
• How To Grow Lettuce in a Tray
• Grow Your Own Windowsill Challenge Hub Page