The Development of Growing Radish Seeds

Seed Germination

• Radish seeds begin as small, round, brown seeds. When planted in loose, fertile, well-drained soil and exposed to moisture, the seed coat begins to swell and expand. As the moisture enters the seed coat, the inside of the seed begins to undergo chemical changes. The energy stored in the seed begins to produce the plant embryo with the help of moisture, heat and light. Slowly, a root emerges from the seed and begins to grow downward while a tiny seedling begins to grow upward. A sheet of plastic or glass placed on a frame over the growing area increases the heat and makes efficient use of the light on the growing area.

Seedling Stage

• The seedling that begin to emerge in just after germination grows quickly into a strong green seedling with a pair of leaves. As the root takes in more moisture and nutrients from the soil, the seedling is able to grow rapidly into a plant with more leaves. Depending on moisture, heat and light levels, the seedling may develop more rapidly or more slowly. As seedlings grow to an inch in height and develop leaves beyond the initial pair, they should be thinned to create a space of 1 inch between. Also in this stage, seedlings must be protected from weeds and drying out, as both of these factors contribute to poor root development.

Fattening

• As the seedling develops into a larger and more mature plant, the leaves become lighter and more yellowish-green in color. Stems begin to thicken and fatten. As the stems enlarge, the color begins to deepen, from dark green to purple and finally a rich burgundy red. The plants get older and more mature with each day, finally producing a clump of sprawling leaves and a stalky, thick upper stem with a fattened, bulbous lower stem that extends into the earth below. This bulbous stem, along with the root portion (which is also becoming more bulbous underground), grows into the radish you later harvest.

Harvest

• Radish seeds develop from seed to mature plant in a period of three to six weeks. After the stem fattens, it becomes stronger and woodier-looking above the radish bulb, and the bulb swells to its true mature size. The plants may be harvested at this time, with bulbs and leaves both being edible and useful in different dishes. If left to continue its growth, the plant produces a taller, lankier stem with a flower that produces more radish seeds.