Radish is considered a popular early crop among gardeners. This root is very useful, it has a lot of vitamins, which the body especially needs in the spring.
In this article, we will tell you about the subtleties of the April planting of many beloved root vegetables.
You can read the detailed instructions on the procedure of sowing and learn about the important nuances of the subsequent care of the vegetable.
Is it possible to plant a radish during this period?
This culture is cold resistanttherefore, it is possible and necessary to plant it in the ground in April. Planting a root crop much earlier than other vegetables, observing the terms and technology of sowing, you can quickly get a good harvest of early juicy radishes. For planting, it is not necessary to allocate a separate piece of land, radishes can be planted on the bed where the heat-loving vegetables will be planted after it. When the moment of planting later seedlings in the ground, the radish will have time to ripen, and the harvest will be harvested.
Features
The optimum temperature for sowing radish in April is +10 degrees. And if the temperature warms up to 13-15 degrees, then the first shoots will appear in seven days.
Important! For the rapid growth of culture requires air temperature from +10 to +20 degrees.
Under favorable weather conditions, the first harvest of juicy radish can be obtained within three weeks. But even lowering the temperature below the average does not lead to the death of seedlings. Radish is able to withstand even frost on the surface of the soil. That is why the spring terms of planting radishes are significantly different from the terms of planting other vegetables.
What is different from sowing in another month?
There are several reasons why radishes should be planted in April. One of them is that in April the soil is still saturated with moisture after the snow melts.
Humidity is considered a strong natural biostimulant, promotes the fastest germination of seeds. Therefore, one should not wait for the onset of heat and the moment when the soil will be dried by the first rays of the sun.
Another reason to plant radishes as early as possible is that the same variety of root vegetables, planted in April, grows more juicy and large than the same, but planted in May.
Why choose this month?
For central Russia, it is necessary to sow radish seeds in the ground as soon as the ground warms up a little, which is the month of April. Short days of light (up to 10 hours) allow this culture to actively increase the root vegetablethat affects the harvest.
An early, juicy, crunchy, vitamin-rich vegetable grows best in cool weather and with a short light day. But the increase in daylight provokes the launch of "arrows". Therefore, sowing radishes in the ground should not be postponed to a later date.
One more The advantage of early sowing is the absence of pests. Therefore, the sooner the vegetable is planted, the less chance the cruciferous flea will damage the leaves and lay eggs at the base of the root crop, and small worms damage the juicy flesh.
When is it better to sow radish: in what numbers?
There are no universal terms for planting radish, as it depends on the region, air temperature and soil, which in different regions get warm at different times. Many gardeners in calculating the planting days for radishes, in addition to weather conditions, also refer to the lunar calendar, taking into account the cycles of the moon.
When to plant radish on the lunar calendar? It is believed that the phases of the moon are important when planting different crops. The growing moon activates the movement of the juices in the upper part of the plants, and the roots are less susceptible to damage, so at this time it is recommended to weed the plants. But the waning moon accelerates the growth of underground parts of plants.
As for radish, the best time for planting it is a decreasing moon, since it is the roots that develop better in this cycle. But neither the new moon nor the full moon is suitable for planting vegetables, as well as to perform any work on the beds. At this time, you can only get rid of weeds and pests.
Step-by-step instructions: how to plant in open ground?
Consider how to plant radishes in April.
How to choose a grade and why?
The varieties of radish differ from one another in terms of ripening and are divided into three groups:
early varieties (ripening period of 17-25 days or less);- medium varieties (ripening period 25-30 days);
- late varieties (ripening period 25-45 days).
early varieties (ripening period of 17-25 days or less);Early varieties of radish are best suited for planting in April, as they are least afraid of spring frosts.
The most popular varieties are:
- variety "Heat";
- variety "Presto";
- variety "Dawn";
- grade "Ascania".
Early varieties are resistant to cold, rapid maturation (at 18-22 days after germination), resistance to fungal diseases, minimal srelkovanie.
Where and for how much can you buy seeds?
Seed material can be ordered via the Internet. The cost of the popular early varieties of radish "Dawn" depends on the manufacturer, and ranges from 4 rubles. for 2 g ("Avista") up to 11 rubles. for 20 g ("Timiryazevsky nursery"). Radish seeds "Early red" from the manufacturer "Successful seeds" cost 11 rubles. for 2 g. Delivery of goods is paid (250-350 rubles).
Seed preparation
Before sowing the seeds in the ground should make their preparation, which will maximize the percentage of their germination.
Important! The more carefully the selection of high-quality seeds, the higher the percentage of germination.
Seed preparation for sowing consists of several stages:
- Selection of quality seeds, excluding damaged and defective samples.
- Determination of seed viability, for which the seeds should be poured with salt water (50 g of salt per 1 l of water) and allowed to stand for 2 minutes, stirring. Quality seeds will settle to the bottom of the tank.
- Preventive disinfection of seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate (1 mg per 1 liter of water), into which seeds wrapped in a gauze bag should be lowered for 15 minutes, then dried.
After preparation of radish seeds for planting, the growth process is activated in them, therefore, they should be sown immediately after the events.
Process
Most often, radishes are planted in rows. For a good harvest you need to follow the rules:
level the surface of the beds;- make rows with a depth of 0.5-1 cm at a distance of 10 cm from each other;
- pour the prepared rows and let the water soak into the ground;
- distribute the seeds at a distance of 5 cm from each other;
- lightly sprinkle with earth and compact to remove voids.
level the surface of the beds;The first shoots should appear in 3-4 days. To speed up the process, you can cover radish crops with a film for the night, and take it off in the morning.
Another method of planting radishes is suitable for gardeners with a small piece of land, when they sow radishes in a continuous cloth. To place the seeds at an optimal distance from one another, you can use egg packaging.
For this:
- surface of the bed is leveled;
- soil is abundantly watered;
- packing for eggs makes hollows in the ground, tightly pressing it to the ground;
- seeds are laid out in printed cells (one in each);
- sowing is powdered with earth and slightly compacted.
Below you can watch a video on how to properly sow radish seeds in egg trays:
Care for a young plant
Radish loves moisture, so for its active development and growth the garden must always be wet. Lack of moisture will contribute to the formation of small roots. However, too much moisture should not be, otherwise the radish will begin to crack.
The vegetation period of this vegetable is small, so those fertilizers that were introduced into the soil before sowing will be enough for the development and growth of high-quality fruits. If the soil is not fertilized before planting, then a week after the emergence of shoots it is necessary to feed the radish with organic matter. This may be a rotted mullein, diluted 1:10 or fermented chicken manure (1:20). After ten days, the radish can be poured with a nutrient solution (15 g of potassium sulphide and 20 g of superphosphate per 10 liters of water).
Important! Excess fertilizer can lead to a very active increase in green mass and the formation of arrows.
To get a quality crop, you must:
- to prevent the formation of crusts on the soil after irrigation, it is recommended to carry out shallow recultivation between rows;
- be sure to loosen the soil;
- timely weed weeds that hinder the growth of radishes;
- as the radish ripens, produce selective harvesting to enable the growth of neighboring root crops.
Problems and difficulties in growing
There are no particular problems with the cultivation of radish in April, as it melted. At the initial stage of development, the plant can affect the cruciferous flea. For prevention, you need to sprinkle the foliage with wood ash or tobacco, as well as cover young shoots.
Observing the terms of planting radishes and simple rules for caring for a plant, you can guarantee an excellent harvest, providing you with early vitamins.
