Radish is a winter crop, but some varieties of this crop can be grown in summer season. It belongs to the family of “cruciferae”. By the selection of appropriate varieties at the right time, radish can be cultivated throughout the year. Its edible roots are having different color from white to red. Radish is good source of vitamin B6, Calcium, copper, magnesium and riboflavin. Also it is rich in ascorbic acid, folic acid and potassium.

It can grow on all type of soils but give best result when grown on light friable, sandy loam soil. Avoid heavy or compact soils as it produce rough, malformed roots. Ideal pH of soil for good growth is 5.5 to 6.8

Small root varieties:

White Icicle: This variety has pure white, small, narrow and light roots. The variety gets mature in 30 days. The optimum time for sowing this variety is in winters.

Rapid Red White Tips: Very early maturing European table type variety. Ready to harvest in 25-30days. Roots are small and bright red colored with pure white flesh color.

French Breakfast: The variety is suitable for home furnace.

Long root varieties:

Pusa Desi: Suitable for sowing in northern plains. Roots are of pure white color. Ready to harvest in 50-55 days after sowing.

Japanese White: Optimum time for sowing is from November-December. It is introduced in India from Japan. In northern plains it is recommended for late sowing and in hilly areas recommended for cultivation in July-September. Roots are cylindrical and having pure white color. Gives average yield of 160qtl/acre.

Pusa Himani: Suitable for sowing in fortnight of January-February. Their roots are white with green shoulders. Ready to harvest in 60-65days after sowing. Gives average yield of 160qtl/acre.

Pusa Chetki: Optimum time for sowing is from April-August. Early maturing variety suitable for seed production for Punjab region. Its roots are smooth, snow white color and medium long. It gives average yield of 105qtl/acre and seed yield of 4.5qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

Punjab Pasand: Optimum time for sowing is from second fortnight of March. It is early maturing variety, ready to harvest in 45 days after sowing. Roots are long, white and free from hair. Suitable for sowing in main season as well as for off season. In main season, gives average yield of 215qtl/acre where as in off season gives average yield of 140qtl/acre.

Pusa Reshmi: Variety is suitable for early sowing. Ready to harvest in 50 to 60days. 

Arka Nishant: Long and pink root variety. Ready to harvest in 50-55 days.
 

Plough land thoroughly and make land weed and clods free. Add well decomposed cow dung of 5-10 ton/acre and mix well in soils at time of land preparation. Avoid use of undecomposed or free cowdung as it will leads to forking of fleshy roots.

Time of sowing
Pusa Himani: Optimum time for sowing is January-February.
Pusa chetki: Optimum time for sowing is from April-August.
Japanese white: Optimum time for sowing is from November-December.

Spacing
Use row to row spacing of 45cm and plant to plant spacing of 7.5cm.

Sowing Depth
For good growth, sow seeds at depth of 1.5cm

Method of Sowing
Sowing can be done by Line Sowing and Broadcasting method.
 

Seed Rate
For short root varieties, use seed rate of 4-5 kg/acre and for long root varieties use seed rate of 3-4 kg/acre.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrients Value (kg/acre)

At the of land preparation, apply well rotten FYM @100qtl/acre. Apply fertilizer dose in the form of Nitrogen @10kg (in form of Urea@30kg), Phosphorus@7kg (in form of SSP@50kg/acre) per acre in soil at time of sowing.

After sowing, apply first irrigation, it will help in good germination. Depending upon soil type and climate, apply remaining irrigations at interval of 4-6 days in summer and 8-15 days interval in winter month. Overall radish required five to six irrigations. Avoid excessive irrigation as it will leads misshape of roots and numerous hair growth. In summer season, provide pre-harvest light irrigation. It will keep root fresh and reduce pungency.

Take intercultural operation like weeding and hoeing to keep check on weed growth also to provide soil aeration. Take one weeding operation, two to three weeks after sowing. After weeding carryout earthing operation.

• Pest and their control:
  

Aphid: Serious pest of radish, attacked at seedling as well as at maturity stage. If infestation is observed, to control take spray of Malathion 50EC@4ml/Litre of water. Repeat spray for two-three times at interval of 10days.

Flea beetles and mustard saw fly: If infestation is observed in field, to control take spray of Malathion 50EC@3ml/Litre of water. Repeat spray for two-three times at interval of 10 days.

• Disease and their control:

Alternaria blight: Slightly raised, yellow spots are observed on leaves. Infection is rapidly spread in rainy season. Fungus spread on pods and seeds loose viability.
If infestation is observed, to control take spray of Mancozeb@2gm/lit of water or Carbendazim@3gm/lit of water.
 

White rust: If infestation is observed, to control take spray of Mancozeb@2gm/lit of water or Copper oxychloride@2gm/liter of water.

Depending upon variety, Radish is ready for harvesting in 25-60 days after sowing. Harvesting is done manually by uprooting plants. Harvested roots are washed and then graded upon size.

After harvesting grading of radish depending upon size is carried out. The product is marketed loose to sometime they are packed in gunny bags or basket.