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| my grandfather tilling radish with a shovel |
Radish can be used both as a cover crop and as a green mulch,
depending on the time of year it is planted. It produces a large amount of
biomass, both above and below ground – because of this, it can be planted in
between crop rows in order to suppress weed growth, or later in the season in
order to revitalize exhausted beds.Radish roots extend deep into the soil. Because of this, they
are able to extract nutrients from deep below the earth’s surface and bring
them up to levels other plants can access. The roots are also extremely
effective at breaking up compacted soil, improving soil structure, and
increasing aeration and water retention.
Because of its hardiness, radish can thrive in almost any climate, although it grows best in alkaline, clay, or sandy soils; most importantly, it will grow even under cold conditions. It can be planted any time from June to late fall, and will survive a late planting well. If sown in the spring, it can be cut back to make room for winter cover crops in the fall – to do this, make sure to cut back radish about three weeks before sowing winter crops. To maximize use as a green manure, it is best sown before mid-August.
If planting in the spring, it is best to plant radish in succession to early vegetable crops or winter grain cover crops (such as winter rye). It should be planted 3-4 cm into the soil, at a rate of 200 g / 100 sq meters of soil. It will then serve as an effective mulch during the summer months, suppressing weeds and preventing wind and water erosion. It can be cut and tilled into the soil before the winter for use as a fertilizer. As a fertilizer, it adds large amounts of soil organic matter and humus to the soil, and encourages beneficial microorganism and worm populations to flourish. Once cut back, the biomass will provide food for the organisms, enhancing plant conditions, decreasing chance of disease, and increasing yield. Cover cropping with radish also suppresses nematode growth and many plant pathogens that overwinter in the soil.
It is okay to plant radish in the fall as well – it will grow rapidly in cold weather, making it a favorite for dachniki after summer clean up. If it is not tilled before winter, it will continue to provide erosion control even in the winter months, and will provide a shield for the earth (alleviating frost symptoms). It is important to note that the later your plant, the more seeds you will need per acre since not all will germinate!
Since it has a low amount of nitrogen as compared to cover crops from the bean family, it is best mixed with other crops or used wisely in a rotation (for example, planted after or before cover crops from the bean family). If planted with cover crops in the bean family, it can act as a great nitrogen fixer. It is important not to plant radish directly before or after other cabbage or other members of the Brassicaceae family, since it itself belongs to it.
Because of its hardiness, radish can thrive in almost any climate, although it grows best in alkaline, clay, or sandy soils; most importantly, it will grow even under cold conditions. It can be planted any time from June to late fall, and will survive a late planting well. If sown in the spring, it can be cut back to make room for winter cover crops in the fall – to do this, make sure to cut back radish about three weeks before sowing winter crops. To maximize use as a green manure, it is best sown before mid-August.
If planting in the spring, it is best to plant radish in succession to early vegetable crops or winter grain cover crops (such as winter rye). It should be planted 3-4 cm into the soil, at a rate of 200 g / 100 sq meters of soil. It will then serve as an effective mulch during the summer months, suppressing weeds and preventing wind and water erosion. It can be cut and tilled into the soil before the winter for use as a fertilizer. As a fertilizer, it adds large amounts of soil organic matter and humus to the soil, and encourages beneficial microorganism and worm populations to flourish. Once cut back, the biomass will provide food for the organisms, enhancing plant conditions, decreasing chance of disease, and increasing yield. Cover cropping with radish also suppresses nematode growth and many plant pathogens that overwinter in the soil.
It is okay to plant radish in the fall as well – it will grow rapidly in cold weather, making it a favorite for dachniki after summer clean up. If it is not tilled before winter, it will continue to provide erosion control even in the winter months, and will provide a shield for the earth (alleviating frost symptoms). It is important to note that the later your plant, the more seeds you will need per acre since not all will germinate!
Since it has a low amount of nitrogen as compared to cover crops from the bean family, it is best mixed with other crops or used wisely in a rotation (for example, planted after or before cover crops from the bean family). If planted with cover crops in the bean family, it can act as a great nitrogen fixer. It is important not to plant radish directly before or after other cabbage or other members of the Brassicaceae family, since it itself belongs to it.
Benefits of cover cropping with radish:
- Improves soil structure
- Improves water retention and aeration
- Prevents erosion
- Suppresses nematodes and fungal plant pathogens
- Draws nutrients from all layers of soil
- Alleviates compaction
- Suppresses weed growth
- Encourages worm and microorganism populations
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| Radish planted in August |
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