How to Make Radishes Grow Faster

Plant radishes in early spring when the ground thaws enough for digging. These frost-hardy crops do best with 45- to 50-degree F starts and need to mature before the heat of summer.

Prepare a radish plot to give the radishes a healthy, successful season. Choose a site with bright sun for four to six hours every day and quick drainage in rain. Root crops like radishes fail in standing water.

Amend the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. Turn and mix the natural soil, remove rocks and weeds, and incorporate 3 to 4 inches of organic matter like organic compost or leaf mold. Organic matter improves nutrition and moisture retention and loosens the soil for bulb formation.

Plant quick cultivars like Burpee White, Champion, Cherry Belle, Early Scarlet Globe, Easter Egg, Fuego, Plum Purple, Snow Belle, French Breakfast and Icicle for 20- to 30-day growth. Push radish seeds 1/2 inch into the amended soil at every inch in the row, with 12 inches between multiple rows. Water the garden with 2 to 3 inches of water, using a sprinkler function on the hose, and allow three to four days for germination.

Mulch the garden with 1 inch of organic mulch to keep soil moist and cool around the radishes, and put the plants on a schedule of 2 inches of water every week. Radishes fail if they get dry, but thrive in consistent moisture.

Harvest radishes when they reach 1 to 2 inches in diameter, regardless of maturity. Small, young radishes are juicier and sweeter. Radishes grow bitter and woody when left in the ground too long.