Black Radish

Family: Brassicaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sink your senses into Black Radish’s dramatic, inky skin and crisp, white interior—cool, peppery, and boldly aromatic with a clean snap.

At maturity in about 60 days, roots develop a smooth, nearly black exterior that peels away to reveal a firm, juicy texture prized for its sharp bite. Ideal for fresh slicing, bold winter-style roasts, and tangy pickles, this is a striking garden-to-plate variety that brings depth to salads and relish with every harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Black Radish Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 31st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 18th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 12th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 3rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 31st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	50
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Black radish brings a cold, peppery burn and a genuinely crisp mouthfeel—peel it thin and treat it like a heat source, not a gentle salad veggie. Pickle or roast to bend that bite toward sweet-acid tang, or slice paper-thin and let the butter and rye take the edge off without killing the snap.

Best Uses

thin slicing on buttered rye so the radish stays crisp under the fat
quick pickling for a bright, crunchy tangy relish
grating into slaws where it cuts through creamy dressings
roasting to mellow the bite into caramelized, tender edges

Flavor Profile

inky-skin bitterness with a sharp, peppery bite cool, crisp snap and juicy crunch clean aromatic heat that lingers briefly like horseradish earthy brassica edge that plays well with acid

Kitchen Pairings

butter honey black pepper white vinegar sea salt smoked salmon

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fix black radish root problems from clubroot (caused by Plasmodiophora)?

Clubroot shows as swollen, distorted roots and sudden wilting even when soil looks moist. Remove and discard infected plants (don’t compost), then avoid planting radish or other brassicas in that bed for several years. To prevent repeat infections, keep soil pH closer to neutral (add lime if needed) and don’t overwater—use drip or water at the soil line to reduce stress on the crop.

How often should I water black radish during the 60-day main growing phase?

Water deeply so the top 6–8 in of soil stays consistently moist, not soggy, especially from transplanting/germination through root bulking (roughly weeks 2–6). In warm spells, this often means about 1 inch per week total rainfall plus irrigation, split into 2–3 waterings if the soil dries quickly. If you let the soil swing from dry to wet, black radish roots can fork or crack—aim for steady moisture.

How can I tell when black radish is ready to harvest at about 60 days?

Harvest when roots reach about 1.5–3 inches across and the foliage remains healthy but starts to slow in growth, usually around 60 days from sowing. You’ll often see the top of the root just peeking at the soil surface and the leaves are fuller than later in the season. Pull one test root first; if it’s still small and firm, wait a few more days and recheck.