Black Spanish Round

Family: Brassicaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Black Spanish Round to a garden.

Sink your senses into Black Spanish Round’s velvety, inky skin—nearly black with a subtle charcoal sheen—giving way to crisp, white flesh that’s clean, bright, and pleasantly piquant.

At maturity, roots are round and well-filled, with a firm, snappy texture that holds its character from garden to table. Grow this classic black radish for bold fresh slices and for robust flavor in winter-style preparations, where its peppery bite shines through.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Taproot

Botanical illustration of Black Spanish Round

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Black Spanish Round 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	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Black Spanish Round brings a tougher, more assertive radish bite than the quick-pickling types—crisp raw, then smoother and more mellow when you cook it. Slice it thick so it stays snappy, or grate it and let vinegar temper the burn without losing that peppery snap.

Best Uses

raw rounds for a high-voltage snack with butter or salt
shredded radish in cold slaws to cut through fattiness
grated with vinegar for a quick, sharp condiment
braised/roasted slices for a milder, sweeter heat

Flavor Profile

peppery, spicy bite with a clean snap slightly bitter edge that sweetens when cooked velvety inky skin giving way to crisp white flesh charcoal-like sharpness that carries into reductions

Kitchen Pairings

butter goat cheese honey citrus (lemon or orange) garlic beef or roast pork

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Black Spanish Round plants developing powdery white patches on leaves, and what should I do?

Powdery mildew commonly appears as a white, flour-like coating on cucumber/melon-type leaves (or related vine crops) in warm, humid stretches. Remove the worst affected leaves, avoid wetting foliage, and increase airflow by spacing vines and pruning lightly. If it keeps spreading, treat early with a sulfur-based fungicide labeled for food gardens and follow the label’s timing before harvest (Black Spanish Round is typically ready around 70 days).

How often should I water Black Spanish Round during the main growing phase to keep fruit setting well?

During active growth and fruit fill, keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, adjusting for heat and rainfall. Water deeply at the base of the plant 1–2 times per week rather than frequent light sprinkles, and stop short of letting the soil dry out completely. Mulch helps reduce swings, which helps prevent misshapen fruit and stress-related leaf problems.

How do I tell when Black Spanish Round is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits reach full color and size for the variety, typically around 70 days after planting, and the skin feels firm with a deep, uniform dark color. If you gently lift the fruit and it separates cleanly or the stem dulls slightly, it’s usually ready—don’t wait until it gets soft. For best flavor, harvest in the morning and avoid leaving fruit on vines through heavy heat spikes.