Icicle

Family: Brassicaceae Root Vegetable

Crisp as fresh-cut glass, ‘Icicle’ radishes unfurl into long, snowy-white roots with a cool, clean bite and a pleasantly mild, sweet finish.

The flesh stays tender and juicy at harvest, delivering a snappy crunch that shines in fresh salad mixes and bright garnishes. Grow ‘Icicle’ for quick, dependable results—ready in about 25 days—when you want a vivid, garden-to-plate crispness that looks as good as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 25 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	May 20th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	25
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This salad-radish type is all about that long, crisp snap with a mild, sweet finish—best served cold so it stays glassy and juicy. Slice it thin and treat it like edible cutlery: it holds its bite under light vinaigrettes and bright fats without turning harsh.

Best Uses

thin ribbons or coin salads where the crunch matters
fresh garnishes on roast meats or grain bowls for instant snap
ice-cold radish plates with flaky salt and cultured butter
quick-pickling for tangy, crisp rounds

Flavor Profile

cool, clean radish bite snappy, glassy crunch mild sweetness with low pepper heat tender, juicy flesh that stays crisp

Kitchen Pairings

lemon cultured butter feta chives black pepper smoked salmon

Frequently Asked Questions

What pests or diseases commonly hit Raphanus sativus (Icicle radish), and how can I fix them?

Watch for flea beetles and aphids, which can cause stippled leaves and stunted growth on radishes. Use row cover right after sowing and remove it when plants are established; if needed, spot-treat aphid pockets with insecticidal soap and rinse off afterward. For disease, keep foliage dry and avoid dense spacing to reduce downy mildew and leaf spots—discard badly infected leaves rather than composting them.

How often should I water Icicle radish during active root growth?

During the 20–25 day root-filling phase, keep the soil consistently evenly moist—typically about 1 inch (2–3 cm) of water per week total, split into lighter waterings as needed. Let the top 1 inch (2–3 cm) dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow full drying, which leads to pithy, woody roots and bitterness. If the weather is hot or windy, check daily and water more frequently to maintain that steady moisture.

How do I know when Icicle radishes are ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 25 days (often 20–30 days depending on conditions) when roots are 1 inch (2–3 cm) long and crisp-looking, with a clear white, “icicle” shape above the soil line. Pull one early as a test—if the root feels firm and snap-crisp, harvest the rest immediately. Leaving radishes too long after they size up can cause them to become tough and may push flavor toward sharp/woody.