Icicle

Family: Brassicaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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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

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Icicle 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	Direct Sow	Jun 15th	Jul 10th – Jul 15th
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jun 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jun 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jun 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jun 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	May 29th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	May 26th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	May 20th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	May 15th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	May 5th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Apr 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Apr 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Mar 31st – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Mar 6th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Oct 26th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Oct 26th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Oct 26th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Oct 26th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Oct 26th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Oct 26th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Oct 26th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Oct 26th – Feb 28th

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.