Plum Purple

Family: Brassicaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Plum Purple radishes bloom with a jewel-like, deep plum-purple shoulder that fades to a crisp white tip, offering a bright, peppery snap and a clean, juicy bite.

At just 28 days, ‘Plum Purple’ forms smooth, globe-to-oval roots with a tender, fine-grained texture that stays pleasantly crisp. Ideal for fresh market-style salads and garnishes, these radishes also shine when sliced into vivid platters for quick, colorful flavor.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 28 DaysHabit: Taproot

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

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	28
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

‘Plum Purple’ is a market radish—tender, finely textured, and built to stay crisp under dressing, giving you that sharp, juicy pop without going woody. Slice it paper-thin for platters or shave it cold; the purple shoulder stays visually punchy while the white tip delivers the cleaner peppery finish.

Best Uses

thin-slice salad radish for dressed greens (no wilting, stays crisp)
ice-cold crudités platter with flaky salt and citrus
quick pickles—sliced rounds that keep their jewel color

Flavor Profile

peppery bite with a bright radish snap fine-grained, tender crunch juicy, clean finish with mild lingering heat

Kitchen Pairings

butter sour cream lemon crème fraîche miso feta

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Brassicaceae radish (Raphanus sativus), and how do I control it?

Watch for flea beetles, which cause tiny holes in radish leaves and can severely stunt growth. Use floating row cover immediately after sowing and keep it on until harvest; if needed, apply an insecticidal soap directly on affected foliage early in the day. Also check for downy mildew/black rot symptoms (yellowing or dark lesions) and remove any badly infected plants to prevent spread.

How often should I water radish (Raphanus sativus) during the main growing phase for Purple radish?

Keep the soil evenly moist from emergence through root swelling—typically water about once daily in warm weather or whenever the top 1 inch starts to dry. Dry spells followed by heavy watering can cause cracking or a pithy, bitter root, so aim for steady moisture rather than “soak then skip.”

How can I tell when my Raphanus sativus is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the root shoulder reaches the expected size for your seed packet (often around 28 days) and feels firm when gently tugged. If you wait until the roots get larger than the typical “tennis ball/marbled” size, they can become woody and hot-tasting quickly. Check one plant by pulling it—if the root is crisp and solid, harvest the rest the same day.