Purple Plum

Family: Brassicaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweetly peppery and vividly crisp, Purple Plum radish brings a jewel-toned crunch to the garden—its skin is a deep plum-purple that fades to a clean, tender white at the tip.

At just 28 days, roots stay pleasantly slender and snappy, delivering a fresh, juicy bite that shines in salad mixes and bright garnishes. Grow a small stand for quick harvests and enjoy the striking color that makes every platter look freshly picked.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 28 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Purple Plum 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)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Purple Plum radish is the kind you slice and serve immediately—the heat stays brisk and clean, with a juicy crunch that won’t collapse into watery salad. Its sweetly peppery edge plays especially well with creamy dairy and sharp citrus, so the bite feels crisp instead of harsh.

Best Uses

thin-sliced salad mixes where the radish stays snappy
ice-cold crudités platter—slice at the last minute for maximum crunch
quick pickles where the purple skin turns jewel-toned and the bite stays lively
bright garnish for tacos, noodle bowls, and grain salads

Flavor Profile

sweetly peppery bite vividly crisp, glassy crunch clean, juicy heat that doesn’t linger tender white interior with mild radish snap

Kitchen Pairings

butter lemon feta goat cheese honey black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage common pests or diseases on Raphanus sativus (purple plum radish) in my garden?

Watch for flea beetles, which can leave small shot-holes in radish leaves and reduce root growth—use floating row cover from sowing until harvest and handpick heavily damaged plants. If you see pale, stippled leaves or silvery scarring, target thrips with insecticidal soap, applied in the cool morning, and remove badly infested leaves. For disease, avoid wet foliage and rotate beds, since overcrowded, damp conditions increase the risk of downy mildew and other leaf spotting that can affect yield.

How often should I water purple plum radish during the main growing phase?

Water so the soil stays evenly moist to a depth of about 6 inches, especially from germination through root bulking (roughly the first 2–4 weeks). In most home gardens this means about 1 inch per week total, split into 1–2 waterings, but adjust to weather so the top inch of soil never dries out completely. If the soil swings between dry and soggy, radishes are more likely to become pithy or overly hot.

How can I tell when purple plum radish (Raphanus sativus) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the roots have filled out—typically about 28 days after sowing—and when the shoulder of the radish is clearly visible above the soil. For best eating, pull radishes as soon as they reach a thumbnail-to-dime sized diameter, because they become woody and can turn strong-flavored if left in the ground. If you want a milder radish, start checking from day 25 and harvest the earliest ones first.