Snowball

Family: Brassicaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Snowball to a garden.

Crisp as fresh-cut snow, Snowball radishes form perfectly round, snow-white roots with a clean, bright snap and a mild, sweet-leaning bite that stays tender at just 30 days.

Their smooth skin and fine, juicy texture make them a delight for quick garden harvests—ideal for fresh salads and elegant garnishes, or for turning into vivid pickling slices and zesty radish spreads.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 30 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Snowball 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 15th – Jul 15th
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 1st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jun 24th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 14th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 14th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jun 18th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 14th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jun 12th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 7th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 3rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	May 31st – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	May 25th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	May 20th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	May 10th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 1st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Apr 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Mar 11th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Oct 31st – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Oct 31st – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Oct 31st – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Oct 31st – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Oct 31st – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Oct 31st – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Oct 31st – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Oct 31st – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	30
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	50
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Snowball radish has that first-crunch, supermarket-clean profile—mild enough to eat in thin stacks without turning harsh. The juicy, tender texture makes it shine as raw slices or fast pickles, and it blends smoothly into lemony spreads without going stringy.

Best Uses

paper-thin salad slicing that holds a crisp tooth under light vinaigrette
quick-pickle rounds for hot/cold contrast and color pops
radish “coins” on buttered bread or salt-butter plates
blended radish spreads with lemony brightness for schmear-style sandwiches

Flavor Profile

clean, bright radish snap mild sweet-leaning bite with low pepper burn smooth, juicy flesh that stays tender fresh, watery crunch

Kitchen Pairings

butter lemon juice plain yogurt sea salt fresh dill grilled salmon

Frequently Asked Questions

What pests or diseases commonly affect Raphanus sativus (snowball radish), and how can I treat them?

Snowball radish is especially prone to flea beetle damage, which shows up as small shot-holes in leaves and can stunt young plants. Use a fine mesh row cover immediately after sowing, and remove covers to water and harvest before re-covering again to prevent further feeding. If you see clubroot symptoms (swollen, misshapen roots) and plants yellowing, discard badly affected plants and avoid sowing radish in the same soil for several seasons, since clubroot persists in soil.

How often should I water snowball radish during peak growth to keep roots crisp?

Water so the top 2–3 inches of soil stay consistently moist during root bulking; for most home gardens that’s about 1 inch of water per week total, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Inconsistent watering can lead to woody roots or splitting, so avoid letting the soil dry out between waterings. Water deeply after the top inches dry slightly, then keep moisture steady through the 3–4 week growth period.

How do I tell when snowball radish (Raphanus sativus) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the roots reach the variety’s typical “snowball” size—commonly about 1–2 inches in diameter—and the leaves still look fresh and vigorous. Check one or two roots by gently pulling soil away at the crown; radishes that sit too long can turn pithy or develop a stronger bite. If you’ve sown in cool conditions, start checking around day 25–30, then harvest promptly once the bulbs are the right size.