White Icicle

Family: Brassicaceae Root Vegetable

Crisp as fresh-cut glass, White Icicle radish offers a luminous, snow-white snap with a delicately sweet, mildly peppery finish.

At about 30 days, its slender, icicle-shaped roots stay tender and juicy—ideal for salad radish appeal, with a clean crunch that shines in fresh presentations and brightens quick pickling blends.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 30 DaysHabit: Taproot

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 25th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	30
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)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

White Icicle is built for eating raw—its slender roots stay tender and stay snappy, so you get sweet, mildly peppery flavor without the harshness some radishes bring. Slice it thin and let it cut through creamy fats or sharp dressings without wilting into the bowl.

Best Uses

paper-thin slices or batons for salads where you want a glassy crunch
quick pickling (vinegar + sugar) that keeps the radish crisp instead of turning rubbery
ice-cold crudités with flaky salt to highlight its sweet-mild heat

Flavor Profile

clean, bright snap mild peppery bite with a sweet edge juicy, tender-crisp flesh

Kitchen Pairings

lemon juice sea salt butter goat cheese black pepper rice vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Raphanus sativus (white icicle radish) leaves turning yellow and holes appearing, and what should I do?

Yellowing with ragged holes is often flea beetle damage, while soggy spots and wilting can indicate damping-off in cool, wet soil. Cover seedlings with a fine insect net or row cover immediately after sowing, and keep the bed weed-free to reduce flea beetle habitat. Water at the soil level and avoid keeping the seed row constantly wet to prevent damping-off; if you see damping-off, remove affected seedlings and improve drainage before resowing in another spot.

How often should I water Raphanus sativus during the main growing phase to keep roots crisp and prevent splitting?

During the 3–4 weeks to maturity, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently evenly moist so the roots swell quickly. In most home gardens this means watering about 1 inch per week total, split into 2–3 waterings, and adjusting to rainfall and heat. Letting the bed dry out then flooding it after will encourage cracking or pithiness, so aim for steady moisture from sprouting to harvest.

How can I tell when my white icicle radishes are ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 30 days, or as soon as the roots are clearly elongated and firm—typically when they reach roughly the size of a thumb and the shoulders show above the soil. Don’t wait too long after they’re full size, because Brassicaceae radishes (including Raphanus sativus) can become woody and hot-tasting. Pull one to check firmness; if it bends easily or feels soft, give the rest 2–3 more days and recheck.