From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Western PA

Have any of you ever planted a fall cover crop of ground hog radish ?
If so, did you like or dislike it ?
Please list any issues you had, if any at all.
I am thinking about trying some to help with my clay and drainage.

8/4/2019 8:16:40 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I did tiller radishes once...Nice cover crop

8/5/2019 7:44:58 AM

New Berlin, PA

From my understanding the trick to these is not to seed too heavy so they don't crowd or out compete themselves in order to get those big deep radishes. I planted tillage radish (another name brand type of daikon radish, which is the same as groundhog) once but seeded way to heavy. If I did it over I'd probably mix them with something else like cereal rye.

8/5/2019 7:51:13 AM

Bethlehem CT

I have used them before, they really do a good job of softening up the soil. The following spring I ran a harrow over the plot, It sunk in really deep just from the radishes having grown in that loction the prior year. The farther apart the seeds are, the bigger and deeper the roots will grow. I would think a 12" spacing or more on each side will give best results.

8/5/2019 9:01:58 AM

Griffith, In

Do you have excessive ground hogs that you want to plant??

8/5/2019 11:41:07 AM

Western PA

I had read to spread seeds at a rate of 1 # per 1000 sq ft, does that sound about right ?
Are these seeds tiny like cabbage seeds ?? Or even smaller ??
What is the best way to sow them ?

8/5/2019 12:08:19 PM

Bethlehem CT

That actually sounds a little heavy to me, for maximum size radishes. The seeds are the same as ordinary radish seeds. Remember the "Nerds" candy. The seeds are about the size of a "nerd" I mixed mine with some pelletized lime and spread them that way. You could use sand or something like it to help dillute the seed. You could mix the seed with WInter rye too. I usually sow it as a pure stand. The weeds come up and grow amongst the radishes. THen the frost comes and cleans up the weeds and the radishes continues growing right through the fall into early winter. For the biggest radishes sow them now. Although you can sow anytime up and through september. The later you plant them the smaller the radishes are and the less tilling effect you get.

8/5/2019 12:16:51 PM

Bethlehem CT

For a small area you could broadcast the seed by hand. I use this spreader; https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200247624_200247624?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Lawn%20%2B%20Garden%20%3E%20Lawn%20Spreaders&utm_campaign=EarthWay&utm_content=255333&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkIytmpHs4wIVC5SzCh0uZQjUEAQYCiABEgK0QfD_BwE

8/5/2019 12:21:27 PM

Bethlehem CT

Here is a picture of the biggest ones I grew in 2015.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=250537

8/5/2019 12:23:09 PM

Western PA

I have a tow behind spreader. I will possible mix sand or something with it. Thank you all for the responses.

8/5/2019 12:51:24 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I mixed with gypsum to add filler

8/5/2019 12:54:59 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Yes I have used tillage radishes several times in the past they stink when they rot...

8/6/2019 7:49:59 AM