Black Radish

Raphannus sativus is a member of the Cruciferae (mustard) family. Varieties include Round Black Spanish, and Long Black Spanish

Winter radish. Grows to the size of a baseball, it is a rock-hard globe with crisp white flesh that highlights the black skin when sliced. It has a powerful flavor. European vegetable.

Culture

Propagation and care. Typically planted in the fall, this hearty radish takes longer to mature than the red types. Plan on 40-45 days from sowing to maturity.

Sources

Seed:

W. Atlee Burpee & Co., 300 Park Avenue, Warmister, PA 18974.
Nichols Garden Nursery, 1190 North Pacific Hwy, Albany, OR 97321.
Seeds Blum, Idaho City Stage, Boise, ID 83706.

Le Jardin du Gourmet, P. O. Box 75, St. Johnsbury Center, VT 05863.

More information:

Glenn, Charlotte and Georgeanne Brennan. Le Marché Seeds International Spring '88 Catalog. Dixon, CA. 1988. 41 pp.
Forsythe, Adrian. "Of Radishes and Kings." Harrowsmith, May/June 1987, 90-93 pp.

Compiled by Claudia Myers, UC Small Farm Center.

Captions:

Figure 1. The black radish has a black outside skin and a white interior flesh. It is grown to the size of a baseball. (Photo by Charlotte Glenn).

3/19/90.