Radish Microgreen is considered one of the easiest microgreens to grow out there. You can plant them from any type of edible radish seeds.
In this post, we’ll shed light on all the helpful information about their nutrition, steps to grow tiny radish, and some popular recipes to go with radish microgreens.
Radish Microgreens Nutrients
In a small size, radish sprouts contain many nutrient properties up to 6 times higher than the mature version, especially the Daikon variety.
They are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential amino acids that our bodies can’t deliver ourselves.
The low glycemic index makes radish microgreen an ideal ingredient for diabetes patients. In addition, it helps to regulate sugar assimilation in the blood.
Like many sprouts, radish microgreen is particularly easy to digest. Thus, it is an excellent side dish for harder-to-consume ingredients like meat and seafood or people who have problems with the digestive system.
This video shows you how to grow radish microgreens.
How To Grow Radish Microgreens
There are 3 platforms to plant sprouts: soil, medium, and hydroponic. Today we will guide you through growing microgreens in the ground since it is similar to the medium and doesn’t require much equipment.
Also, we will assume that you grow radish seeds for the first time. So the guidance will be as detail as possible.
Things to prepare
- Radish seeds: any kind of radish.
- Grow light: if there’s not enough natural light. Here are some recommendations.
- Containers or trays: 1 tray with drainage holes, something to cover, and a bigger container.
- Microgreen soil/medium: soft and fine-grained soil, coconut coir, or prefer to this article.
- Soil filter: if you use ordinary garden soil.
- Water spray
Step-by-step guide
Prepare soil
If you don’t have any medium or microgreen soil at home, you can take some existing garden soil as long as they are decent.
Use a soil filter to discard any foreign particles and debris. Microgreens are super delicate. They would grow well in a soothing environment with fine particles.
Make grow tray
Your soil or medium is ready. The next step is to put them into the container/tray with drainage holes since microgreens don’t like waterlogged. Those holes will discard exceed water while watering.
Try to make the soil surface as smooth as possible. Gently shake the tray to make the soil spread properly.
Water the soil thoroughly
Now we will spray soil for growing radish. This is the only time until the radish seeds germinate so that we will do it carefully.
Here you would need a tool that can generate super fine spray patterns. Gently water the soil overhead, let the water soak into the ground, then spray again.
Plant the seeds
It is time to add the seeds to plant radish microgreens. Radish is super easy to grow, so you don’t have to soak them in advance.
Place for about 10 seeds per square inch for the ideal rate. Or, if you want to grow radish densely, just let the seed spread all around the surface.
Gently press the microgreens seeds into the soil but not bury them entirely. This step attaches them to the platform and lets them take the moisture from the ground.
Additional information: Depending on the specific variant, the number of seeds may slightly change. But typically, there are about 2.500 seeds per 1 gram.
Wrap it up
Radish microgreens seeds need darkness to germinate. Now take something to cover the tray, such as another container without holes or cardboard.
Place the tray in a dark place with good airflow. Wait for about 2 – 3 days until the seeds germinate up to 90%. That the microgreens start growing may push up the cardboard, which is a cue for you to move on to the next step.
Bring microgreens to the light source
Now your radishes germinated and start growing. It’s time to feed them with some energy from the light.
Notice that radish microgreens could be burnt under intense sunlight. So it would be best if you put them in a cool place or use artificial light such as fluorescent.
Water microgreen tray from the bottom
Unlike what we did in step 3, from now we will water the radish from the bottom. Fill the bigger container with water and put the microgreens tray into it. Let the water move slightly into the soil and feed the roots.
This method aims for 2 purposes:
- Keep the plants dry and avoid growing fungal spores which leads to mold.
- Maintain a friendly environment for microgreens to grow by reducing disturbing the soil and plants’ roots.
Typically, you should water your tray every 2 days. But depending on your specific climatic condition, take daily watering or exceed the time between two turns.
Ideal Conditions For Growing Radish Microgreens
Humidity
In general, microgreens thrive better at relative humidity around 50 – 60%, so is radish. In most cases, people find them fresher and crunchier than the same crop planted in lower humidity at 20 – 30%.
pH Level
The ideal pH for planting radish is between 5.6 and 6.2. Note that you don’t have to worry about pH unless you grow your radish hydroponically.
Light
Microgreens need full-time lighting to thrive. If you don’t possess a grow light, ensure you expose them to the sun for at least 10 hours per day.
Nutrient
Growing mini radish doesn’t necessarily need fertilizers unless the medium they are in is low in nutrients. Here are some ways to increase yields:
- Mix soil with organic material such as peat moss before growing.
- Spread a thin layer of compost on the surface after adding seeds.
- Add seaweed solution after germinating to feed microgreens with trace elements.
- Use a trace mineral fertilizer such as Azomite or Cottonseed meal to grow medium before planting.
For further information, check out this article on how to grow microgreens.
Temperature
It is essential to growing radish in cool weather. Depending on the specific radish variant, the ideal range of temperature will change within 50°F – 75°F.
For instance, to plant red Rambo radish microgreens, the temperature for germination is 75°F, and it’s 60°F while thriving.
How To Harvest Radish Microgreens
Typically, they will take around one week to 10 days to be ready for harvest. Once they have two cotyledons and are from 6 – 8 cm tall, you can collect them.
Tips to harvest radish microgreens
- Tool for harvesting radishes: A sharp knife or a kitchen scissor.
- Harvest process: Use the device you’ve got to cut directly to the plants right above the top of the soil.
- Radish microgreen won’t regrow after cutting. You can take advantage of the rest by putting them into a compost pile.
- Microgreens must be collected before growing true leaves; otherwise, they will change the nutrition and flavor.
How To Store Radish Microgreens?
Since it is better to harvest all plants in one day, you need a proper storage method to keep the excess. Appropriately storage can keep your microgreens fresh for up to a week.
Here, use air-tight containers or zip bags to store microgreens in the fridge. Make sure the plants are dehydrated before packaging to avoid growing moist.
If you see any moisture in the container while holding, apply absorbent paper and put it back in the fridge.
Recipes With Radish Microgreens
Baby vegetables such as radish sprouts have been well-known as seed-to-table dishes. Radish microgreens have a slightly spicy flavor and crunchy texture. They can substitute for almost sprouts out there.
Microgreens salad
The first recipe to mention is microgreens salad mixed with veggies, and maybe meat added. Some popular ingredients to go with radish are avocado, carrot, tomato, and sliced chicken breast.
Microgreens sandwiches and wraps
We are all familiar with sandwiches load of cucumber and lettuce inside. But now, let’s try a fresh crunchy tortilla with radish microgreens instead.
Conclusion
We’ve done discovered a bunch of helpful information regarding radish microgreens. In a nutshell, they are nutritious, tasty, and easy to grow.
Do you have further questions related to microgreens? Let us know in the comment session below, and we will discuss more. We would love to hear from you!
