Learning to grow daikon correctly

Daikon is a type of radish developed by Japanese breeders. At home, it is very popular, it is added to many dishes of Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisine. It can be used boiled, fried or stewed, pickled and salted, but to our compatriots it is closest to fresh in salads. In the gardens of the middle lane, this vegetable is rarely found, while it is only gaining popularity. It is a long white root vegetable, with a milder flavor than its radish and radish cousins ​​(no characteristic bitterness). It contains fiber and beneficial enzymes, vitamin C, and a large amount of calcium (probably the largest among vegetables). When growing, usually there are no difficulties, the main thing is to observe the planting dates and the simplest rules for caring for crops.

Daikon: planting and care

About any garden crop, we can say that it loves neutral, fertile, loose soil, sunlight and so that groundwater does not pass too close. Our Japanese radish is no exception, but it will grow in any conditions. The main thing is to dig deep into the ground and carefully remove all weeds. Like radishes, daikon needs not very long daylight hours and not very hot weather, this determines the timing of planting. The best time to sow seeds is July. If you plan to grow this crop in a seedling way, you can do this in the spring, then by the middle of summer you will have already harvested. Difficulties can arise when transplanting seedlings, since by that time the root will already be long enough and there is a high probability of damaging it, so I still recommend planting the seeds directly into the ground.

So, we plant in July. Prepare a bed on which cruciferous plants (radishes, radishes, turnips, cabbage) did not grow last year, it coexists well with all other crops. The distance between plants in a row should be 25-30 cm and at least half a meter between rows. The care algorithm is simple - sowing, watering, weeding. The soil should be constantly moist (water it about once every 4-5 days), since in dry soil, root crops lose their taste. When the upper part of the root begins to gradually crawl out of the ground, you can huddle the plants.

Possible problems

The same pests that threaten all cruciferous plants should be feared: cabbage flea beetle, garden scoop, cabbage moth, rape flower beetle, slugs. Carefully and regularly inspect the garden for the appearance of pests, this issue is best addressed before it reaches the scale of a disaster. To cope with insects will help dusting wet leaves with ash, watering with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or spraying with hot pepper infusion. You can also sprinkle the soil in the aisles with pepper or ash. Plant marigolds in a garden bed with a daikon - they will also scare off pests. Diseases may appear: bacteriosis, root rot, alternaria, keela. All of them are transmitted with low-quality seeds, last year's crop residues and weeds, and begin to develop with excessive moisture. Therefore, if you carefully prepare the soil, disinfect the seeds and observe the watering regime, then most likely you will not encounter this problem.

Collect the crop only in dry weather, carefully fold the roots onto the garden bed so that they dry out and the earth crumbles from them on their own. Then the crop can be immersed in wooden boxes, sprinkled with wet sand and put into a cellar or basement.If you did everything correctly, the daikon can be stored until mid-winter, and you will have an unusual, tasty and healthy treat for the New Year's table.