Types of Radishes Radishes are from the same plant family as mustard, turnips and the cabbage family. It was first cultivated in Europe before the Roman Empire invasion. They come in two basic varieties: spring and winter. The crunchy spring varieties of radishes are planted in the early spring as soon as the soil can be worked and mature within a month of planting. Winter varieties are planted in the fall and require more time to mature. However, these radishes store better and maintain quality better in the garden or the refrigerator than spring radishes. Planting Radishes Plant spring radishes as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring in a garden bed that is six inches deep. Plant the slower growing winter radishes in late summer in garden bed that is two feet deep. Both spring and winter variety seeds should be planted at a depth of one half inch in rows that are one inch apart. The soil should be gently watered and in firm soil. For a continual harvest plant a short for several weeks in a row Once the seeds have germinated, thin them to one plant every three to four inches. Because radishes don’t like too much water or too little, water them frequently to keep the soil moist. Add mulch to keep weeds down as well as maintain moisture. Radishes grow quickly and normally aren’t bothered by garden pests. Radish Growing Buddies Pigweed, often referred to as wild amaranth, helps radishes because it loosens the soil. Nasturtiums and mustard greens protect radishes with their oils. Sow radishes in the same rows with beets, spinach, carrots and parsnips. Radishes grow quickly and will mark the rows for the slower growing vegetables. Growing radishes with leaf lettuce will keep them tender longer and they also grow well with kohlrabi, bush beans, and pole beans. Planted with cucumbers, squash and melons, they repel the striped cucumber beetle and when planted with tomatoes, they help repel the spider mite. I never grow them in ground vacated by cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli or turnips grown in the previous season because they are all members of the cabbage family. I also wouldn’t plant them near hyssop.