Ⅰ. Product Details

Variety Characteristics

Cherry Radish is a miniature root vegetable variety of the Brassicaceae family with an ultra-short growth cycle of 20-30 days. The roots are spherical or oval with bright red skin and white flesh, 2-4cm in diameter and 10-20g in weight. The plant has rosette leaves with strong adaptability, suitable for cultivation in open fields, protected areas and even balcony pots throughout the year.

Quality Advantages

• Roots are crisp and tender with slightly spicy and sweet taste, rich in vitamin C, vitamin B complex, dietary fiber, potassium and calcium, low in calories and high in water content, with functions of appetizing and aiding digestion.
• Small and exquisite appearance with bright color, suitable for raw eating, salad, garnish and pickling, with high ornamental and edible value.
• Fast growth: Can be harvested in 20-30 days after sowing, suitable for multiple cropping and quick turnover, with high production efficiency.

High-Yield Characteristics

Under proper cultivation management, the yield per mu can reach 800-1200kg. The variety has strong adaptability to soil and climate, cold-resistant and shade-tolerant, suitable for dense planting with 30000-40000 plants per mu, and can be planted in batches for continuous harvest.

Escenarios de aplicación

• Fresh food market: Sold as a high-grade delicate vegetable, popular in supermarkets, high-end restaurants and salad bars;
• Catering industry: Used for garnish, cold dishes and sushi decoration, with good ornamental effect;
• Urban agriculture: Suitable for balcony, roof and small plot planting, as a leisure vegetable for families and children;
• Educational purposes: Used in school biology teaching and children’s planting activities due to short growth cycle and easy management.

Selection & Storage Suggestions

• Selection skills: Choose roots with bright red skin, smooth surface, no cracks, no insect damage and fresh leaves;
• Storage method: Wrap with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator crisper for 5-7 days, or store in a cool and ventilated place for 2-3 days. It is best to eat fresh for the best taste and nutrition.

Ⅱ. Planting Methods

Planting Preparation

1. Soil Selection

Cherry Radish prefers loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam or loam with pH value of 6.0-7.0. Avoid heavy clay soil and low-lying waterlogged land. Deep plow the land 15-20cm before planting, apply base fertilizer: 1000-1500kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 20kg of compound fertilizer per mu. Mix evenly and make flat ridges with width of 1-1.2m.

2. Seed Treatment

• Seed selection: Choose full, plump seeds with high germination rate, with seed consumption of 500-800g per mu;
• Seed soaking: Soak seeds in 20-25℃ warm water for 2-4 hours to promote germination, or sow dry seeds directly.

Sowing & Field Management

1. Sowing Time

• Spring sowing: March to May, can be sown in batches every 10-15 days;
• Autumn sowing: August to October, the best planting season with good quality;
• Winter sowing: November to February, need protected cultivation (greenhouse or plastic shed) in northern China;
• Summer sowing: June to July, need shade to avoid high temperature and bolting.

2. Sowing Methods

• Drill sowing: Make shallow furrows 1cm deep on ridges with row spacing of 10-15cm, sow seeds evenly in the furrows, cover with 0.5-1cm fine soil, water thoroughly;
• Broadcast sowing: Mix seeds with fine soil and broadcast evenly, then rake lightly and water, suitable for small-area planting;
• Pot planting: Use flower pots or seedling trays with diameter of 15-20cm, fill with nutrient soil, sow 5-8 seeds per pot, suitable for balcony planting.

3. Thinning & Final Singling

• First thinning: When seedlings have 1-2 true leaves, thin out weak seedlings, keep plant spacing of 2-3cm;
• Final singling: When seedlings have 3-4 true leaves, fix plant spacing at 4-6cm to ensure sufficient growth space for roots.

Field Management

1. Water Management

• Seedling stage: Keep soil moist to promote emergence, water frequently with small amount;
• Leaf growth period: Water once every 3-5 days, keep soil moist but not waterlogged;
• Root expansion period: Ensure adequate water supply, water once every 2-3 days, keep soil moisture stable to prevent root cracking;
• Before harvest: Reduce watering 1-2 days before harvest to improve root quality and storage resistance.

2. Fertilizer Management

• Base fertilizer is the main fertilizer, generally no topdressing is needed;
• If the soil is poor, apply thin urea solution (0.5%) once at seedling stage;
• Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer to prevent excessive leaf growth and poor root development.

3. Temperature & Light Management

• Optimal growth temperature: 15-20℃, shade with shade net when temperature exceeds 25℃ in summer;
• Light requirement: Prefers sufficient sunlight, ensure 6-8 hours of light per day, avoid excessive shade which can cause leggy seedlings.

4. Disease & Pest Control

• Damping-off: Use 50% carbendazim wettable powder 800x solution for soil disinfection;
• Downy mildew: Spray with 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 600x solution;
• Aphids and flea beetles: Control with 10% imidacloprid wettable powder 1500x solution or yellow sticky traps;
• Cabbage caterpillars: Use Bt emulsion 500x solution for spray control.

Harvesting

• Harvest time: Harvest when roots grow to 2-4cm in diameter (20-30 days after sowing), harvest in batches according to growth;
• Harvesting method: Pull out radishes by hand or dig them out with a small shovel, retain 2-3cm petioles after harvest, clean soil on roots;
• Post-harvest treatment: Sort by size, remove damaged ones, wash and package for sale, or eat fresh immediately. Can be stored in refrigerator for 5-7 days.