Radish
Raphanus sativus

Family: Brassicaceae

What it is like

A cabbage family herb. It is a small quick growing plant with a thickened edible root. The leaves are divided along the middle nerve and are hairy. The end lobe is largest. The flowers are white or lilac with purple veins. The fruit is a pod. It is round in cross section and does not open at maturity. It is constricted between the seeds. The fattened roots can be red, white, purple or black. They can be round, oblong or long and narrow. There are several cultivated varieties especially in China.

There are 8 Raphanus species.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It grows from the coast up to at least 2400 m in the tropics. It grows best in a cool climate of about 15°C. It is frost resistant. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andorra, Angola, Arabia, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Balkans, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Britain, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Georgia, Greece, Guam, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Rotuma, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young tender roots are mostly eaten raw. The leaves and flowers are eaten cooked. Roots and seeds are pickled. The young pods can be eaten in salads.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. In Papua New Guinea tried out by many people and not liked. A common temperate salad plant.

Edible parts

Roots, leaves, herb, fruit, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed planted at 5 cm spacing. In tropical highland areas seeds can be saved from plants to re-sow.

Plants can be ready after 3 weeks.

Its other names

Local names

Cai cu, La-phug, Lobak, Luo bo, Meelay, Monla, Monla-u, Mula, Nabo silvestre, Papay yuyu, Rabanete, Rabanillo, Rabanito, Rabano, Radeisshu, Radijs, Radis, Ravanello, Rdeča redkvica, Rediska, Rettich

Synonyms

Probably now Raphanus sativus Radicula group; Raphanus acanthiformis J. M. Morel; Raphanus chinensis Miller (1768), not (Linnaeus) Crantz (1769); Raphanus macropodus H. Léveillé; Raphanus niger Miller; Raphanus raphanistroides (Makino) Nakai; Raphanus raphanistrum Linnaeus var. sativus (Linnaeus) Domin; Raphanus sativus var. macropodus (H. Léveillé) Makino; Raphanus sativus f. raphanistroides Makino; Raphanus sativus var. raphanistroides (Makino) Makino; Raphanus taquetii H. Léveillé;