When to plant Radish
The instant-gratification crop — many spring types are ready in under a month. Pull them young and crisp; left too long they turn pithy and sharp. Great for marking slow-germinating rows and for tucking between bigger crops.
Companions: Carrot, lettuce, cucumber, peas — a trap crop for flea beetles
How to grow Radish
Radish is best direct-sown straight into the garden, as it dislikes being transplanted. Give it full sun to part shade and space plants about 2 inches apart. It takes roughly 28 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. It also supports a fall sowing for a second harvest. Classic companions include carrot, lettuce, cucumber, peas — a trap crop for flea beetles.
Grower's tip: The fastest crop in the garden — sow in succession and harvest before they turn woody.
When to plant Radish by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same radish goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Direct sow outdoors May 18–Jun 29 Direct sow outdoors Jun 20–Jul 18 |
| Zone 1b | Direct sow outdoors May 13–Jun 24 Direct sow outdoors Jun 25–Jul 23 |
| Zone 2a | Direct sow outdoors May 8–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 30–Jul 28 |
| Zone 2b | Direct sow outdoors May 2–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors Jul 7–Aug 4 |
| Zone 3a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 27–Jun 8 Direct sow outdoors Jul 14–Aug 11 |
| Zone 3b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 22–Jun 3 Direct sow outdoors Jul 18–Aug 15 |
| Zone 4a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 17–May 29 Direct sow outdoors Jul 24–Aug 21 |
| Zone 4b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 12–May 24 Direct sow outdoors Jul 28–Aug 25 |
| Zone 5a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 19 Direct sow outdoors Aug 6–Sep 3 |
| Zone 5b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 2–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Sep 7 |
| Zone 6a | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Aug 22–Sep 19 |
| Zone 6b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Aug 30–Sep 27 |
| Zone 7a | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Oct 5 |
| Zone 7b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Oct 13 |
| Zone 8a | Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Sep 23–Oct 21 |
| Zone 8b | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Sep 30–Oct 28 |
| Zone 9a | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Nov 7 |
| Zone 9b | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 17 |
| Zone 10a | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 30 |
| Zone 10b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 29 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |
| Zone 11a | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |
| Zone 11b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |
| Zone 12a | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |
| Zone 12b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |
| Zone 13a | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |
| Zone 13b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |