If you’re new to gardening, you’ve probably been recommended to grow radishes because they’re so easy. Sprinkle some seeds, give them some water, and voila! You can have radishes ready to harvest in less than a month. It’s quite the confidence boost for a new gardener!
Even if you’re a seasoned gardener who loves an easy win, there are many types of radishes to choose from that you’re sure to love! Radishes come in a rainbow of colors, from bold reds and purples to delicate pinks and yellows. There are even black and green varieties that are sure to spice up your salads.
Let’s look at these different radishes to grow in the garden. Each one will bring something completely different and unique to your garden this season.
Red Radishes
Sometimes, you can’t beat the classics. You probably think of red varieties when you think of radishes, and they’re likely what’s sold at your grocery store. You might think they’re overrated, but they’re a classic for a reason!
They’re not all your typical round, red radishes (say that three times fast). You’ll want to grow some unique varieties in your garden ASAP.
Cherriette
Cherriette radish is a great option for beginners with a mild flavor that can be harvested in 24 days.
Red on the outside and white on the inside, the Cherriette radish is exactly what you’d expect, and it’s a good choice for a first-time radish grower. It’s ready to harvest in about 24 days and won’t lose its mild flavor if you leave it in the ground a bit longer than expected.
Grow these radishes in full sun in the spring for the best results. Plant seeds every one or two weeks to have a constant supply of radishes to munch on.
Cherry Belle
Cherry Belle is a mild-flavored heirloom radish best eaten raw in salads.
The Cherry Belle is an heirloom variety from Holland you won’t want to miss. With a crisp crunch and a mild flavor, you’ll want to eat this one raw on salads.
This frost-tolerant variety can be planted in early spring and will be ready in about 24 days. Succession plant it through summer for continual radish goodness!
Crimson Giant
Crimson Giant is a large, mild-flavored radish ideal for sandwiches or salads.
Tired of dainty radishes? Look no further than the Crimson Giant, which can grow up to 2 inches in diameter! Its large size and mild flavor make it perfect for sandwiches or being the star of the salad.
This radish likes the cool weather in spring and fall and takes 28 days to mature. It’s tolerant of frost so that you can grow them right up until the first freeze.
De 18 Jours
De 18 Jours is a slender oval-shaped radish that grows in just 18 days, making it perfect for impatient gardeners.
Guess how long this speedster takes to grow? If you guessed 18 days, you’re right! De 18 Jours, or “of 18 days,” are perfect for impatient gardeners who just want a radish already.
This variety has a slender oval shape rather than your typical round red radish, so it’s a good choice if you want something a little different. Grow it in the spring until the temperatures reach 75°F. They’re frost tolerant so you can start early with these.
Early Scarlet Globe
Early Scarlet Globe is the most popular radish with a mild and crunchy flavor that tolerates warm weather.
The poster child of all radishes, the Early Scarlet Globe is the one you’ve probably had before. It’s mild and crunchy and tolerates warm weather so you can grow this one into summer, unlike many varieties.
The typical size is about 1 inch, with greens growing up to 6 inches tall. Grow these in full sun in the spring.
Fire and Ice
Fire and Ice is a half-red and half-white radish with a mild and sweet taste.
Despite the name, this radish is mild and sweet. It’s half red and half white, slender, and grows to be about 4 inches long. You’ll want to serve this one refrigerated to enjoy its sweet flavor.
This kind is ready to eat in about 25 days. You can plant them in early spring, late summer, and fall if you don’t have any early frosts. It’s not frost-tolerant, so keep an eye out for the weather!
French Breakfast
This variety is mild and peppery, with slender red and white radishes that are frost-tolerant.
French Breakfast radishes are frost-tolerant but can also stand a little heat, making them perfect for gardens with temperamental springs.
Grow them in spring and fall in containers or in the ground, and in 28 days or so, you’ll have beautiful, slender red and white radishes. They’re about 1 inch in diameter and can reach up to 4 inches long. They’re mild and peppery, giving your food a gentle kick.
French Dressing
Cherry Belle radish is a thinner and shorter variety, predominantly red with a peppery flavor.
This radish is similar to the French Breakfast variety but is a little shorter and thinner. They’re more red than they are white but still have a delicious peppery flavor. This kind is great with salads with, say, some French dressing?
They can take up to 35 days to harvest, making them a bit on the slower side in the world of radishes, but they’re worth the wait!
German Giant
German Giant is a globe-shaped radish with bright red skin and a mild and crisp flavor.
The German Giant is a globe-shaped variety with bright red skin and stunning white insides. It can grow to be 1 ½ inches in diameter and has a mild but crisp flavor.
Many varieties become pithy like a lemon when they get too big, but that’s not a problem with this giant. You can let it reach its full size without sacrificing the full flavor.
Giant of Sicily
This Italian heirloom radish is frost-tolerant and can be grown in spring and fall.
While I’m on the topic of giant radishes, let’s look at this heirloom variety hailing from Italy. It’s a classic spherical radish with red skin and white flesh, but this one can reach 2 inches in diameter!
It’s frost-tolerant and can be grown in spring and fall, taking about 35 days to harvest. The flavor is on the sweet side, so those who don’t like the spiciness of radishes will appreciate this one.
Long Scarlet
This variety of radish has a long, scarlet root that’s sweet and mild.
This radish variety is long and scarlet, but maybe you could have guessed that! This red radish thinks it’s a carrot with a slender root that reaches up to 6 inches long. It’s sweet and not very pungent. Add this to the list of tame radishes for radish-haters!
It will be ready to harvest within 30 days and can be sown in early spring and late summer.
Perfecto
This variety of radish is fast-growing, with a peppery flavor and a golf ball-like size.
This one is perfect if you want a peppery radish that packs a punch. This variety is globe-shaped with a white interior and can reach the size of a golf ball.
This variety grows on the faster side, reaching maturity in 25 days. They reach 1 inch in diameter and will be crispy when you bite into them.
Red King
King of all radishes, giant daikon type with bright red skin and white flesh.
Perhaps the king of all radishes, this giant variety will give you plenty to eat! It’s a type of daikon radish with bright red skin and crispy white flesh. The roots can grow to be 8 inches long and a whopping 2 ½ inches wide!
This variety has some heat tolerance and is slow to bolt, so you can plant them throughout spring and well into summer. They take a bit longer to harvest, though—you’ll have to wait about 53 days! The flavor is peppery with a hint of sweetness.
Rudolf
The Rudolf radish is a perfectly spherical variety with a zesty, peppery flavor.
The Rudolf radish is 1 inch in diameter and is almost a perfect sphere every time. Talk about satisfying! The cute round red radishes look a lot like a certain flying reindeer’s nose, and they have a zesty, peppery taste.
Plant these in the cool parts of spring and fall, but you can also grow these into summer until it gets too hot.
Saxa 2
These radishes are a speedy European variety with a spicy flavor ready for harvest in just 18 days.
Saxa 2 radishes are a European variety that wastes no time. These globe-shaped radishes will be ready in at least 18 days.
Like other red radishes, these have white flesh and a delightfully spicy flavor with a tad of sweetness. You’ll want to snack on these in the garden, but they’re also delicious in many dishes.
Sichuan Red Beauty
The Sichuan Red Beauty radish has reddish-purple skin and flesh and is ideal for pickling, stir-frying, or salads.
This radish truly lives up to its name! It’s a reddish-purple inside and out, much like a beet. This Chinese variety is great for pickling, stir-frying, or salads for a gorgeous pop of color.
The Sichuan Red Beauty is oblong and will reach about 2 inches in length and diameter. Plant it in late summer or early fall and harvest it as the temperatures cool down. This variety isn’t recommended for spring planting.
Sora
Sora radish is the ideal choice for growing radishes in warm climates.
The Sora radish should be your first choice if you want to grow radishes in a warm climate. They keep their perfect round shape and don’t become pithy, even if the temperatures are a bit warm or they get too big!
These radishes have beautiful pinkish-red skin and white flesh and are ready to harvest in 22 days. Plant them from spring to fall to continually enjoy radishes almost all year.
Sparkler
The Sparkler radish has a two-toned color, grows quickly, and is a spicy addition to any salad.
The two-toned Sparkler radish is half reddish-purple and half white. It’s a spicy radish with a hint of sweetness that you’ll love to put on any salad. Harvest it early if you want to tone down the spice since the longer it stays in the ground, the spicier it gets.
Sparkler radishes waste no time in the garden! You can harvest these in just 20 days, making them an easy choice for those who can’t wait to harvest.
Yellow Radishes
If you can only find red radishes in the grocery store, try growing some yellow ones to add a little interest to your garden (and your plate). Since there aren’t many options, you’ll know yellow radish is truly something special.
Helios
Helios radish is an heirloom variety with yellow or beige skin, and white flesh.
The Helios radish is an heirloom variety from Czechoslovakia. If you’re interested in other cultures, you’ll want this one in your garden!
They’re globe or olive-shaped and have beautiful yellow or beige skin with white flesh. These are ready to harvest in 25 days. Their spice is mild and is a good option for first-time radish eaters.
Zlata
This radish has golden skin, white flesh, and a zesty flavor.
Zlata, or “gold” in Polish, is an heirloom variety from Poland. Its golden skin is complimented by its white flesh and has a zesty flavor. You’ll get a nice crunch when you bite into the tender skin.
Grow this plant in the spring and into summer, and it should be ready in about 25 days. This variety will be spicier if grown in the heat and milder if grown in cool temperatures, so your spring batches may be different than the summer ones!
Green Radishes
Have you ever had a green radish? They’re certainly unique! There are a couple of different varieties to choose from that you’re sure to love.
Chinese Green Luobo
The Chinese Green Luobo radish has a unique appearance and is versatile for cooking and pickling.
The Chinese Green Luobo radish is sure to stand out in your garden. The top half is green, the bottom half is white, and the insides are light green. This variety is often used in pickling, but you can also cook it up or eat it raw.
This giant Daikon radish takes about 60 days to mature and can be harvested when it’s 6 to 10 inches in length. It reaches up to 3 inches in diameter, so use this one on sandwiches since it takes up plenty of space! It prefers to grow in cool weather and will be quick to bolt once the weather heats up.
Misato Rose
Misato Rose is a sweet, non-spicy radish with large, globe-shaped roots.
You’re sure to fall in love with the Misato Rose. The globe-shaped roots are massive, growing up to 5 inches long and wide. The skin is light green and white but will surprise you with brilliant white and magenta flesh that resembles a tie-dyed T-shirt.
This radish lacks spice but has plenty of sweetness to go around. It’s best planted in the fall to avoid the summer heat.
Singara Rat’s Tail
The aerial radish grows edible seed pods above ground that are a milder version of typical radishes.
If you’re unfamiliar with aerial radishes, you might mistake this rat’s tail variety for a bean! This plant grows edible seed pods above ground that are eaten instead of the roots as you would with your typical radish. The seed pods are crispy and a little spicy but are much tamer than other radishes.
This plant grows up to 5 feet tall and 12 feet wide, with pods ranging from 3 to 12 inches in length. It’s tolerant of frost and can be grown from spring to summer. The bean pods can be eaten raw, cooked in dishes like stir-fries, or pickled.
Purple Radishes
Purple radishes are sure to grab your attention! From deep purple to light lavender, these radishes will add some color to your garden.
Malaga
Malaga radishes have plum or purple skin and white flesh.
The Malaga radish is a lot like your typical grocery store red radish. But, instead of red skin, you get a beautiful plum or purple color that contrasts well with the white flesh. You can harvest these radishes in 35 days.
These frost-tolerant radishes grow best in early spring, and you can plant them until it gets too hot at the beginning of summer.
Royal Purple
Royal Purple radishes are beginner-friendly and resistant to pests and disease.
The Royal Purple radish will rule your garden with its gorgeous purple skin and pest and disease resistance! They’re easy to care for, making them great for beginner gardeners who need a quick win to boost confidence. The spice is mild and well-balanced with sweetness, making it a delicious choice you’ll want to plant again and again.
Sow seeds in early spring and late summer, and continue with succession planting until the temperatures become too hot or too cold.
Pink Radishes
Radishes are known for their spicy kick, but these pretty pink ones will make you think they’re dainty and delicate. They’re beautiful to look at and delicious to eat—what’s not to like?
Salad Rose
The Salad Rose radish is a mild, long, and slender variety that’s great in salads.
This Russian radish is begging to be in a salad! The mild spice is just enough to stand out, but not so much that you won’t enjoy it. It’s a long and slender radish that can reach up to 8 inches long and about 1 inch in diameter. While most tend towards purplish, they can also be pinkish-purple in hue.
This variety grows well in spring and fall and is frost-tolerant, so you can get a head start and plant them before the last frost.
Chinese Rose
Plant this rosy radish in late summer and harvest it in about 60 days.
This radish should be planted in late summer and will be ready in about 60 days as the weather cools down.
This rosy radish can reach up to 8 inches long and 2 inches in diameter and has a spicy, peppery flavor. A beautiful light pink skin complements the white flesh. This one will make any dish feel elegant!
Lady Slipper
The Lady Slipper radish is mildly sweet with little spice, great for first-time radish eaters.
If you’re not a fan of radish spice, the Lady Slipper is one you should try. This radish gets its name from its oblong shape that (loosely) resembles a slipper. It’s somewhat sweet with very little spice, so it’s a good first radish to try if you haven’t had one before.
It reaches 1 inch in diameter and 1-2 inches long and is ready to harvest in as little as 25 days. They’ll store well in the fridge for up to a few weeks, but you need to harvest them quickly, or they’ll turn pithy and tough to eat.
Pink Beauty
The Pink Beauty radish is mild and spicy, ready in just 22 days, and perfect for snacking.
The Pink Beauty is aptly named for its rosy skin, but their quick growing time of 22 days makes them even more beautiful! They’re mildly spicy and are only 1 inch in width and length, making them perfect for snacking in the garden.
Plant these radishes in early spring and late summer. They’re frost-tolerant and don’t like summer heat.
Pink Summercicle
Plant Pink Summercicle radishes in spring or fall due to their sensitivity to extreme temperatures.
The Pink Summercicle radish has a lovely sweet flavor with a bit of spice. They’re oblong and reach up to 5 inches long. Their pink skin ranges from light to dark, and they have white flesh.
Despite their name, these radishes can’t take the summer heat! Plant these in the spring and fall to avoid extreme temperatures.
White Radishes
The white radish category is much like the others: they’re either globe-shaped or oblong and have red or white flesh. You won’t want to miss out on some gorgeous varieties in this category—don’t mistake a white radish for being boring!
Daikon Long White
The Daikon Long White radish is a huge, white, and long root vegetable that is perfect for radish lovers.
The Daikon Long White, often simply referred to as the Daikon Long, is gigantic. Its root looks like a large white carrot and reaches up to 14 inches long and a few inches thick! If you love radishes and want to make sure you have plenty to munch on, this one is for you!
This one is mostly white but may appear light green at the top with brown spots. The spots aren’t bad, though; it’s just a characteristic of being a root vegetable. Plant it in spring and late summer and enjoy it cooked, pickled, or raw. This radish is peppery but mild.
Mantanghong
The Mantanghong radish has a striking appearance with mostly white skin and purple flesh.
Also called a Watermelon radish, the Mantanghong is a hybrid radish that is absolutely stunning. Its skin is mostly white with some light green, and cutting it open will reveal beautiful purple flesh.
These radishes grow quite large globes reaching 3 inches in diameter and up to 1 pound in weight. It’s not just the color scheme reminding you of watermelons! Start growing these in late summer and through fall.
Minowase Summer Cross #3
This nearly perfect hybrid radish is uniform in size and shape with smooth white skin.
No plant is ever truly perfect, but this one comes close. This hybrid variety usually grows uniform radishes with smooth white skin that are all the same size and width. They reach up to 16 inches long and almost 2 pounds.
This variety has been bred to have heat tolerance, so you can plant this one from spring to fall to enjoy the crunch of radishes all summer long.
Miyashige
The Miyashige is an extra-long daikon radish that grows up to 18 inches, with white skin and flesh.
The Miyashige is a daikon radish that grows extra long, usually 12-18 inches long and 3 inches wide. This heirloom variety has white skin and flesh but may sometimes have light green tops.
Grow this winter radish in late summer and fall since it likes shorter days. Growing them in the spring can be difficult since the days gradually become longer and hotter.
Rido Red
The Rido Red is a globe-shaped radish with white skin and reddish-purple flesh in the center.
Is the Rido Red white or red? Well, yes! This stunning globe-shaped radish has white skin. Cut it open, and you’ll see about an inch of white flesh with reddish-purple flesh in the center. This radish is truly a work of art!
This variety grows large 4-inch spheres and is a bit on the sweeter side, but you can still expect a spicy radish kick. It thrives in spring and fall, so you can enjoy them throughout the year.
Sakurajima Mammoth
The Sakurajima Mammoth radish is a large variety that takes 90 days to mature.
Hungry for radishes? You better be if you’re planting this one! This variety truly is a mammoth, with the average size reaching 10 inches in diameter and 15 pounds. It develops a massive white or beige globe with plenty of leafy greens.
Start the Sakurajima Mammoth in late summer and harvest once the temperatures have cooled down. It takes its time and will be ready in 90 days. It’s frost-tolerant but won’t do well in freezing temperatures, so plan ahead if your first frost comes a bit early.
White Hailstone
The White Hailstone radish matures quickly in just 23 days.
The White Hailstone radish looks like it’s fresh from a hailstorm. While most of these white radishes take a little longer to mature, this one is on the faster side, ready to eat in as little as 23 days.
The 1-inch globe-shaped radishes are peppery and mild with a delightful crunch. They grow the best in the spring and can be succession planted until the weather is too hot.
White Icicle
The White Icicle radish is a quick-growing and slender variety with smooth white skin.
Staying in the theme of ice look-alikes, the White Icicle radish is slender, averages 5 inches long, and has smooth white skin.
These radishes are also pretty quick, taking about 30 days to be ready to harvest. You can grow them in spring and fall while the weather is cool.
Black Radishes
No, these radishes haven’t rotted; they’re just black! Black radishes are super cool with their contrasting white flesh and are said to be one of the spiciest kinds of radishes. If you want a unique addition to your vegetable garden, look no further. They’re also a great plant to include in a “goth garden” where you plant only black plants!
Long Black Spanish
Rare Long Black Spanish radish grows up to 9 inches long and is spicier than most.
The Long Black Spanish radish is an heirloom from Europe. You probably won’t find this one in stores since it’s rare. The roots grow up to 9 inches long and about 2 inches in diameter.
This radish is spicier than most, and the spice intensifies as you eat it. Cooking it will tame the flavor and bring out its subtle sweetness.
Round Black Spanish
The Black Spanish radish is a common and spicy variety that can be planted in late summer and harvested in 55 days.
This radish is also called known as the Black Spanish radish and is more common than the long variety, so you may have better luck finding these seeds. This one is also quite spicy compared to other varieties.
Plant this variety in late summer so it can mature during the cool, short days in late fall. It will be ready to harvest in 55 days.
Final Thoughts
Radishes aren’t just the red ones in the grocery store! There’s a whole rainbow of colors for you to try out and enjoy.
Whether you’re looking for something to grow in the spring or in the fall, there’s sure to be a variety that will suit your needs and your style. Try growing a new color each season to see which ones stand out most.
