Daikon Radish
Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus
vegetableDaikon is a large, long, white Asian radish with mild, crisp, juicy flesh, used raw in salads, grated as a condiment, pickled, and simmered in soups and braises; its deep taproot also makes it a popular soil-loosening cover crop. Unlike quick spring radishes, it is grown as a longer-season fall crop, maturing in roughly 50 to 70 days.
☀️
Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 2 days
🌾
Harvest
~60 days
📊
Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
↔️
Spacing
4-6 in. apart
⬇️
Planting Depth
1/2-1 in.
🧪
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Loose, deep
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Little needed; avoid excess nitrogen
Fertilizer
Low-nitrogen (5-10-10)
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow in late summer for a fall crop into loose, deep, stone-free soil so the long roots grow straight, thinning to about 4 to 6 inches apart. Keep moisture even and steady, since interrupted growth makes radishes hot and pithy, and let the roots finish in cool weather for the sweetest, mildest flavor.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →spring planting
🌿
Direct sow
Apr 1
🌾
Projected first harvest
May 31
fall planting
🌿
Direct sow
Aug 25
🌾
Projected first harvest
Oct 24
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Lettuce — Shares cool-season space efficiently
- Bush Beans — Fix nitrogen and improve the soil
- Sweet Alyssum — Attracts aphid-eating hoverflies
- Nasturtium — Acts as a flea beetle trap crop
❌ Keep away from
Brassicas
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Row cover seedlings against leaf shot-holing
Use row cover and rotate where brassicas grow
Sow in loose, stone-free soil and keep moisture even
🌾 Harvest & storage
Pull when roots reach full size, generally 50 to 70 days from sowing and before a hard freeze. Cool weather keeps the flavor mild and sweet, while roots left too long or grown dry turn pithy and sharp.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Daikon is very low in calories and a good source of vitamin C, with fiber, potassium, and calcium, and like other radishes it contains the antioxidant compounds behind its peppery bite.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.