Vegetable growers love Japanese radish and grow it in their gardens all over the world. Breeders have developed many varieties of daikon that are resistant to frost and other weather disasters. It is necessary to select types of radish in accordance with the soils characteristic of a particular region, as well as the climate. The long root vegetables are healthy and taste better than radishes. The juiciness of the pulp and the delicately pungent taste of the fruit are felt by those who prefer daikon.
Classification of varieties
The sweet type of radish appeared on European tables quite recently.Thanks to careful selection and genetic modifications, more than 500 varieties of daikon have appeared. Fruits differ in shape (from spherical and cone-shaped to spindle-shaped spirals), fiber density, and brightness of taste.
Varieties are classified according to sowing time and climatic types. When choosing a variety, they look at how much daylight the vegetable needs to fully ripen. There are spring, summer, autumn and winter types of radish.
Root crops differ in their location in the soil and structure. Depending on the type of crop, soil for cultivation is selected.
Daikon varieties according to soil classification
Those who are going to grow daikon need to understand the characteristics of radish species:
- The Kameido group of root crops can grow in any soil. Sandy soil is especially suitable for vegetables. A small diameter of 5 centimeters and a length of 15 allow the radish to receive enough nutrition. Interestingly, a third of the product is on the surface and does not go into the ground. The group includes varieties such as Kameido and Ice Spring, which are pleasant to the taste. They consume not only the fruits, but also the leaves of radish.
- Shiroagari is grown in clayey areas. The root crop, similar in shape to a cylinder, is located two-thirds above the surface. To break through the layers of soil, the varieties Baseball and Nightingale the Robber need to use force. Therefore, at the bottom of the fruit, 30 centimeters long, there is a thickening.
- Sinks slightly into heavy clay soil radish varieties, belonging to the species Shogoin. Round root crops 20 centimeters long ripen within 60-100 days. In areas with heavy soil, you need to plant seeds Daikon Sasha, Snow White, Pink glitter.
- Miyashige radish is picky about soil. The varieties of this group Dubinushka and Elephant Tusk require nutritious soil. Growing up to 60 centimeters in length, the daikon of this series is half submerged in the ground.
- Long root vegetables of 60 centimeters, with a girth of 10 in the Minovasi species. Numerous varieties of radish are distinguished by their rapid ripening. Usually only a quarter of the fruit is visible from the ground. The best varieties include Russian size and Dragon. The peculiarity of radish is its intolerance to low temperatures. Even 5 degrees Celsius is considered cold for a vegetable in this group.
- The shape of the root crop of the daikon Nerima is interesting. Outwardly, it looks like a milky white pear. The ripening period for Green Dragon and White jam reaches up to 100 days.
- Conical fruits of the daikons of the Ninengo group. They are white with a green head. The length of the conical root crop is about 60 centimeters with a diameter of 7. Varieties of radish - Dragon's Tooth, Omni, Samurai - differ in their resistance to frost and lack of flowering.
Types of vegetables are different in shape and soil requirements, but they grow well and produce yields, adapted for open ground.
Groups of daikon varieties by climatype
The daikon is native to the Japanese Islands, where the climate is humid and warm. Natural daylight hours there differ in length from temperate latitudes. There are four types of daikon, which require different lengths of daylight.
Spring varieties of vegetables, or Haru, should be planted when the snow melts, then the fruit harvest will be in early June. If you plant radishes in mid-summer, you will have time to harvest the crop before the cold weather. Such varieties are suitable for regions with a temperate climate - the Volga region, Moscow region, Siberia and the Far East.
Hatsu, or summer daikon species, are ready to be dug up in 50 days. They love the heat, so the climate of the southern regions of Russia is comfortable for them.
Autumn varieties, or Aki, are valued for their juiciness and superior size compared to other types of white radish. This is the most acceptable group for cultivation in various areas of the middle zone. Daikon does not need long daylight hours; it sleeps well with short ones.
Daikon of the Fuyu group is unknown to gardeners. There is no efficiency from growing radishes of this group, so it is not worth cultivating the vegetable.
The best varieties of domestic breeders by ripening time
The vastness of the territory and the different climatic zones of our country mean that you need to be able to select daikon varieties. What is suitable for the Moscow region will not mature in Siberia. Although a number of vegetable plants have been developed that grow successfully in the middle zone, where the climate is temperate, without sudden temperature fluctuations.
Early ripening
Early types of daikon are vegetables with a growing season of 40-50 days after planting:
- Radish Sasha is very popular. In addition to early ripening, it is resistant to cold. Delicate thin skin, juicy pulp with a sweet-spicy taste are the main qualities of the hybrid.
- The Minovasi variety is characterized by juicy and dense pulp and a sweetish taste. The cylindrical root crop ripens after 70 days. The harvest can be stored for a long time.
- Daikon Russian size will ripen 40-45 days after planting. The advantages of Japanese radish include thin, smooth, white skin, juicy, crispy flesh. The length of the root crop is 0.5 meters, with a diameter of 10-12 centimeters. The vegetable is planted in spring and summer. The weight of a hybrid can be 2 kilograms or more.
- The mid-early hybrid Prince of Denmark is famous for its high yields. Up to 2 kilograms of radish are harvested from one square meter. A root vegetable 8-10 centimeters long with white pulp and red skin. The variety is resistant to diseases and flowering.
- After 42 days, summer daikon Misato Green ripens. The smooth cylinders of the fruit reach a length of 12 centimeters and a weight of 300 grams. At the top the root is green, then the color changes to white. Radish is used in salads; it does not last long.
- The hybrid Red Samurai has a root crop 30 centimeters long. But it amazes with its weight, which can be up to 4 kilograms. The skin of the fruit is white and the flesh is pale pink.
- But Snow White has good keeping quality. The fruits can be stored for up to 5 months in the basement. They are covered with light green skin on top and have juicy snow-white flesh inside.
Regions where warm weather sets in in April are suitable for early species. But early ripening crops need growing time from July to September in Siberia and the Far East.
Mid-season
This group is characterized by ripening periods of 60-80 days.
The Dragon vegetable has a sweetish taste, and the fruits weigh up to 1 kilogram. And the length of the cylindrical root crop reaches 60 centimeters.
Daikon Dubinushka gains weight of 1.5 kilograms with a length of 50 centimeters. Radish has a sweetish taste with a slight bitterness and snow-white flesh.
Famous for its cold resistance hybrid pink glitter. It can be grown in areas with short daylight hours. The pinkish color of the pulp with the white skin of the root vegetable is interesting. The length of the radish is only 10 centimeters, the fruit is round in shape.
A large bull is characterized by a fetal weight of 3 kilograms. Technical ripeness of the root crop occurs after 75 days.The hybrid is suitable for storage and is not afraid of low temperatures.
Japanese Caesar radish has cylindrical fruits, white in color. As the root grows, it goes completely into the ground.
Late ripening
The variety for winter storage is characterized by late ripening periods - 90-100 days. Vegetables are distinguished by a large mass of fruits, but in a temperate climate they do not have time to ripen.
Among the best are:
- Japanese long with a root weight of up to 3 kilograms and a long shelf life.
- An elephant tusk with a fetal length of 60 centimeters and a weight of 0.5 kilograms.
- Nerima, which produces a white root crop 60 centimeters long in 100 days.
So that late-ripening daikon species have time to ripen, they are planted early, in April. If sown later, they will not be able to please you with tasty large fruits.
