Julie Bove wrote:
>
> I know this isn't a gardening group but I thought someone here might know. I
> am growing English Breakfast radishes. I have grown them before with no
> problems. We haven't had any really hot weather yet. Leaves came on quickly.
> I tried eating a couple a few weeks ago. While tender and flavorful, they
> were toothpick skinny. So I let them go but now it's to the point where a
> few have gone to seed. But they're still not right! Angela and I pulled some
> up and tried to eat them. Couldn't. Now they're about the width of three
> round toothpicks. Length seems right. But... We could not bite into them.
> They are very woody and tough. So we just sucked the flavor out and tossed
> them.
>
> What would cause this? Thanks!

I do know radishes. Tough and woody and also gone to seed? They
are old and done growing. If they matured small, you probably
planted them too close together. As you might know radishes do
best in cooler weather....spring and fall.

I've grown them many times. Not only for the radish leaves and
bulbs, they make good ground cover in your garden to shade and
help prevent the soil from drying out. They pop up in no time and
shallow roots don't interfere with your other garden plants.

If you like to eat radishes (and again...the leaves are good to
add to a salad). Don't just plant them in the spring once. They
grow and mature quickly. Best to plant a new batch every 2 weeks
or so. As they grow shallow, use them for soil shade too. Just
sprinkle seeds over your garden every few weeks. Once they
sprout, thin them with scissors ....don't want a cluster to grow
together as that will inhibit bulb growth.

Radishes are about the easiest thing to grow, imo.

Your radishes matured completely but the bulbs stayed small? You
didn't thin them when the sprouts first popped out of the soil.