"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> 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.

Hmmm... I've never thinned them before. I will pull them up and try to
replant.