Beet vs Radish: Roots Plus Timing
The beet vs radish difference is mostly about timing. UF/IFAS notes that radishes are ready to harvest 20 to 30 days after sowing. University of Illinois Extension notes that beets need about 60 days to reach 1 1/2 inches across. Both are cool season root crops that need early thinning.
The short answer
Beets plus radishes are both cool season root crops sown directly in the garden. Radishes mature fast, often in 20 to 30 days, plus turn pithy if left too long. Beets take about 60 days to reach 1 1/2 inches. Each beet seed is a cluster of seeds, so thinning matters even more.
How fast does each crop mature?
UF/IFAS advises harvesting radishes on the younger side, 20 to 30 days after sowing. Daikon types need about seven weeks in spring or ten weeks in fall.
Illinois Extension notes that beets need about 60 days to reach 1 1/2 inches in diameter. They swell rapidly to 3 inches with adequate moisture plus space.
| Trait | Beet | Radish |
|---|---|---|
| Days to harvest | About 60 | 20 to 30 |
| Seed | Cluster of seeds | Single tiny seed |
| Thinning | 1 to 3 inches | 1/2 to 1 inch for spring types |
Source: University of Illinois Extension plus UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions.
How do the seeds differ?
Illinois Extension explains that a beet seed is actually a cluster of seeds in a dried fruit. Several seedlings may grow from each one, so hand thinning is almost always necessary.
Radish seeds are minute. UF/IFAS advises sowing them no more than 1/4 inch deep in rows directly in the soil.
How far apart should they grow?
Illinois Extension suggests thinning beets to 1 to 3 inches apart, while Utah State University Extension suggests 3 inches. Spring radishes are thinned to 1/2 to 1 inch apart.
Winter radishes want 2 to 4 inches or more for their larger roots.
How to: step by step
- Sow beets 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost.
- Sow spring radishes as soon as soil can be worked.
- Plant beet seed about 1/2 inch deep.
- Plant radish seed no more than 1/4 inch deep.
- Thin both early to the proper spacing.
- Pull radishes young plus harvest beets at full size.
Troubleshooting
Woody, pithy radishes: picked late or heat. Pull roots while young plus less than 1 inch across.
Small beet roots: crowded plants. Space seedlings 1 to 3 inches.
Poor beet stands: seed planted too deep or crusted soil. Plant about 1/2 inch deep.
For related reading see taproot vs fibrous roots, leaf anatomy plus raised beds. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Beet, home vegetable gardening, University of Illinois Extension
- Radish, home vegetable gardening, University of Illinois Extension
- How to grow beets in your garden, Utah State University Extension
- Radishes, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
FAQ
Can beets plus radishes be planted together?
Both are cool season crops that can be sown in early spring. Illinois Extension notes beets can go in 30 days before the frost free date, while spring radishes are planted as early as the soil can be worked. Radishes are harvested weeks earlier, which frees space for the slower beets.
How long do beets take?
Illinois Extension notes that about 60 days are required for beets to reach 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Beets can be harvested whenever they reach the desired size. Most varieties larger than 3 inches may become tough plus fibrous, so harvest before roots grow past that size.
Why do radishes turn woody?
Illinois Extension notes that slow development makes radishes woody in texture. Roots stay in good condition only a short time before turning pithy, or spongy. Harvest as soon as roots reach usable size, usually less than 1 inch across, plus finish before heat or seed stalks develop.
Can radishes grow in summer?
Some can. Illinois Extension notes that later maturing varieties such as Icicle plus French Breakfast withstand heat better than early types. French Breakfast holds up in summer heat if water is supplied regularly. Spring types can be sown again in late summer to mature in cooler fall weather.
How do I get a steady harvest?
Sow in succession. Illinois Extension suggests short rows of radishes every 10 to 14 days plus beets at 3 to 4 week intervals until midsummer. Utah State University Extension notes that beet seeds germinate well at 55 to 75°F, while temperatures above 80°F reduce germination.
