oriental radish
Other Common Names Include:
Chinese radish, daikon, lo bok, luo bo, Japanese radish, Korean radish
Latin Name: Raphanus sativus subvar. longipinnatus
Plant Family: Brassicaceae
Close Relatives: Radish, mustards, rutabaga, cabbage
Uses and Markets: Culinary (e.g. raw in salads, pickled, and cooked in a variety of methods alone or in mixed dishes). Traditionally used in East Asian cuisine.
Production Life Cycle in Ontario
Annual
Hardiness Zone
N/A
Special Notes
Oriental radishes have similar growth requirements as conventional radishes, but are often grown to a larger size and require more space. For general agronomic requirements for radish consult the OMAFRA vegetable guides.
Propagation method
Direct seeding.
Greenhouse Seeding/Propagation Dates
N/A
Field Seeding Date:
Early spring to mid-summer.
Field Transplanting Dates
N/A
In-Row Spacing
5-20 cm
Between row spacing
30-40 cm
Optimal Soil temperature at planting
>5°C
Fertility
Ontario fertility recommendations for conventional radish can be applied to oriental radish. On mineral soils, apply up to 60 kg N/ha. On muck soils, apply 40 kg N/ha. Click here for phosphorus and potassium application guidelines and for more information on specialty crop fertility.
Soil type
Sand, loam, muck
Soil pH
6.0-7.0 (sand, loam); 5.1-5.5 (muck)
Special requirements for growth habit
None
Optimal Temperature Range
15-20°C
Temperature sensitivity
Frost tolerant. Radishes are adversely affected by hot, dry weather and long days.
Irrigation requirements
Irrigation beneficial under normal Ontario conditions.
Days to harvest
50-80 days depending on cultivar.
Specialized equipment
None
Harvest
Harvest Scheduling
Single harvest. Continuous harvests are possible from successive plantings for many cultivars, but some do poorly in mid-summer heat.
Hand harvest or machine harvest
Hand harvest
Quality parameters/grades:
No established grades. Quality is determined by the market.
Additional Harvest Notes
None
Post harvest
Special handling/curing
Remove field heat as soon as possible after harvest.
Storage Conditions
Relative humidity (RH): 95-100%
Temperature: 0°C
Air Exchange: N/A
Duration: Indefinitely
Specific pests observed on this crop in Ontario (observations based on limited experience with this crop)
Insects and Invertebrates: Flea beetle, cabbage maggot, cabbage looper, wireworms, millipedes, aphids, imported cabbageworm, diamondback moth
Diseases: Damping-off, black root, scab, Fusarium wilt, alternaria leaf spot, downy mildew, powdery mildew, Botrytis, root rot (Rhizoctonia), crown rot, clubroot
Other:
Other Potential Pests: The following pests have not been observed on this crop in Ontario. However, they are either significant concerns for closely related plants in Ontario, or are reported on this crop in other production areas. This is not a comprehensive list of all potential pests. Not all of these pests will necessarily survive Ontario’s climate, but could potentially survive in a protected environment (e.g. greenhouse, storage facility).
Insects and Invertebrates: None
Diseases: White rust, sugarbeet cyst nematode
Other: None
*Indicates pests commonly mentioned as causing significant damage or economic loss to this crop in other regions.
Comments
To date the following pests have been the most significant in Ontario: flea beetle, cabbage maggot. All pests of conventional varieties of radish in Ontario are potential pests of Oriental radish, although susceptibility may differ. This crop is in Crop Group 1: Root and Tuber Vegetables Group and Subgroup 1A: Root Vegetables Subgroup and Subgroup 1B: Root Vegetables (Except Sugar Beet) Subgroup, when grown for its roots. This crop is in Crop Group 2: Leaves of Root and Tuber Vegetables (Human Food or Animal Feed) Group, when grown for its leaves. For more information on Crop Groups, refer to the Pest section. Always refer to product labels, and follow all directions specified on the label, before applying any pest control product. For more information, consult an OMAFRA specialist. For pest control products registered on this crop refer to OMAFRA Publication 838. It is important to note that not all pest control products registered on conventional radish are registered on Oriental radish.
None
- Bilal, A. and M. Brownbridge. 2010-2012. World crops project. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, unpublished.
- Elford, E., Filotas, M., Todd, J., Westerveld, S., Bilal, A., and M. Brownbridge. 2011. World crops variety trials and demonstration. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre/OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- Elford, E., Filotas, M., Todd, J., and S. Westerveld. 2009. Non-traditional crops demonstration garden. OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 2010. Publication 363 Vegetable Production Recommendations 2010-2011. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Toronto.
- Oregon State University. 2003. Radish. Commercial Vegetable Production Guides.
