Topic: My Moolis are twisted!

[George the Pigman]

I had a go at growing moolis (daiken) this year and they grew well apart from the fact that instead of producing long straight white radishes they are long twisted ones. Any idea what might have caused this?
Any recipes or ideas how to cook them??

[ancellsfarmer]

Well, there's a funny thing. Been a difficult year, all in all, what with the referendum and suchlike. Too much spin! Nobody knows whether they are coming or going!  Blame the Government, even the Oppposition are suffering through too much Momentum!
Must have caused your daikons to turn in the ground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI1S0JE5TxU

[George the Pigman]

Thanks for the cookery links ancellsfarmer.
 I agree. They must have looked at what the world is like out there and tried to burrow back in the soil and head for Australia.

[gray1720]

I can just hear Rambling Syd Rumpo singing "My Moolis are twisted!".

Adrian

[George the Pigman]

Well I cut into my first twisted Mooli today and over half of it had blue rings around the outer rim.
Anyone seen this before? Any idea what's causing it?
Is it still edible?

[George the Pigman]

Funny you should mention it gray1720 but l was a fan of the erstwhile folk troubadour
. I seem to remember "mooli" occurred in the lyrics of one of his most famous renditions "The Lincolnshire Poacher". Something about them being caught in a snare.

[George the Pigman]

An update! Picked another one yesterday and whilst still a bit twisted the mooli was fine and tasted nice. No evidence of blue colouration.
I think I left the last one too long before peeling and storing it in the fridge. Apparently they don't store too well.
Wonder whether the twisting is related to clubroot. I have that in the same bed (for only the second time in 20 years!) What weather changes we are having this year - I've had ever pest and disease going!

[Tee Gee]

instead of producing long straight white radishes they are long twisted ones. Any idea what might have caused this?

This corkscrewing  / bending happens with many plants when the growing tip touches an obstruction.

In this case the tap root may have touched a stone and then bent around it thus creating the start of the corkscrew shape.

It is common sight with other root vegetables such as Parsnips,Carrots and potatoes to a certain degree.

A similar thing happens with sweet peas and runner beans  e.g when the growing tip of a sweet pea touches a leaf or stem it often results in a bent stem. With runner beans a similar thing happens when the young bean touches a leaf or stem this can result in a bent bean.

Regarding the blue rings I am not sure what causes this but I don't think it is connected with club root At a guess I think it might be down to irregular moisture take up, but as I say this is only a guess.

[George the Pigman]

The Moolis actually grow upwards and outwards rather than in the ground. They are really radishes and as such are swollen stems rather than roots.
Just about to stir fry some with some scallops and prawns for a late supper.

[Tee Gee]

The Moolis actually grow upwards and outwards rather than in the ground. They are really radishes and as such are swollen stems rather than roots

Then I must be at cross purposes with you as my mooli grow in a similar manner to carrots as can be seen below.

[George the Pigman]

Mine are the "Mino Summer Cross" variety see http://www.kingsseedsdirect.com/mino-summer-cross-f1/p99
Perhaps I have mislead you a bit. The bottom fifth of the plant is in the ground but the remaining 80% is above ground and it is this that is twisted.

[Tee Gee]

I guess it is a variety thing in so far as some varieies grow above ground and others below.

I get my Mooli from Kings as well but I get Long White Icilcle

[George the Pigman]

Must be that Tee Gee. I actually got mine from Chiltern Seeds. They tasted great with the stir fry by the way!

[Tee Gee]

they tasted great with the stir fry by the way!

Although I have eaten them that way I prefer them raw in a salad.

Each to their own I guess!