Has anyone grown radish for the seed pods? I'm looking at the Rat's Tail Radish in this year's HSL Catalogue, but I'm not sure how long they take to reach that stage. Are they biennial like other brassicas?
I grew them the first year I had a plot, they went to seed quite quickly and I was harvesting over that summer.
They are large and top heavy plants, so give them some space and maybe a steak or 2 otherwise they will get blown over in the first strong wind.
They never did so well in subsequent years, I think the neglect they got in the first year was a benefit to them.
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs284.snc4/40548_1475313455614_1617031885_1201042_6146134_n.jpg)
You can spot them in the pic, they are the tallest of all the plants near the front of the plot in the wooden frame.
Radishes grow fast and most gardeners bung them in as inbetweeners.
No one would bother to let them go to seed.
Quote from: PurpleHeather on December 15, 2010, 23:17:12
Radishes grow fast and most gardeners bung them in as inbetweeners.
No one would bother to let them go to seed.
Which is a great shame, because the seed pods of radishes are big, thick walled, fleshy and crunchy. Really good in a mixed salad. With a little bit of 'bite' but not as hot as radishes can get. Radish pods are quite unlike any other brassica seed pods and a vegetable in their own right. One small radish can grow into a massive 6-8ft plant and produce hundreds of seed pods. But they need a lot of water and fairly cool weather to do so. All the ones I tried to grow when it was hotter and drier later in the year did not come up to scratch. Overwintered radishes did well in the moist spring soils. The longer rooted varieties produce longer pods. Icicle did well here for pods and so did Muenchen Bier. Sorry I haven't grown Rat's Tail.
Any time radish get a bit woody I let them go to pod - it doesn't have to be any special variety.
The pods are delicious - a bit milder than radish - tender, green and crisp and juicy.
The first crop from autumn's leftovers produce pods in spring - they can be used in salads - make a good substitute for sweet peppers at a time when they are very expensive.
You need to try them at various stages before you'll get a feel for the ideal size (before the parchment /fibres are produced).
It's a bit of picking for a portion but it's worth it (since the plants are just waste otherwise).
Cheers.
Quote from: galina on December 15, 2010, 23:30:38
Icicle did well here for pods and so did Muenchen Bier. Sorry I haven't grown Rat's Tail.
Munchen Bier and Rats tail are the same, well thats what it says on the seed packet.
Quote from: Chrispy on December 16, 2010, 01:56:05
Munchen Bier and Rats tail are the same, well thats what it says on the seed packet.
Don't think they are the same. I bought Muenchen Bier seeds from a garden centre in my parent's home town (who live not that far away from Muenchen) and this variety is used mainly for its roots, but can also be used for pods. The url below shows what I bought and the picture on the seed packet shows how radish is traditionally cut and served in Bavaria for a snack with beer.
http://www.samen-profi.de/products/Gemuese-und-Kraeuter/Wurzelgemuese/Rettich/Muenchner-Bier.html
I cannot answer for a description on a UK seed packet, but the HSL description of Rat's Tail is different. Their rat's tail appears to bypass the root development stage and go straight into flowering. An oriental rather than central European type. The picture in the HSL catalogue shows longer seed pods too.
By the way, I love your solstice countdown - only 5 days to go. I get quite miserable when the days are so short, but not for much longer :)
Robert, I reread the description in the HSL catalogue and noted that Rat's Tail is actually fine with summer heat.
Quote from: PurpleHeather on December 15, 2010, 23:17:12
Radishes grow fast and most gardeners bung them in as inbetweeners.
No one would bother to let them go to seed.
That's how I used to regard them; I stopped growing them because I'm not that keen on the roots. They might be better in stirfries with only a minute or two on the heat, so I might try again next year. I haven't tried the pods, but they might be more interesting.
Quote from: galina on December 16, 2010, 10:38:15
cannot answer for a description on a UK seed packet, but the HSL description of Rat's Tail is different. Their rat's tail appears to bypass the root development stage and go straight into flowering. An oriental rather than central European type. The picture in the HSL catalogue shows longer seed pods too.
I grew Munchen Bier from Suttons, which they also called 'Rats Tail', but they do seem to have dropped the 'Rats Tail' from the description, so I stand corrected.