Daikon (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus)
2 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7.5
- Biggest risk
- Brassica downy mildew
Daikons (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus) — annual or biennial grown as an annual.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
At a Glance
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6 - 7.5 |
| Sunlight | 6-6 hours direct sun |
| Soil texture | chalk, clay, loam or sand (RHS) |
| Drainage | well-drained |
| Lifecycle | annual or biennial grown as an annual |
| Edible parts | root, leaves |
Soil & Growing Conditions
Water: moist, moisture-retentive; water regularly especially in warm weather (RHS, Gardening Know How)
Soil pH range
Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing | 0 | Sow by seed into moisture-retentive, not-too-acidic soil in full sun (RHS). |
| Root development | 3 | Grows best allowed to mature in cooler weather, 50-65F; water regularly especially in warm weather, mulch the bed (Gardening Know How). |
| Sizing | 4 | Root elongates to 20-60cm long and 5-10cm diameter depending on variety (Gardening Know How). |
| Harvest | 8 | Ready for an autumn to early-winter harvest; extremely quick to reach this stage for its root size (RHS). |
Harvest & Storage
When to pick: Autumn to early-winter harvest; extremely quick to reach maturity for a root crop this size (RHS). Roots range 20-60cm long and 5-10cm in diameter depending on variety (Gardening Know How).
Diseases
Pests
Daikon, Sowing to Harvest
References
-
Daikon is a winter radish, growing best when allowed to mature in colder weather, preferring temperatures between 50-65F. Roots range 20-60cm (8-24in) long and 5-10cm (2-4in) in diameter depending on variety. Water regularly, especially in warm weather, and mulch the bed.
-
Produces long white roots for an autumn to early-winter harvest. Extremely quick to harvest, fitting into short time-slots or limited spaces. Hardiness H2 (tolerant of low temperatures but not surviving freezing, 1-5C minimum). Full sun. Soil: chalk, clay, loam or sand; moist but well-drained; acid, alkaline or neutral pH; moisture-retentive as long as it isn't too acidic. Height up to 10cm, spread 0.1-0.5m. Time to maturity 1 year (grown as an annual/biennial). Propagate by seed. PESTS: may be affected by slugs, snails, and flea beetles on brassicas and allied plants. DISEASES: susceptible to brassica downy mildew -- named directly for this variety, not inferred.
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What soil pH do daikons need?
A pH of about 6–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect daikons?
Our data links 1 disease and 4 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
This page gives you the thresholds; the planner turns them into your own calendar. It works from what you can observe and measure in your garden rather than from dates written for somebody else’s latitude.
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Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
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