As you dive into gardening, you might wonder, “How many types of radishes are there?” Radishes, known for their crunchy texture and refreshing, spicy flavor, come in many types. Each variety offers a unique taste and growth requirement, catering to a different palate and garden climate. Among these, some stand out as the best-tasting radishes, and they’ve become favorites of gardeners and gourmets.
Here, we’ll guide you through the top 11 types of radishes to grow in your garden, which ranges from the mildest radish variety to the spiciest ones. We’ll also discuss heat-tolerant radish varieties that can withstand warmer climates, ensuring you get a good harvest regardless of local weather conditions.
11 Best Tasting Radishes to Grow Now in Your Garden
Cherry Belle Radish
Kick-starting our list is the Cherry Belle Radish, renowned for its attractive, bright red exterior and crisp, white interior. This variety is known to be one of the mildest radish types, with a slight sweetness accompanying the usual radish spice. The Cherry Belle is easy to grow, maturing in three to four weeks, and quite heat tolerant. It’s a fantastic variety for beginners looking to cultivate their first radish crop, offering a reward of perfectly round, flavorful radishes that are just as delicious in a salad as they are pickled.
French Breakfast Radish
Next on our list is the French Breakfast Radish, an elongated radish variety bearing a vibrant red color that fades into white at the roots. It’s a mild and sweet variety, known for its crisp texture and delicate flavor that pairs wonderfully with butter and sea salt, making it a favorite for French breakfasts. This radish can grow quickly, reaching maturity in under a month, and can handle a bit of heat, making it a favorable choice for those in warmer climates.
German Giant Radish
The German Giant Radish is a favorite among those who appreciate larger radishes. As the name suggests, it produces impressively large, round radishes while maintaining a juicy, tender texture and mild flavor. Despite its size, it matures relatively quickly and offers good heat tolerance. So, if you’re after a sizable radish that doesn’t compromise on taste, the German Giant is an excellent choice.
Purple Plum Radish
Rounding out our list is the Purple Plum Radish. This variety offers deep purple skin, crisp white flesh, and a sweet, spicy flavor. It’s a visually stunning variety, adding color to your garden and dishes. Although not the most heat-tolerant radish, it grows quickly. Its distinctive taste appeals to radish enthusiasts looking for something uncommon.
Watermelon Radish
If you’re after a radish with a spectacular display of color, look no further than the Watermelon Radish. Named for its striking resemblance to a slice of watermelon, it boasts a green exterior that encases a vibrant pink interior. But it’s not just about looks; the Watermelon Radish has a distinctive sweet and slightly peppery taste, putting it on the spicier end of the radish spectrum. It is a cool-weather crop, meaning it might not be as heat tolerant as the Cherry Belle or French Breakfast varieties, but its unique flavor and appearance make up for this.
In case you missed it: Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Watermelon Radish from Seed to Harvest
Easter Egg Radish
The Easter Egg Radish is a colorful blend of white, pink, red, and purple radishes, giving your garden a vibrant hue and your salad a burst of color. Known for their crisp texture, these radishes have a mild yet slightly spicy taste, adding a pleasant zing to your dishes. Like the Cherry Belle and French Breakfast, the Easter Egg Radish grows quickly and is somewhat heat tolerant, making it a fun and easy-to-grow option for novice and experienced gardeners.
China Rose Radish
Venturing into more exotic varieties, the China Rose Radish is a vibrant addition to any garden. This radish is characterized by its rose-colored skin and crisp white flesh. It carries a flavor that strikes a delicate balance between mild sweetness and subtle heat, placing it in the middle of the radish spice spectrum. As a winter radish, it is not as heat tolerant as some other varieties but offers a longer growth period that results in larger radishes. The China Rose Radish’s unique color and balanced flavor make it a striking and delicious choice for any gardener interested in branching out from more traditional radish types.
Black Spanish Radish
We come to the Black Spanish Radish, venturing into more robust flavor profiles. Its black skin and white flesh offer a visual contrast to more common radish varieties. The Black Spanish is known for its strong, peppery taste, ranking it among the spicy radish varieties. It is a winter radish, slower to mature, offering a larger size and a longer shelf life. Despite not being as heat tolerant as others on this list, it’s a hardy variety that can tolerate cooler temperatures well.
In case you missed it: Best Fertilizers for Radish: Recommendations for Organic, Slow-Release, and Liquid
White Icicle Radish
The White Icicle Radish is a slim, long, white radish reminiscent of a white carrot. This radish is crisp, tender, and has a milder flavor, making it a great addition to salads or a garnish. Though not the most heat-tolerant variety, it grows well in cooler climates and is easy to grow, providing a nice change from the typical red radish varieties.
Sparkler Radish
The Sparkler Radish is a small, round variety with a bright red top that fades into white at the bottom, similar to a sparkler’s glow. It’s known for its crisp texture and mildly spicy flavor, a delightful addition to salads and vegetable platters. It matures quickly and shows a reasonable heat tolerance level, making it an ideal choice for gardeners who want a radish that can withstand summer heat.
Daikon Radish
The Daikon Radish, a staple in many Asian cuisines, is a large, white, carrot-shaped radish known for its juicy crunch and slightly sweet flavor. It falls on the milder side of the spectrum but can develop a stronger flavor if left to mature longer. While not a heat-tolerant radish variety, the Daikon prefers cooler temperatures for optimum growth. Despite its longer growing period, its versatility in cooking—from pickling to grating into salads or simmering in soups—makes it a worthwhile addition to any garden.
In case you missed it: 10 Common Problems With Garden-Grown Radish Plants: Treatment and Solutions
Conclusion
The world of radishes is incredibly diverse, offering many options to suit any garden, climate, and palate. From the mild Cherry Belle and French Breakfast Radishes, the spicy Watermelon and Black Spanish varieties, to heat tolerant options like the Cherry Belle and German Giant, there’s a radish to satisfy every gardener’s requirements. Each of these ten varieties holds its unique charm, so don’t hesitate to experiment and find your favorite!