Growing Radishes Indoors

For a quick-growing, easy-to-care-for vegetable that can be grown indoors anytime of year, try growing radishes. This little vegetable offers a slightly spicy taste to green salads, pasta salads or just eaten by itself. Radishes work well grown indoors since they take up little space and are ready to harvest about one month after planting. These little gems are a great first vegetable for kids to try their hand at growing, since they are virtually fail-proof and fast growing, so kids can see the fruits of their labor more quickly.

Clay container

Potting soil

Water bottle filled with water

Radish seeds

Plastic wrap

Fertilizer

Select a 6- to 8-inch clay container for growing your radishes indoors. Be sure the container has drainage holes for best results.

Add potting soil to the container, filling to within 1 inch of the rim. Water well to moisten the soil clear through.

Sow the radish seeds directly over the soil, cover lightly with about 1/4 inch of soil, and spray to moisten. Cover the container with a piece of plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect and help the seeds germinate quicker.

Set the container in a south-facing window where it will receive plenty of sunlight. The radishes need at least eight to 10 hours of sunlight for best results. If necessary, place a fluorescent light overhead to provide enough hours of light.

Remove the plastic wrap as soon as the seedlings have developed two to three leaves each. Thin the seedlings at this time, pulling out the weaker seedlings and leaving about 1 inch space between the healthy ones.

Water the radishes once a day to keep the soil moist. Do not let the soil dry out between watering.

Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer after thinning the seedlings. Use a 5-5-5 liquid fertilizer and water in well after applying.

When watering the radishes, set the pot outside or in a sink, so the water will not ruin your floors or table tops when it drains out the bottom.

Harvest the radishes about one month after planting.