Daikon can be grown outdoors in both spring and fall. However, this plant is quite sensitive and may bolt as the days get longer. Therefore, many people ask, when should they plant daikon outdoors in the Moscow region?
Sowing dates
A definitive answer to this question is only possible if the specific variety or hybrid of daikon is known. For example, if the dates for planting daikon outdoors in the Moscow region apply to varieties such as "Kharatsge," "Dayakusin," and "Semi-Early White," then sowing can begin in mid-May, and the first harvest can be harvested by the end of July.
But again, daikon is a capricious plant, and when sowing it, it's still worth researching the varieties and hybrids, as they can provide clues as to when to plant daikon outdoors in the Moscow region. For example, from planting the seeds of the "Tokinashi" variety outdoors to harvesting the first crop, it takes 70 to 75 days. This variety doesn't bolt, meaning it won't be affected by daylight hours.
However, most of the daikon varieties included in the official register should be planted no earlier than the end of July and no later than August, then a harvest, albeit small, is guaranteed.
The question of when to plant daikon in open ground is individual for each variety, so you need to carefully study the information on the seed packaging of a particular variety.
How to prepare a site for planting
Daikon is not only picky about when to plant it outdoors in the Moscow region, but also where to harvest it. If you choose the wrong location for this plant and plant the seeds in the wrong soil, the harvest may be small, or even nonexistent.
Daikon prefers very light soils, and since its roots go deep down when it grows, the soil must be deep and necessarily loose, so that the plant's roots can breathe even at great depth.
The main guarantee that daikon will yield a rich harvest is the implementation of agricultural practices such as:
- Loosening the soil;
- Digging the soil;
- Adding organic matter, compost and chicken manure.
How to care for daikon
Daikon is easy to care for, but the same can't be said about the timing of planting it in open ground in the Moscow region and choosing a planting site.
In hot weather, the plant will require infrequent but abundant watering, as the soil around the daikon should not be allowed to dry out, as this can cause the fruit to become hard. Cool showers can also be provided, but stagnant water will negatively impact the fruit's quality.
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If you didn't apply all the necessary fertilizers to the soil before planting the seeds, the daikon will require additional feeding during the growing season. This is best done during the very early growth phase, when the first leaves have formed. An ammonium nitrate solution is suitable for this purpose.
No other specific care work is required for daikon if it grows healthy.
The most important thing in growing daikon is to choose the right time to plant it outdoors in the Moscow region and prepare the planting site. If you follow these two steps, growing it will be hassle-free, and the harvest will be a delight.