Among the first vegetables to appear in the garden in spring, red radishes delight with their fresh flavor. This annual crop is very beneficial for our health, and every gardener tries to grow it in their garden as early as possible. There are several ways to grow this healthy vegetable, and we'll learn about an interesting option: planting radishes in cardboard egg crates. This method is relatively new, but has already gained popularity among gardeners.
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We sow radishes in egg cells
Sowing and growing radishes this way is very convenient, saving on planting material and requiring less care. Weeding is eliminated, as only one seed is planted per hole, eliminating the need for weeding as is typically done in garden beds. Furthermore, radishes planted this way in cells will grow large and juicy. This growing method can be used both in open ground and in greenhouses, on windowsills, and in cold frames under plastic.
Planting radishes in egg trays: basic rules
Before planting, prepare egg trays. Chicken eggs are known to carry salmonella, so to prevent contamination of the seedlings, treat the trays with alcohol.
- Use a knife to cut off the conical ends of the containers—this will be the seed well—and place them on the soil, pressing down lightly. Some soil should fall into the hole.
- If I plant in open ground, I must attach the cardboard egg containers to the ground, otherwise they will be blown away by the wind.
- For such planting, choose large, dried seeds, and preferably early varieties, to grow a harvest faster.
- We sow one seed per cell, since sowing gives almost 100% germination.
The seeds are sprinkled with soil, or better yet, sand. - After sowing the seeds, you need to provide additional lighting, especially during the winter. Lighting should be provided for at least 12 hours a day, morning and evening.
As you can see, growing radishes this way is not at all difficult. You'll be ready to harvest in three to four weeks. Let's move on to our exploration: radishes in egg crates: how to plant and reap a good harvest.
Soil for planting
Much depends on the quality of the planting material. You also need to prepare the soil for planting in advance. Although the vegetable is easy to grow, it will grow and yield the best harvest in sandy, loose soil. It's important to prepare the beds where you plan to plant radishes in the fall. Choose a sunny location, and add last year's compost to the soil, as fresh compost is strictly prohibited for growing this root vegetable. Dig and loosen the soil before planting.
To enjoy this tasty and nutritious root vegetable for as long as possible, sow it over several weeks. Planting every five to seven days will ensure a constant supply of fresh radishes.
Other methods for sowing radishes using egg trays
Plastic containers—anyone who's grown radishes before has probably used this method. They're used to form planting holes. They should also be treated with alcohol before use. The trays are simply pressed into the soil, creating neat little holes that are perfect for planting radish seeds. Place one seed in each hole and cover with last year's compost. You can cover the holes with plastic wrap.
In the greenhouse
You can also grow radishes in greenhouses on shelves, using last year's garden beds, adding a little ash, sawdust, and fresh soil from the garden. The soil layer should be approximately 10 cm thick, or slightly deeper, to prevent the radish roots from reaching the wooden shelves. Carefully level the soil, remove any excess, and loosen it slightly. Cut the bottoms of the cells from the cardboard trays using a utility knife. Lay the trays across the entire width and length of the bed, pressing them lightly into the soil. This ensures that the soil is in the cells; otherwise, the seeds may roll under the tray when planting. Sprinkle with soil, or better yet, peat, to remove excess grass.
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