Raphanus sativus var. oleiformis
oil radish
Common names: fodder oil radish
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 5 cm, rows 20 cm
- Lifespan
- Annual
- Sowing
- Jul–Sep
- Hardiness
- Cold damage below −8 °C
- Water need
- Low
Photo: Rasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Oil radish is a green manure crop for compacted soils. Its vigorous taproots penetrate deep, loosening the subsoil and bringing nutrients from depth to the surface. Nematomide‑resistant varieties also suppress radish cyst nematodes. Like all crucifers, it should not be planted in cabbage succession.
Care instructions
Sow oil radish from July to September after the main crop in rows or wide beds, then thin it flat. It germinates quickly and grows rapidly. Water only during prolonged dry periods. Leave it until frost; it reliably freezes at about, 8 °C and leaves a loose, well‑rooted crust that only needs to be incorporated shallowly in spring.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingJul–Sep
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 5 °C, ideally 20 °C
- Days to sprout
- 3 to 7 days
- Light
- Sprouts in light or dark
- Sowing depth
- 1.5 cm
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
loamy, humus-rich, well-drained, nutrient-rich
Oilseed radish tolerates a wide range of soils, but it rewards you with deep, loose, humus-rich soil. Its strong taproot needs a clear path downwards. Loosen heavy clay soils deeply beforehand or improve them with mature compost, and avoid waterlogging.
Brassicas are heavy feeders and prone to clubroot; leave a 4-year break and do not follow directly on other crucifers such as radishes or mustard.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Apr, May, Jul, Aug
On well-supplied soils you usually need no fertiliser at all, because oilseed radish takes up the nitrogen present in the soil and stores it. On depleted ground, work a little mature compost in shallowly before sowing. Go easy on nitrogen: too much of it drives foliage at the expense of the soil-loosening root.
Overwintering
Oilseed radish is an annual and not hardy. At frosts around -10 °C it reliably dies back. Leave the dead plant material on the bed as a protective mulch layer, work the residues in shallowly in spring and sow again from July to early September.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
You propagate oilseed radish exclusively by sowing. As an annual crop, it cannot be divided or propagated from cuttings, runners or grafting. As a green manure or catch crop, sow the seeds from early July to mid-September directly into the prepared open ground, about 1 to 2 cm deep; in rows about 20 to 40 cm apart or broadcast. Germination starts at low soil temperatures (from about 2 to 3 °C) and takes a few days to about two weeks, depending on warmth. To collect your own seed, let a few strong plants flower fully; the white, yellowish to purple flowers typical of the cabbage family appear, depending on the sowing date, only in spring or early summer. Elongated pods form from the flowers; once they are brown, dry and hard, cut the stems, let them dry further and thresh out the seeds. Do not wait too long, or the plant will self-sow. Collect seed only from healthy, vigorous plants and store the dry seeds cool and dark. Important: oilseed radish is a strict cross-pollinator and depends on insects; it crosses easily with other flowering radish plants nearby. For seed true to type, keep enough distance from other flowering Raphanus plants.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
particularly well establishedLeguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanSnow peaWrinkled pea and 36 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
carrot family (Apiaceae)
You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.
For example CarrotCeleriacDillParsleyFlorence fennelCoriander and 21 more species in the catalogue
Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice
mint family (Lamiaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 43 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)
Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.
For example NasturtiumMashua
Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
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