Practical
Plants

Raphanus raphanistrum

Wild Radish

an annual member of the Raphanus genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw or cooked[8][1]. A somewhat hot taste, they are finely cut and added to salads or used as a potherb[7]. It is best to use just the young leaves in spring, older leaves soon become bitter[12]. Seed - raw or cooked. A very pungent flavour, the seed can be ground into a powder and made into a paste when it is an excellent substitute for mustard[8][12][3][7]. The sprouted seeds have a somewhat hot spicy flavour and are a tasty addition to salads[7]. Flowers - raw. A nice addition to salads. The flower buds are used as a broccoli substitute, they should be lightly steamed for no more than 5 minutes[12]. Young seedpods - raw. Crisp and juicy, they must be eaten when young because they quickly become tough and fibrous[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[3].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Seedpod

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antirheumatic[4].

Product or use
Antirheumatic

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south to N. Africa.
Habitat
A weed of fields and pastures[12][6], usually on sandy non-calcareous soils[4]
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a rich soil with ample moisture[5][11]. Dislikes very heavy soils[9]. This plant is a host of an eelworm that attacks cultivated crops[4]. This species is possibly the original source of the cultivated radish, R. sativus[10]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[2].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

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  3. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

    ↩

  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  9. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  11. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

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  12. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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