Raphanus sativus caudatus

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Brassicaceae

Genus

Raphanus

Life cycle

annual

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^[5]. A somewhat hot taste. Flowers - raw. A nice spicy addition to salads. Young seedpods - raw^{[1][18][16][17]}. Crisp and juicy, they must be eaten when young because they quickly become tough and fibrous. They can grow more than 60cm long, but they tend to become tough and fibrous when more than 30cm long^[7].

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.

Radishes have long been grown as a food crop, but they also have various medicinal actions. The roots stimulate the appetite and digestion, having a tonic and laxative effect upon the intestines and indirectly stimulating the flow of bile^[15]. Consuming radish generally results in improved digestion, but some people are sensitive to its acridity and robust action^[15]. The plant is used in the treatment of intestinal parasites, though the part of the plant used is not specified^[2]. The leaves, seeds and old roots are used in the treatment of asthma and other chest complaints^[12]. The juice of the fresh leaves is diuretic and laxative^[14]. The seed is carminative, diuretic, expectorant, laxative and stomachic^[4][12][14]. It is taken internally in the treatment of indigestion, abdominal bloating, wind, acid regurgitation, diarrhoea and bronchitis^[13]. The root is antiscorbutic, antispasmodic, astringent, cholagogue, digestive and diuretic^[11][12]. It is crushed and used as a poultice for burns, bruises and smelly feet^[12]. Radishes are also an excellent food remedy for stone, gravel and scorbutic conditions^[18]. The root is best harvested before the plant flowers^[11]. Its use is not recommended if the stomach or intestines are inflamed^[11]. The plant contains raphanin, which is antibacterial and antifungal^[12][13]. It inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, streptococci, Pneumococci etc^[4]. The plant also shows anti-tumour activity^[12].

Material uses

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

The growing plant repels beetles from tomatoes and cucumbers^[8][10]. It is also useful for repelling various other insect pests such as carrot root fly^[10]. There is a fodder variety that grows more vigorously and is used as a green manure^[20].

Ecology and functions

Environment

Range

This plant's origin is uncertain, it possibly arose out of cultivation^[9].

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

light shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 8+

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.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a rich soil with ample moisture^[3][19]. Dislikes very heavy or acid soils^[3][17]. Plants are susceptible to drought and require irrigation during dry spells in the summer or the root quality will rapidly deteriorate and the plant will go to seed. The rat-tailed radishes are sometimes cultivated for their large edible seedpods, there are some named varieties^[7]. This group of radishes does not produce roots of good quality, it is cultivated mainly for the edible young seedpods which are harvested in the summer. Radishes are a good companion plant for lettuces, nasturtiums, peas and chervil, tomatoes and cucumbers^[6][8]. They are said to repel cucumber beetles if planted near cucumber plants and they also repel the vine borers which attack squashes, marrows and courgettes^[13]. They grow badly with hyssop^[6][8] and with grape vines^[10].

Related plants

• Raphanus landraRadish
• Raphanus maritimaSea Radish
• Raphanus raphanistrumWild Radish
• Raphanus sativusRadish

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩

2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

   ↩

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

   ↩1↩2

4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

   ↩1↩2

5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

   ↩

6. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

   ↩1↩2

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

   ↩1↩2

8. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

   ↩1↩2↩3

9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

   ↩

10. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

12. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

13. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

14. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

15. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

16. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

20. Woodward. L. Burge. P. Green Manures. Elm Farm Research Centre. 1982-00-00

    ↩