Radish grows quickly. Already in June, the beds are cleared of root crops and, so that the scarce square meters do not remain empty, they are sown with other crops.
Radish is one of the very first to be planted. And one of the first to be removed from the bed. The choice of crops that would have time to grow in place of radishes and yield a harvest before autumn is quite wide. But it is not recommended to plant any plant. Otherwise, you can not only be left without a harvest, but also get depleted soil on the site.
In such a situation, it is important to follow the rules of crop rotation and planting.
Crop rotation rules
In simple terms, crop rotation is the alternation of garden crops on the site. Maintaining crop rotation will help to avoid:
- soil depletion (on the contrary, the necessary nutrients will accumulate);
- accumulation of toxic root secretions;
- spread of diseases and pests of one group of plants in the soil;
- weed growth;
- destruction of the topsoil.
Since each plant consumes different amounts of nutrients from the soil and at the same time releases toxins, and infections and pests accumulate in the soil, proper crop rotation must be taken into account.
To ensure a rich harvest and a tidy plot, you must not:
- plant the same plants or related cultivated species in the same place every year;
- grow plants nearby that suffer from the same diseases;
- plant a crop in the same place earlier than three years later.
Harmless-looking radishes, although they do not have time to significantly worsen the condition of the soil during a short growing season, readily attract some pests (for example, cruciferous flea beetles).
Therefore, make sure that the vacated area complies with the principles of crop rotation.
What should not be planted after radishes
Radish belongs to the Cruciferae family. Therefore, you should not plant related plants to radishes in the vacated bed. It is prohibited to sow such crops as:
- turnips,
- radishes,
- any types of cabbage,
- spinach,
- rutabaga,
- daikon,
- watercress.
These crops have common pests and diseases with radishes. By planting the listed plants after it, you will doom new plantings to the "old" problems. It is for this same reason that you should not sow radishes in the same place a second time.
It is not advisable to sow carrots after radishes. Although they are not related, they suffer from the same diseases and have similar needs for nutrients obtained from the soil.
However, the list of plants that are recommended to be planted after radishes is also quite long. Which crops should you prefer?
Which plants to plant instead of radishes in summer
It is best to plant the following on the bed freed up after radishes:
- tomatoes,
- peppers,
- eggplants.
If you plant seedlings of these nightshades in place of the harvested crispy root crops, then you will have time to harvest them before the end of the season. If you are afraid that the fruits will not have time to ripen, give preference to early-ripening varieties.
When choosing plants to replace radishes, consider the characteristics of your region and the ripening times of crops.
Crops of the Solanaceae family are excellent "heirs" to radishes. As a rule, not much space is allocated for radishes, but if the freed area allows, you can even plant potatoes with a short growing season, the tubers of which will have time to form before the onset of autumn cold weather.
This option is a good alternative in case young bushes, for example, suffered greatly from recurrent frosts and there is a risk of being left without a harvest at all.
If the "territorial issue" is not particularly acute, then melons and gourds will grow well in the "radish" bed. A plot of land of 0.5 square meters will be enough for a bush of zucchini or squash, but melons or watermelons are unlikely to fit in such a bed. And it is not a fact that they will have time to ripen.
Cucumbers are also sown in place of radishes, they are also good followers of the crop.
Diseases to which radishes are susceptible are not terrible for peas and asparagus beans. The first crop is usually planted early, but if you don't expect a large harvest, then the pods will have time to ripen even after summer planting. The second crop is heat-loving, and the harvest of early-ripening varieties can already be harvested in the fall. In addition, legumes perfectly restore the soil and saturate it with nitrogen. The following year, any crops can be sown in this place.
If you plant onions for green onions in the "radish" plot, then you will also disinfect the soil.
It will be too late to sow celery after radish, but parsley, dill, cilantro and leafy greens will grow beautifully in the vacated area. These plants are considered acceptable "followers" of radish.
What can be planted instead of radish, in addition to vegetables
If you planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other suitable crops before you cleared the bed after the radishes, then green manure will be an excellent replacement for vegetables. They will not only take up the empty space, but will also significantly improve the composition of the soil. In 1-2 months after sowing, before the plants bloom, all the green mass will need to be mown down and dug into the soil.
In place of the radishes, you can sow lupine, clover, phacelia, alfalfa, sweet clover, oats or other green manure.
Remember, green manure should not be from the same family as radishes, to avoid the spread of diseases and pests.
A good option is to arrange a flowerbed in this place. And planted, for example, calendula or nasturtium are also excellent green manure.
How to prepare beds for re-sowing
Before re-sowing, prepare the vacated area.
Clear the bed of plant debris and remaining roots and dig up the soil.
If fertilizers were added to the soil in the fall or spring, then there is no need to re-fertilize it - radishes ripen quickly and do not have time to use up all the nutrients from the soil. If fertilizers were not added, then after harvesting the root crops, add humus at a rate of 6-10 kg per 1 sq.m or 1-2 tbsp. ammophoska per 1 sq.m.
Level the surface of the bed and water it.
Let the bed "rest" for at least a few days, ideally two weeks. And then start new plantings.
To ensure that the beds after radishes do not remain empty and thank you with a second harvest of the season, select plants taking into account the ripening time and crop rotation rules. And remember: you can return the radishes to their previous place only after three seasons!