Daikon radish: is it radish, from which Chinese plant is the photo of white and long Japanese vegetable bred, the best varieties, growing from seeds in the open ground

Pay attention to daikon - a very useful and affordable product for everyone. This is a real storehouse of vitamins and minerals. The root crop is very popular all over the world due to its taste.

From the article you will learn about what kind of plant it is and what it looks like, what its biological features are, how and where the white root crop grows, as well as the benefits and harms of this Japanese culture, the best varieties, and, of course, about the peculiarities of cultivation.

Description and photo

The definition of daikon is given below, description and photo are presented.

What it is?

Daikon is a radish whose origin we owe to Japan. The word daikon means "big root." To taste, this vegetable resembles a radish without the slightest bitterness, and also has a moderate aroma.

What other names are there, why are they called that?

This long root crop is also called white, Chinese or sweet radish. The reason for this was the white color of the daikon and its sweetish taste.

This vegetable is called Chinese radish because its closest relative is the Chinese forehead radish.

Appearance

Daikon has an elongated, cylindrical or round shape. Its color is white, with a slight yellowish tinge. In appearance, the vegetable resembles a large carrot. Depending on the variety, the average weight reaches 520 g, and the length often exceeds 60 cm.

Botanical Description

Daikon is a root plant, belongs to the subspecies of the radish sowing from the cabbage family.

Biological features

The plant is one-year-old. Large leaves, dissected. To varying degrees, the roots of daikon can be buried in the ground: half, fully or two-thirds. Seeds are large, brown. The optimum temperature for development is 14-26 degrees. Heat-loving plant, but resistant to frost.

How and where does white root crop grow?

The root crop grows on almost any type of soil, but prefers light sandy loam. Loves light and moisture. Seeds germinate at 1-4 degrees, but with prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, growth slows down, plants die. It is advisable to give daikon mineral fertilizing and water with fertilizers.

Daikon is very unpretentious to the place of cultivation. Daikon is also not picky about the soil, but it feels best on loose sandy loam soils with a low occurrence of groundwater.

Maturing term - from 40 to 80 days.

A brief history of origin and country of origin

Originally a daikon from Japan, it was bred from a Chinese vegetable lobo. Since then, the root crop has gained fame thanks to its mild taste and juicy pulp. Japanese breeders brought this vegetable crop out of the radish. It has long been used as a staple food and is included in the diet of every resident.

The benefits and harms of this Japanese culture

Benefit

If you regularly eat white radish dishes, you will soon notice an improvement in the condition of the whole organism. All this is the merit of nutrients, minerals and vitamins, which are found in large quantities in daikon.

Cleanses the liver and kidneys.
Prophylaxis of urolithiasis.
Removal of toxins and toxins due to fiber.
Vitamins improve the condition of the skin and hair.
Strengthens the immune system (especially in the season of colds).
Facilitates the discharge of sputum.
Soothes the nervous system.
Daikon juice relieves stress.

After taking daikon, take a break from dairy products. Otherwise, a heavy load will be placed on the stomach. Daikon is also widely used in cosmetology, traditional medicine and cooking. It makes excellent salads and delicious soups.

Contraindications

Although this radish does not have any dangerous properties, Observe the rules:

The root vegetable contains a large amount of vitamin C. Therefore, do not mix it with other fruits (oranges, lemons and apples).
Do not self-medicate! Before applying ointments and decoctions from daikon, be sure to consult a doctor.
Allergy sufferers should be careful because ascorbic acid can provoke an allergic reaction.
Do not eat vegetables with intestinal hyperactivity.
If you have kidney stones or a gall bladder, carefully monitor your condition after consuming a daikon.

Daikon is rich in fiber, which can cause bloating and indigestion.

The best varieties

White radish is famous for a large number of varieties.

Aokubi

It reaches a length of 35 cm and 7 cm in diameter.

"Sakurajima"

Grown in Kagoshima Prefecture), looks like a large root crop, resembling a white turnip. The color inside is bright pink.

Also in Russia the following varieties are known whose seeds can be purchased for planting:

"Minovashi";
"Sasha";
"Fang of an elephant";
Tokinashi
"Caesar";
"Terminator";
"The Dragon";
The Emperor
"Dubinushka."

About landing in the open ground

Planting dates directly depend on the characteristics of the selected variety:

For varieties of medium and late ripening, planting in the summer is suitable.
But the early daikon needs to be planted either in spring or in autumn. Spring is still better, because root crops of early varieties cannot boast long shelf life.

Vegetable loves cool soil. For the formation of root crops, daikon needs coolness and a small (not more than 5 hours) daylight hours.

This vegetable crop has increased cold resistance.

Step-by-step instructions for growing

Weeding

Before planting seeds or seedlings, remove weeds from the soil. It should be prepared in advance. The site needs to be dug in the fall or in the winter.

Sowing seeds

Sowing begins in mid-March and lasts until early April. Preheat the seeds for 15 minutes. in warm water, and then quickly cool them in cold water and put in a refrigerator for a day.

Sow daikon 3 seeds in peat-humus pots or peat tablets. Transplant seedlings in the garden.

If you are going to grow seedlings in a special box, then keep in mind - the depth of the dishes should not be less than 10 cm (the daikon has a long root).

Seeds are sown in moist soil to a depth of 2-3 cm. The soil should be light. After this procedure, the crops must be covered with glass or universal material. Put in a warm place. When shoots appear, the coating can be removed.

Loosening

To increase air access to the earth, it should be loosened. This must be done carefully so as not to accidentally injure young seedlings. Take a small shoulder blade and loosen the surface soil on which the root crop grows.

When the first leaves appear in the seedlings, they should be cut through, pulling out sluggish seedlings. This is done for one purpose: not to take away food from the stronger and more developed.

Fertilizer

Fertilize and feed seedlings with special fertilizers, the concentration of which does not exceed the minimum level.

Landing

You need to plant in open ground. But observe the length of daylight hours. When the seedlings develop several real leaves, they can be transplanted into the soil. The air temperature at the time of landing is at least 10 degrees.

Put on gloves, lower your hands into the ground and pull the seedlings out of the pots.
Move them to the hole and cover the bottom with earth.

If the soil is acidic, add lime to it. The optimal hydrogen index is 6.0-8.0.

Watering

White radish needs regular watering (relevant for heat and arid weather). Keep your planting moist. Water should not be too warm. Young leaves should be watered from a watering can, and the root crop should be watered with water from under the hose.

Hilling

Take some moist soil and attach to the lower parts of the plants. This method improves the development of roots and protects them from frost.

Harvesting and storage

Winter varieties are removed from the beds before the onset of frost - around September or early October. Summer varieties are harvested around July-August when the weather is nice.

Root crops are pulled out by hand or using a pitchfork. So the nutritional properties of the vegetable will not suffer and you can enjoy its taste.

Dry white radish in a cool, well-ventilated area. Do not keep it in direct sunlight - otherwise the shell of the root crop may crack.

Diseases and Pests

With improper care and violation of the rules for sowing, daikon can get sick with cruciferous diseases.
With heavy watering, daikon is at risk of contracting mucosal bacteriosis. This is a disease in which the root crop becomes soft and acquires a dark shade.

Vegetable susceptible to disease: