The Hardy Vegetable You Should Plant This Fall

While many are putting their gardens to bed for the winter, others are already planning and starting their fall vegetable gardens. To some folks, it's still a relatively new idea that gardening can be extended beyond the spring and summer seasons. Thankfully, it's becoming better known as online gardening groups spread like so many volunteer tomatoes. If you'd like to jump on the fall gardening bandwagon, one veggie you'll definitely want to snag seeds for this September is radishes (Raphanus sativus). More specifically, you'll want winter radishes, like the 'Black Spanish Round' or the 'Watermelon' cultivars, or mooli, also known as the daikon. 

There are many vegetables you can plant in September for a fall harvest, and the reason winter radish varieties make this list is that they thrive in lower temperatures and are more cold-tolerant than spring radish varieties. Not to worry, winter radishes are just as tasty and colorful as their spring-growing counterparts, so while they take longer to mature, their flavor will reward your patience. You can plant them next to some carrots to get added companion planting benefits and expand the variety of veggies you're growing this September. 

One interesting winter radish cultivar to consider is the 'Watermelon'. It has a rounded shape, the white-colored skin of a daikon, and bright pink flesh. The 'Watermelon' radish grows best in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 10. You should be able to harvest this radish in late fall. 

The 'Black Spanish Round' is another type of winter radish — a European variety with roots that reach 3 to 4 inches in diameter when fully mature. As the name implies, the roots' skin is dark black in color. Meanwhile, the flesh is white. They can also be grown in zones 3 through 10. The 'Black Spanish Round' is beloved for its long storage ability. You'll be able to harvest these radishes a month after planting. 

The mooli, or daikon (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus), is a staple for fall gardens, known for having a mild flavor and a large size when fully mature. This daikon radish can be grown in zones 2 through 11, which makes it one of the most adaptable radishes on our list. The daikon root itself stores very well, but the greens do not keep as long. Daikon radishes are ready for harvest when their leaves reach a length of 8 inches; this usually happens in late fall or early winter.