- Authors: Vinogradov Z.S., Litovkin A.A., Voloschenko V.S., Voloshchenko S.V.
- Year of approval: 2003
- Ripening terms: early maturing
- Leaf rosette shape: semi-upright
- Leaves: obovate, yellowish green, medium pubescent
- Petiole: with anthocyanin coloration
- The form: elongated-cylindrical
- Coloration: pink top, white tip
- Weight, g: 17
- Color of the pulp: white
Radish 18 days got its name for a reason. After all, this is exactly how much he needs to fully keep up and be ready for collection. The early culture has other features, which should be known to summer residents who grow vegetables on the site.
Description of the variety
This type of radish has been grown in the country since 2003. It can be cultivated both in greenhouses and in open areas of the garden. The radish turns out to be of a presentation, even. The plant sprouts together, it ripens very quickly. The variety is cold-resistant, so it can survive a short-term cold snap without any problems. Another interesting feature of 18 days is the lack of arrows.
Despite the large number of advantages, this variety pleases not all gardeners. Many of them had voids in their roots, in addition, the subspecies needs a quick harvest. If you miss the moment, 18 days will outgrow and become dry. And also this variety requires good care and care of the summer resident.
Characteristics of the appearance of the plant and root crops
Plants of the 18-day radish variety have the following features:
semi-upright socket;
obovate leaves of yellow-green color and with medium pubescence;
anthocyanin root.
Now let's describe the fruits:
radish shape - elongated cylinder;
weight - 17-20 grams;
length - about 5-6 centimeters.
Root crops have a convex head and a pink color of the peel, while the tip stands out for its whiteness.
Purpose and taste of tubers
Radish 18 days has a dense and juicy white pulp. It tastes slightly spicy, with light sweet notes. They eat fresh radishes, just like that, or by adding them to a summer salad.
Maturation
The variety ripens in 18-20 days. Early radishes are harvested immediately, otherwise they will outgrow.
Yield
One square meter of radish beds for 18 days gives an average of 2.3 kg of root crops. This indicates a high yield of the crop. Thanks to the fast ripening, many gardeners have the opportunity to harvest 2 crops per season or even more. Root crops harvested at the end of August or September are usually laid for storage.
Growing regions
Radish can be planted for 18 days in the gardens of any region. Only in too harsh climates it is advisable to place it in a greenhouse.
Growing and care
Gardeners are engaged in planting for 18 days from April to June. Seeds are planted by direct sowing into the soil, it is impractical to grow seedlings here, due to rapid ripening. It is necessary to deepen the grains into the ground by about a centimeter, while it is strongly recommended to remember about the planting scheme of 10x5 centimeters.
After planting, you need to moisten the soil well, and overlay the space between the trenches with organic mulch to retain moisture. In the future, the seedlings are watered every 2 days with water at room temperature. If you do not adhere to the watering schedule, the roots will taste bitter.
In addition to careful irrigation, you need to remember about the looseness of the soil.Once every few days, the soil is treated with a ripper. And also gardeners have to keep track of weeds, weeding them out as needed. Plants do not need feeding, but this is subject to growth on fertile soil. If the soil is poor, you can feed it for 18 days with a universal mineral mixture.
Soil requirements
Radish grows well for 18 days in light loam or sandy loam. Acidic and clay substrates are categorically unsuitable for him. The site for planting must be selected correctly, in compliance with the requirements of crop rotation. In the case of radishes, this is a ban on planting after crucifers. And also the soil should be improved in the autumn period by making a deep digging with useful rotted organic matter.
Required climatic conditions
The best temperature for a variety of 18 days is 15-18 degrees, but in summer it, of course, is rare. The plants generally tolerate heat well, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out. Radishes are planted in a sunny area, but it is not recommended to light it constantly. If the sun beats down mercilessly, then you need to create a shelter for at least part of the day. There is one more secret of how to get juicy fruits. When they begin to form, the beds should be completely isolated from the sun after 6 pm. Then the plant will direct all its efforts to the formation of beautiful tubers.
Disease and pest resistance
Radish of this variety has good immunity. For such a short period of time, plants usually do not have time to get sick. But there are still cases of damage, mainly due to excessive watering or lack of weeding. So, it is affected for 18 days by a black leg, rust and rot. Most of these ailments can be avoided with good seed care and seed treatment.
And also the young growth attracts the cruciferous flea. In order to prevent the pest from entering the beds, crops should be covered at first. The tops will become rough and the flea will lose interest in it. Another option is to sprinkle the row-spacing with ash or tobacco dust.
Review overview
Russian gardeners really like the variety for 18 days. It is early maturing, resistant to adverse weather and disease. The fruits are beautiful and even, and the yields are stable. Friendly shoots are also popular with summer residents. However, they all agree that it is necessary to harvest the fruits for 16-20 days, otherwise voids will appear in the radish. Constant control over watering is another negative point mentioned in the reviews.