When to Plant Radish in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Sow February to October. Right now in October you can sow.

Planting window
Sow direct from late summer through to mid spring. Radishes grown in summer heat go hot, pithy and bolt.
Days to harvest
25 days
Sunlight
Full sun in cool months; light afternoon shade in summer to prevent bolting
Water needs
Consistent moisture is critical. Radishes grown with irregular water become woody, pithy...
Spacing
5cm apart, 25cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Shop price
$14.95/kg average

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Radish guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Radish

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Radishes are the fastest-growing root vegetable, with some varieties ready in as little as 4 weeks. They are ideal for beginners, succession planting, and filling gaps between slower crops. Summer, winter, and oriental types offer year-round harvesting potential across most Australian zones.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- D D D D D D D D D - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Radish sowing time in Alice Springs?

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 23.9°C (optimal range: 8–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Radish in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

Sow direct from late summer through to mid spring. Radishes grown in summer heat go hot, pithy and bolt.

Soil
Friable, well-drained soil with good moisture retention. Avoid heavy clay. Compost or aged manure improves results but do not use fresh manure which causes forking.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun in cool months; light afternoon shade in summer to prevent bolting
Spacing
5cm apart, 25cm between rows
Watering
Consistent moisture is critical. Radishes grown with irregular water become woody, pithy, and hot. Water lightly every 1-2 days in dry weather. Mulch to retain soil moisture.

Companion plants: Lettuce, Spinach, Carrot (as trap crop for flea beetle), Peas, Nasturtium

Avoid planting near: Hyssop, Other brassicas (to reduce shared pest load)

Grow before, grow after

Radish belongs with the brassicas, the leafy greens and brassicas turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Grow after it
Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)

Give the bed 3 turns before brassicas go back in. The cabbage family is hungry for nitrogen and shares club root and other soil diseases.

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Radish

Recommended Varieties

  • Cherry Belle
  • White Icicle
  • French Breakfast

Key Challenges

  • Extreme summer heat
  • Maintaining consistent moisture
  • Pithy roots from heat stress

Pro Tips

  • Grow as a cool-season crop only
  • Drip irrigation or frequent light watering essential
  • Heavy mulch to keep soil cool

Harvesting Radish

When ready: Round varieties: shoulder visible at soil level, 2-3cm diameter. Pull one to check. Summer types: harvest at 4-6 weeks before they become pithy. Winter/daikon types: harvest at 8-10 weeks when 15-25cm long.

How to harvest: Grasp foliage near the crown and pull gently. Water the bed beforehand if soil is dry. For daikon/winter types, loosen soil alongside the root with a fork first.

Common Radish Pests in Arid / Semi-Arid Zones

Insect Tunneling, risk: MODERATE (score: 46/100)

In the pest library for radish:

Cabbage White Butterfly, high severity Diamondback Moth / Cabbage Moth, high severity

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What radish costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this October: Lemongrass, Chilli Peppers, Basil and Capsicum (Bell Pepper).

The pest most likely to find your radish: Cabbage White Butterfly.

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $14.95/kg (12-month range: $9.95–$16.00)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Radish

When do you plant radish in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does radish grow all year round in Alice Springs?

No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Feb to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.