When to Plant Daikon in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow January to March. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is January.

Planting window
Sow direct in late summer for autumn roots; spring sowings tend to bolt as days lengthen. Roots handle light frost and can be dug through...
Days to harvest
60 days
Sunlight
Full sun (6+ hours). Tolerates light shade.
Water needs
Even, consistent moisture throughout growth. Water deeply 2-3 times per week...
Spacing
25cm apart, 45cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.0

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

This Daikon guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

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

Daikon

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Daikon is a large, mild-flavoured Asian radish that has become increasingly popular in Australian home gardens. It grows fast (60-70 days), breaks up compacted soil with its deep taproot, and is excellent both as a food crop and green manure. Easier to grow than many root vegetables, it thrives in cooler months across all Australian zones.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.4°C (optimal range: 10–20°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

What this month normally looks like

In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Daikon in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Sow direct in late summer for autumn roots; spring sowings tend to bolt as days lengthen. Roots handle light frost and can be dug through early winter.

Soil
Deep, loose, well-drained soil free of stones. Daikon roots can grow 30-60cm long, so soil must be deeply prepared. Sandy loam is ideal. In heavy clay, grow in raised beds at least 40cm deep or choose shorter varieties like Alpine.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun (6+ hours). Tolerates light shade.
Spacing
25cm apart, 45cm between rows
Watering
Even, consistent moisture throughout growth. Water deeply 2-3 times per week. Inconsistent watering causes cracking and pithy (hollow) roots. Reduce slightly in last week before harvest.

Companion plants: Lettuce, Spinach, Peas, Beans, Cucumber

Avoid planting near: Other brassicas (shares diseases), Strawberry

Grow before, grow after

Daikon 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.

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Daikon

Recommended Varieties

  • Mino Early
  • April Cross
  • Alpine

Key Challenges

  • Short growing season
  • Frost damage to exposed roots

Pro Tips

  • Fast maturity makes daikon ideal for short highland seasons
  • Sow as soon as soil warms in October
  • Second sowing in January matures before autumn frosts

Harvesting Daikon

When ready: Root shoulders 5-8cm diameter, visible above soil. Typically 60-70 days from sowing. Pull one test root. Root should be firm, white, and crisp. Pithy or hollow centre means overmaturity.

How to harvest: Loosen soil deeply alongside the root with a garden fork before pulling. Daikon roots can be 30-60cm long and will snap if forced. Grasp at the crown and lift steadily. Do not twist.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

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Common Questions About Daikon

When do you plant daikon in Australia?

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

Does daikon grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan to Mar. 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 Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.