When to Plant Daikon in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Daikon guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jan to Apr
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 25 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Daikon is a large, mild-flavoured Asian radish that has become increasingly popular in Australian home gardens.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar D
- Apr D
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow Daikon in Cool Temperate Australia
- 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.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- 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.
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomato, Strawberry, Spinach
- Keep away from
- Hyssop (Listed by Gardenate as a plant to keep away from daikon.)
- 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.
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Daikon
Recommended Varieties
- Mino Early
- April Cross
- Minowase
- Miyashige
Key Challenges
- Cold soil delaying germination in early spring
- Club root
- Caterpillar damage
Pro Tips
- Melbourne's climate is excellent for daikon. Grow it autumn and spring
- Can be left in ground through mild winters and harvested as needed
- Excellent as a biofumigant cover crop turned in before planting tomatoes or potatoes
Pests and problems for Daikon in Cool Temperate
- Diamondback Moth Watch
- Cabbage White Butterfly Watch
- Damping Off Sow into warm, well-drained soil. Do not overwater. Thin seedlings promptly. Watch
- Clubroot Lime acidic soils before planting brassicas. Crop rotation (minimum 7 years for infected soil). Ensure good drainage. Do not move soil from... Watch
- Caterpillar damage Caterpillar damage Watch
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.
Storing and preserving daikon
How to keep it
- Freezing. Peel and cut into chunks or grate. Blanch chunks for 2 minutes. Plunge in ice water. Drain and freeze in bags. Grated daikon can be frozen raw, pack in portions. Keeps: 6-12 months frozen.
- Dehydrating (Kiriboshi Daikon). Cut into thin strips (matchstick size). Spread on dehydrator trays or string up outdoors in dry weather. Dehydrate at 55C for 8-12 hours until completely dry and crisp. Rehydrate in water for 20 minutes before cooking. Keeps: 12 months in airtight container.
- Takuan (Japanese Pickled Daikon). Hang whole daikon in a dry airy place for 2-3 weeks until flexible. Pack into crock or jar with salt (5% by weight), rice bran, and optional turmeric for colour. Weight down and ferment for 1-3 months. The traditional Japanese preservation method. Keeps: 6-12 months refrigerated.
- Quick Pickling. Slice daikon thinly. Make pickling brine: 1 cup rice vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt. Pour over sliced daikon in clean jar. Refrigerate. Ready in 2 hours, best after 24 hours. Keeps: 2-3 weeks refrigerated.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
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:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul Likely to bolt if sown in June and July.
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Jul Likely to bolt if sown in July.
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Feb to May
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Apr
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Mar
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Jul Likely to bolt if sown in June and July.
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Sep Likely to bolt if sown in September.
Can you grow daikon all year round in Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Apr. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Daikon in Melbourne?
Sow direct in late summer to autumn for the best roots. Spring sowings tend to run to seed as days lengthen.
What soil temperature do Daikon need?
Daikon germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 20°C.
How do I know when Daikon are ready to harvest?
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.
What are the best Daikon varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Mino Early, April Cross, Minowase, Miyashige.
What grows well with Daikon?
Good companion plants for Daikon include: Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomato, Strawberry, Spinach.
Are daikon salt tolerant?
Only a little. Daikon are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.