When to Plant Radish in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 21:55 yesterday, not a model.
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Radish guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- All year
- Days to harvest
- 25 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 5 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $14.95/kg at one shop
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.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar D
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D (likely to bolt)
- Sep D (likely to bolt)
- Oct D (likely to bolt)
- Nov D (likely to bolt)
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Amber = likely to bolt if sown this month, it matures into heat or long days.
You can sow radish in any month in Subtropical, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Radish in Subtropical Australia
- 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.
- 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 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.
- Good companions
- Carrot (as trap crop for flea beetle), Parsnip (as row markers), Watermelon (trap crop for flea beetles), Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans
- Keep away from
- Grape, Hyssop
- 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.
Subtropical Growing Tips for Radish
Recommended Varieties
- Cherry Belle
- French Breakfast
- White Icicle
- Watermelon Radish
Key Challenges
- Summer heat causes bolting and pithy roots
- Caterpillar pressure
- Flea beetle in dry weather
Pro Tips
- The fastest and most reliable crop you can grow in SEQ
- Sow every 2 weeks for continuous harvest
- Summer: choose bolt-resistant varieties and provide afternoon shade
Pests and problems for Radish in Subtropical
- Insect Tunneling Low
- Diamondback Moth Watch
- Cabbage White Butterfly Watch
- Damping Off Sow into warm, well-drained soil. Avoid overcrowding. Do not overwater seedlings. Use clean, fresh compost. Watch
- Common Garden Snail Watch
- Slugs Watch
- Clubroot Maintain soil pH above 6.5 (lime if acidic). Improve drainage. Buy disease-free seedlings. 7+ year rotation for brassicas in infected... Watch
- Caterpillar pressure Caterpillar pressure Watch
- Flea beetle Flea beetle in dry weather Watch
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.
Storing and preserving radish
How to keep it
- Refrigerator Storage. Remove tops (they draw moisture from the root). Store unwashed roots in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel in the crisper drawer. Keeps: 2-4 weeks (summer types); 2-3 months (winter/daikon types).
- Fermenting (Lacto-fermented). Slice radishes and pack into a jar with 2% salt brine (20g salt per litre water). Submerge under brine with a weight. Ferment at room temperature for 3-7 days, tasting daily. Refrigerate when tangy to your liking. Keeps: 3-6 months refrigerated.
- Dehydrating. Slice thinly (2-3mm). Dehydrate at 55C for 6-8 hours until crisp. Store in airtight containers. Use as crunchy snacks or rehydrate in soups. Keeps: 12 months.
- Pickling. Slice or halve radishes. Pack into sterilised jars. Cover with hot brine (1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp salt). Add spices (chilli, garlic, dill). Seal and refrigerate. Ready in 24 hours. Keeps: 4-6 weeks refrigerated.
- Daikon: Traditional Asian Preservation (Takuan). Sun-dry whole daikon for 1-2 weeks until flexible. Pack with rice bran, salt, and sugar in a crock. Weight down. Ferment for 1-3 months. The result is yellow, crunchy, pungent pickled radish. Keeps: 6-12 months.
What radish costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Radish
When do you plant radish 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 July.
- Subtropical (Brisbane): all year Likely to bolt if sown in August, September, October and November.
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): all year Likely to bolt if sown in October, November and December.
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): all year Likely to bolt if sown in October, November and December.
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec Likely to bolt if sown in November and December.
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Oct Likely to bolt if sown in July, August, September and October.
- Mediterranean (Perth): all year Likely to bolt if sown in October, November and December.
Can you grow radish all year round in Brisbane?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Subtropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Plant year-round in SEQ. Best quality from February-September. Summer sowings need afternoon shade. Winter daikon radishes are excellent. Likely to bolt if sown in August, September, October and November.
When should I plant Radish in Brisbane?
Plant year-round in SEQ. Best quality from February-September. Summer sowings need afternoon shade. Winter daikon radishes are excellent.
What soil temperature do Radish need?
Radish germinate best when soil temperature is between 8°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Radish are ready to harvest?
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.
What are the best Radish varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Cherry Belle, French Breakfast, White Icicle, Watermelon Radish.
What grows well with Radish?
Good companion plants for Radish include: Carrot, Parsnip, Watermelon, Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans.
Are radish salt tolerant?
Only a little. Radish 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.