When to Plant Daikon in Cairns, Tropical Guide

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

Planting window
Sow direct from April to July, the coolest part of the dry season. Avoid the wet season, as daikon bolts quickly in heat.
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 Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra 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 Tropical

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 22.5°C (optimal range: 10–20°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

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

What this month normally looks like

In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Daikon in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Sow direct from April to July, the coolest part of the dry season. Avoid the wet season, as daikon bolts quickly in heat.

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.

Tropical Growing Tips for Daikon

Recommended Varieties

  • Mino Early
  • April Cross
  • Tokinashi

Key Challenges

  • Rapid bolting in heat
  • Flea beetle and caterpillar pressure
  • Short viable window

Pro Tips

  • Mino Early is the fastest variety. 50-60 days to harvest
  • Plant in partial afternoon shade
  • Keep soil constantly moist to reduce flea beetle pressure

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 tropical zone this October: Ginger, Lemongrass, Basil and Okra.

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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 Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Jul. 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.