{"product_id":"red-rats-tail-radish-heirloom-seeds","title":"Red Rat's Tail Radish, Heirloom Seeds","description":"\u003ch1\u003eRed Rat's Tail Radish Heirloom Seeds\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiscover a different kind of radish harvest: crisp, slender pods with a gently spicy bite. Red Rat's Tail is grown for its edible seed pods rather than swollen roots. Pick them young for fresh salads, quick pickles, or a last-minute addition to stir-fries. Green and reddish-purple pods follow delicate pink flowers, bringing an unexpected harvest to your vegetable garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy Grow Red Rat's Tail?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA radish you pick above ground:\u003c\/strong\u003e Enjoy tender pods instead of digging for round roots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrisp texture and peppery flavor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use whole young pods as a garnish or slice them into salads and cooked dishes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColorful branching plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Upright stems carry pink flowers and pods in shades of green and reddish purple.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeirloom and open-pollinated:\u003c\/strong\u003e An unusual choice for gardeners who enjoy exploring traditional vegetables.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Growing\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDirect sow in spring once the soil can be worked, or time a late-summer sowing for a suitable fall growing season. Choose full sun and moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Sow approximately 1\/2 inch deep, keep evenly moist, and expect germination in roughly 4–10 days under suitable conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTLM recommends thinning to 4–6 inches apart, but allow room for mature plants to branch and for access when picking. For a small raised bed, start with \u003cstrong\u003e1 plant per sq ft (allow branches room beyond the square)\u003c\/strong\u003e and adjust to plant vigor. These are not compact root radishes: plants may reach about 3–4 feet tall and 1–2 feet wide. Add stakes or a simple support, anchored beside the plants, if stems become floppy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater consistently without leaving soil waterlogged. Watch for flea beetles, slugs, and other brassica pests. Let plants flower: the pods form after flowering, so bolting is part of this crop's harvest cycle. Local weather affects growth, flavor, and picking time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHarvest Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 50 days from sowing to the first edible pods under favorable conditions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvested part:\u003c\/strong\u003e Young, tender seed pods, not the swollen root of a conventional radish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePod size and color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Generally 3–6 inches long, green to reddish purple.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor and texture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Crisp and mildly spicy when young; texture and pungency change with age.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Upright, branching annual, approximately 36–48 inches tall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest uses:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh salads, garnishes, quick pickles, and stir-fries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eRaphanus sativus\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeed type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heirloom, open-pollinated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBegin picking while pods are slender and snap tenderly. Tenderness matters more than maximum length: older pods become fibrous as seeds mature. Snip pods with clean scissors if they do not detach easily, and check plants regularly as new pods develop. Wash before eating.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePacked and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for your garden.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Box Garden Seeds LLC","offers":[{"title":"2.5 g ~100+ Seeds","offer_id":67892245594246,"sku":"KSC\/C2-98-100-026-30","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2669\/3330\/files\/red-rat-s-tail-radish-raised-bed-illustration.png?v=1793805497","url":"https:\/\/bgseedsllc.com\/products\/red-rats-tail-radish-heirloom-seeds","provider":"Box Garden Seeds Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}