Radish sprouts are nutritious. You can easily add them to make your dish to get that spicy and crunchy kick. Also, you don’t have to wait long until harvest time because they’re ready to eat in just five days!
To grow radish sprouts, soak the radish seeds, rinse and drain three times a day for three days, then harvest. That’s really all there is to it! Below we tell all so you can grow them with ease and aplomb!
How to Grow Radish Sprouting
You can easily and quickly grow radish sprouts in your home even without soil and sunlight. You can grow radish sprouts even if you are short on space.
One of the best benefits of growing radish sprouts is that you can get a large produce with a small number of seeds. They are a good “stand-by” food resource if you live in the city or do not have enough space for a garden.
Radish sprouts only require a cool place and water to grow. Daikon radish seeds (green) are typically used to grow radish sprouts. You can also use other radish sprout varieties such as Red Vulcano, Rambo (purple), or China Rose (pink).
You can grow radish sprouting in mason jars, trays, bags, or containers depending on the volume of radish sprouts you intend to produce at a time. The sprouting method you will use is similar regardless of where you opt to grow your radish sprouts.
Radish sprouting is ready for harvest in just five days making them the easiest sprouts to grow.
To grow radish sprouts, you will need:
- Radish sprouting seeds, about 2 – 3 tablespoons
- Mason jar – place holes in the lid
- Sprouting lid
- Bowl
- Filtered water
If you want to grow more radish sprouts, you can use several sprouting jars or something like multi-level sprouting trays.
Picking the Sprouting Seeds
Pick some good quality seeds, preferably organic and in their raw form (you cannot, for example, use roasted seeds). Organic radish seeds for sprouting are the best.
Make sure the package of the radish seeds says they are “sproutable” It may sound silly, but make sure the radish seeds are edible.
Choosing a Location
Choose a location in your home with a high-lighted and good-quality environment.
Step 1: Soak the Radish Seeds
Fill half of the Mason jar with cool filtered water. Add in 2 to 3 tablespoons of radish seeds. Make sure the seeds are fully submerged in water. Screw the lid of the jar.
Place the Mason jar in an open environment that is not hit by direct sunlight, such as in your kitchen counter. Soak the seeds preferably for 6 to 12 hours.
One to two tablespoons of radish sprouting seeds that will turn into radish sprouts will be about the same amount that could fit into a square clamshell.
You can store radish sprouts in the fridge for up to seven days so you can sprout as many as you can eat within these days.
Step 2: Rinse and Drain
Rinsing and draining as much water as you can are the key factors to growing amazing sprouts. It is important then that you thoroughly rinse and drain them with cool water.
Rinse and drain the radish sprouting two to three times a day or at least every 12 hours – once in the morning and do it again in the evening.
Start rinsing and soaking your radish sprouting on the second day. You do not need to take off the lid of the Mason jar. The water will flow from the holes on top of the lid.
For easy draining, position your Mason jar, at an angle, in a bowl. This will continuously get rid of the excess water in the jar throughout the day.
Continue rinsing and draining on the succeeding days. Always make sure to position the jar at an angle in a bowl to allow the water to drain between rinsing.
Rinsing and draining keep your seeds from developing bacteria. Sometimes your radish sprouts will also be fluffy. There is nothing to worry about this because these are just small white root hairs that develop normally.
On the third day, transfer your sprouting (Mason jar) to a location with indirect sunlight. Continue rinsing twice a day.
Step 3: Harvesting
Your radish seeds will start to sprout on the third day and will be a finished Sprouting (from seeds) on the fifth or sixth day.
You can opt to harvest your radish sprouts on the fourth day. Harvesting them at this time is beneficial because most of its’ enzymes have gone through their full growth cycle.
The enzymes will slightly decline on the fifth day, but your radish sprouts will be nuttier and yummier. The extra day will also allow the sprouts to grow bigger and you will get more satisfaction out of your yield.
Regardless of whether you choose to harvest your radish sprouts on the fourth or fifth day, give them some sunlight for about one to three hours. This will allow your sprouts to grow tiny leaves. The leaves will turn from yellow to a beautiful green color.
It is recommended that you taste the radish sprouts at every rinse so you can determine when (on what day of growth) you like to consume them the best. You can grow your radish sprouting if you want to match the taste you want from them.
As a rule, though, you can start harvesting your radish sprouts on the fifth day. By then they will be ready to eat.
Before eating or cooking your radish sprouts, rinse them one last time and transfer them to a bowl.
Some of your radish seeds will not sprout. This is normal. To remove the seeds from among your sprouts, fill a bowl with water and place the sprouts and seeds. Tilt the bowl and place your hand over the sprouts and drain the water.
Repeat the process many times until you have gotten rid of all the seeds.
Here is what to expect with your radish seeds as they grow to become radish sprouts:
Day 1: They are just seeds inside a “sprouter” half-filled with water.
Day 2: Some seeds have formed an embryo while some seeds are still closed.
Day 3. The cotyledon (seed leaves) is already in various stages of growth.
Day 4: Your radish sprouts have formed seed leaves.
Day 5: Your radish sprouts are ready for harvest.
Radish Sprout Yield
To be exact there is a 2:1 ratio of radish seed to radish sprout. This means, one pound of radish seeds can produce two pounds of radish sprouts. You do not have to grow all the seeds in one go. One to two tablespoons of radish seeds at a time is best.
Storing Radish Sprouts
As mentioned above, you can store your radish sprouts in the refrigerator for up to five days. Make sure your radish sprouts are dry before you store them.
You can remove the moisture from the sprouts using paper salads or a salad spinner. When they are already dry, pack the sprouts into a plastic bag or any container.
You can also store your radish sprouts in a new Mason jar with a sprouting lid (holes in the lid). This will provide the sprouts with good airflow. Make sure to eat or cook your sprouts within seven days or throw them away.
What Are Radish Sprouts?
Radish sprouts are germinated radish seeds. They are small and spicy shoots that are like larger radishes in terms of providing heat to your dishes.
Nutrients contained in radish sprouting can be likened to your favored multivitamins. These powerful greens contain Vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. They are also rich in magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and magnesium.
Wait, there’s more! Radish sprouts are also packed with amino acids and chlorophyll which aid digestion as well as have some cancer-fighting benefits. They are also rich in roughage and fiber.
Radish sprouts are living foods (one that is close to its natural, original form). Eating living or alive food allows your body to get maximum nutrients.
Radish sprouts are good for your heart because they can help lower your blood cholesterol. Some evidence shows that these sprouts can also increase your good cholesterol and lower your bad cholesterol.
Radish sprouts taste similar to full-grown radishes. They are packed with flavor and are often described as spicy. So, if you love radish, you will surely love radish sprouts, too.
Radish sprouting is best eaten raw. You can add them to your sandwiches, tacos, and salads. You can also toss them into your sautéed and stir-fry dishes, especially in Asian cuisines.
Radish sprouts are delicate; thus, they can only be cooked for 20 to 30 seconds, or else they will wilt, become slimy, and too moist.
Final Thoughts on How to Grow Radish Sprouting
It is fast and easy to grow radish sprouts from seeds. It is effortless, too because the only care they need is rinsing and draining. Harvest is fast, too at five days. You can even harvest them on their third day.
Radish seeds have a long shelf life so you always have a fresh food supply you can grow and harvest in five days.
Whether you eat your radish sprouting raw or cooked, remember that with each bite, you are eating living foods that are beneficial to your body.
Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you should be able to ace the growing of radish sprouts. If we can – you can!
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edited By
Patricia Godwin