Im using Daikon Radish in all 4 of my raised beds to draw nutrients from the subsoil. I dont plan to harvest or eat these and they are starting to grow large as a natural mulch. What I am wondering is, for slashing the greens to drop and compost in, when and how many times a season should I do this ? The plan is to also let the underground parts rot in winter.
Assuming you got the cheap forage/tillage daikon radish, just about now they have started flowering. If you cut off the flower top it will flower again in a 2 weeks. So pretty much every 2weeks or more often.
Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
My 2nd Location:Florida HardinessZone:10 AHS:10 GDD:8500 Rainfall:2in/mth winter, 8in/mth summer, Soil:Sand pH8 Flat
I think people usually use oilseed radish or tillage radish for a cover crop. both do slightly different things and while they can both be used the same way one goes deeper with thinner roots and one I think the roots are fatter and wider. both sold in bulk for use as green manure or for cover crops cost less so "cheaper" than the daikon radish that has been bred for flavor to eat although those radishes will work as well they just cost more per seed since they are used for human food so generally less is grown. this is my understanding of using 'daikon' radish for soil improvement. I don't know about when to slash and it sounds like Karl does!
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