Rat tail radishes - Page 2

jmsieglaff · May 23, 2016

Our rattail radishes were sown at the same time as some regular, round red radishes. The red radishes are ready for harvest and I'm surprised the rattail are already growing tall and should have flowers opening this week, certainly selected for flower production, wow!

Zeedman · June 1, 2016

The rattail sold by SSE does take awhile to produce. I also found the pod quality to be highly variable, and some became fibrous rather quickly. Madras had shorter, more succulent pods, and was exceptionally slow to develop fiber.

Other radishes I've grown that had better than average pods were White Icicle, and Russian White.

Radishes grown for pods can benefit from winter sowing, since those plants will bolt more quickly... bad if growing for roots, but good for getting earlier pods.

**coronabarb** · June 2, 2016

I had wild radishes that grew in the lower area of my acre in So Cal. I loved those tender green pods and so did my turkeys! Once the green weed grasses died, I fed them those as a 'green' part of their diet. I would love to grow them again. Where would I find Madras seeds?

aftermidnight · June 2, 2016

coronabarb this is where I bought mine https://www.bountifulgardens.org/products/VRA-5060

jmsieglaff · June 3, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by aftermidnight

jmsieglaff, the pods of Madras are more succulent and tender and the degree of hotness is just right for me. You know you are eating a radish but don't have to fan the flame,

Annette

We've tried our first rat tail (Baker Creek source). I see what you mean, those things have some heat! Our little guy was not pleased, we had let regular radishes go to seed and he loved them as did I. I think we may pull these and plant some regular radishes and let them go to seed.

jmsieglaff · June 8, 2016

A little update. The spicyness of the rat tails has been quite sporadic, some have a decent amount of zip, others not much at all. Boy are they prolific. The little guy has liked most of them and I'm enjoying them a lot too! Definitely will look for Madras seeds and grow them side-by-side next year for a taste off.

gorbelly · June 29, 2016

This is my second year growing the Rat-tail. They can get quite spicy, but they mellow quite a bit when pickled. They make really amazing kimchi as well as great mulkimchi (lactoferment that is not spicy). Pollinators adore the flowers, too, which go quite late and offer a food source to bees into fall.

The Madras sound intriguing, though, and better fresh eating for family members who don't love how hot the Rat-tail can be. Thanks for clueing me in to them. I'll give them a try next year if I can find seed.

jmsieglaff · June 29, 2016

We pickled 9 jars of rat tails. 4 spicy with hot peppers and 5 regular. They've been jars for about two weeks so it's time to pop the top and try them out. One lesson I learned we over planted the rat tails. A little goes A very long way as they produce like crazy.

gorbelly · June 29, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

We pickled 9 jars of rat tails. 4 spicy with hot peppers and 5 regular. They've been jars for about two weeks so it's time to pop the top and try them out. One lesson I learned we over planted the rat tails. A little goes A very long way as they produce like crazy.

How many plants did you grow?

clkingtx · July 1, 2016

These sound great, I think I'll. Try them in the fall.

jmsieglaff · July 1, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorbelly

How many plants did you grow?

Probably a dozen. 3 or 4 would have been plenty for our needs, although the surplus was nice for pickling.

June 2, 2016	#18
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	I had wild radishes that grew in the lower area of my acre in So Cal. I loved those tender green pods and so did my turkeys! Once the green weed grasses died, I fed them those as a 'green' part of their diet. I would love to grow them again. Where would I find Madras seeds? __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

July 1, 2016	#25
clkingtx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Wichita Falls Texas Posts: 446	These sound great, I think I'll. Try them in the fall. __________________ Carrie

May 23, 2016	#16
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Our rattail radishes were sown at the same time as some regular, round red radishes. The red radishes are ready for harvest and I'm surprised the rattail are already growing tall and should have flowers opening this week, certainly selected for flower production, wow!

June 1, 2016	#17
Zeedman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 313	The rattail sold by SSE does take awhile to produce. I also found the pod quality to be highly variable, and some became fibrous rather quickly. Madras had shorter, more succulent pods, and was exceptionally slow to develop fiber. Other radishes I've grown that had better than average pods were White Icicle, and Russian White. Radishes grown for pods can benefit from winter sowing, since those plants will bolt more quickly... bad if growing for roots, but good for getting earlier pods.

June 2, 2016	#19
aftermidnight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Vancouver Island B.C. Posts: 116	coronabarb this is where I bought mine https://www.bountifulgardens.org/products/VRA-5060

June 8, 2016	#21
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	A little update. The spicyness of the rat tails has been quite sporadic, some have a decent amount of zip, others not much at all. Boy are they prolific. The little guy has liked most of them and I'm enjoying them a lot too! Definitely will look for Madras seeds and grow them side-by-side next year for a taste off.

June 29, 2016	#22
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	This is my second year growing the Rat-tail. They can get quite spicy, but they mellow quite a bit when pickled. They make really amazing kimchi as well as great mulkimchi (lactoferment that is not spicy). Pollinators adore the flowers, too, which go quite late and offer a food source to bees into fall. The Madras sound intriguing, though, and better fresh eating for family members who don't love how hot the Rat-tail can be. Thanks for clueing me in to them. I'll give them a try next year if I can find seed.