root · direct sow · beginner friendly
Radish: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating radish a few times a week needs about 4 plants in ~1 sq ft, worth about $1 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~1 sq ft | ~2 | ~$0 |
| 2 people | 2 | ~1 sq ft | ~4 | ~$0 |
| 4 people | 4 | ~1 sq ft | ~7 | ~$1 |
| 6 people | 5 | ~1 sq ft | ~9 | ~$1 |
Spacing
1" in row · 6" between rows
Sow depth
0.5"
Days to harvest
28 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 7 – May 22 | Jul 2 – Aug 15 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 2 – May 17 | Jul 12 – Aug 25 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 23 – May 7 | Jul 22 – Sep 4 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 13 – Apr 27 | Aug 1 – Sep 14 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 26 – Apr 12 | Aug 11 – Sep 24 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Sep 1 – Oct 15 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 13 – Feb 27 | Sep 21 – Nov 4 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 24 – Feb 7 | Oct 1 – Nov 14 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
About an inch across, shoulders pushing out of the soil, roughly 3 to 4 weeks in. Pull a test one.
Don't wait: A week late means pithy, hollow, and harsh, radishes do not wait.
Yield
About 1 count per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.05 lb). Re-sow every ~7 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with lettuce.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
16 kcal · 1.6 g fiber · 14.8 mg vitamin C · 233 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Radish planting questions
How many radish plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 4 plants, which takes around 1 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does radish need?+
Space plants 1" apart in the row with 6" between rows. Sow 0.5" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant radish?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing radish worth it?+
At about $3.00/lb retail and ~0.05 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $1 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.