How to grow Daikon
Updated October 2026
Daikon is a large Asian winter radish with long, white, crisp, mild roots that can reach 20 inches. It is a cool season crop sown directly in the garden, best in fall, when it matures in cool weather and holds well. Deep, loose soil and steady watering give long, straight, sweet roots.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Daikon
Not to be confused with: Daikon is the same species as small salad radishes, but slower, bigger and milder.
Where to plant
Grow daikon in full sun in deep, loose, well drained soil, ideally sandy and rich in organic matter, so the long roots can grow straight. Radishes grow best below about 80°F (27°C); hot weather makes them bolt, turn bitter and hot, and go hollow.
In Florida, UF/IFAS gives September through March as the best time for radishes, and daikon suits the Gulf South, Texas, the desert and Southern California in fall and winter too. In the Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic, sow in late winter to spring and again in late summer. Across the North, the Midwest, the Mountain West and Alaska, sow in early spring and again from mid to late August for a fall crop, which is usually the best.
Choosing a variety
Miyashige is a classic crisp, mild daikon that stores well, and Utah State lists Daikon Long White among radishes that grow well there. Shorter daikon types suit shallow or heavy soils and pots. UF/IFAS suggests daikon or Chinese radish varieties for high production.
How to plant
- Loosen the soil deeply and remove stones, and work in compost.
- Sow seed directly about half an inch (1 cm) deep. UF/IFAS does not recommend transplanting radishes, as it disturbs the root.
- Keep the surface evenly moist until seedlings appear, in about 5 to 10 days.
- Thin to about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) apart; crowded radishes stay small.
- Cover seedlings with fabric row cover to keep off flea beetles and root maggot flies.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly and evenly, ideally with drip, and mulch to hold moisture. Utah State notes moisture swings crack roots and make them hot and bitter, and stress in the first six weeks often causes early flowering.
Work compost or a complete fertilizer into the bed before sowing and give a light side dressing of nitrogen 3 to 4 weeks after emergence. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which gives leaves rather than roots.
Pruning and care through the year
- Weed carefully while plants are small; radishes compete poorly.
- Avoid deep hoeing near the roots.
- Rotate radishes and other cabbage family crops to a new bed each year.
Harvesting
UF/IFAS suggests harvesting daikon about seven weeks after a spring sowing or ten weeks after a fall sowing. Pull or dig roots once they reach a usable size, before they become tough, pithy and bitter. Loosen long roots with a fork so they do not snap.
Trim the tops and store roots in the fridge or a cool, humid place. UF/IFAS notes most radishes tolerate cool weather and survive a freeze, so fall roots can be left in the ground for a while.
Growing in pots
Shorter daikon varieties can grow in a deep pot or bag at least 12 inches (30 cm) deep with a loose potting mix. Keep the mix evenly moist.
Companion planting
Daikon shares a cool season bed well with slower crops.
Good companions
Pests and diseases
Radishes grow fast and have few problems; they share pests with other cabbage family crops.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage maggot Root maggots: small white maggots tunnelling into the roots.
- Flea beetles Tiny holes in seedling leaves.
- Aphids Clusters under leaves, mostly in fall.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on the leaves with gray fuzz underneath in cool, wet weather.
- Root rot Decay and rotting of roots in poorly drained soil.
Common questions
When should I plant daikon?
In cool weather, ideally in fall. In Florida, September through March; in the North, early spring or mid to late August for a fall crop.
Why did my daikon go to flower?
Heat, long days and stress. Daikon bolts when sown into warming spring weather or allowed to dry out. Sow in late summer or fall and keep the soil evenly moist.
Why are my daikon roots cracked or hot tasting?
Uneven watering and hot weather. Water regularly and grow daikon in the cool season.
How long does daikon take?
About seven weeks from a spring sowing and ten weeks from a fall sowing, according to UF/IFAS.
Can I transplant daikon?
It is better not to. Sow seed directly where it will grow; transplanting disturbs the root.
Why are my daikon short and forked?
Usually compacted or stony soil, or crowding. Loosen the soil deeply and thin seedlings to 6 to 8 inches apart.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Radish; Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Radishes in Your Home Garden.
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