Raphanus raphanistrum
| Raphanus raphanistrum | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 4' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Raphanus raphanistrum (common name: wild radish)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.
Cultivation: Prefers a rich soil with ample moisture[1][2]. Dislikes very heavy soils[3].
This plant is a host of an eelworm that attacks cultivated crops[4].
This species is possibly the original source of the cultivated radish, R. sativus[5].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[6].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Norway south to N. Africa.
Habitat: A weed of fields and pastures[7][8], usually on sandy non-calcareous soils[4]
Edibility: Young leaves - raw or cooked[9][10]. A somewhat hot taste, they are finely cut and added to salads or used as a potherb[11]. It is best to use just the young leaves in spring, older leaves soon become bitter[7].
Seed - raw or cooked. A very pungent flavour, the seed can be ground into a powder and made into a paste when it is an excellent substitute for mustard[9][7][12][11].
The sprouted seeds have a somewhat hot spicy flavour and are a tasty addition to salads[11].
Flowers - raw. A nice addition to salads. The flower buds are used as a broccoli substitute, they should be lightly steamed for no more than 5 minutes[7].
Young seedpods - raw. Crisp and juicy, they must be eaten when young because they quickly become tough and fibrous[K].
An edible oil is obtained from the seed[12].
Medicinal: Antirheumatic[4].
Pollinators: Bees, flies
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ Simons, Arthur. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin, 1977.
- ↑ Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
- ↑ Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association, 1981.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.