Radishes: red, round and easy to plant

The radish is known for its small, red, round appearance and its slightly pungent taste. But the vegetables are also super healthy and planting radishes yourself, for example on the balcony, is not difficult either.

Where does the radish come from?

Prototypes of the radish were discovered in Japan and China. But where exactly the homeland of the radish is is not known. After the vegetable came to Europe in the 16th century, it was mainly the French who were responsible for spreading it. But not all radishes are red and round. There are round, cone-shaped and cylindrical radish species that can vary in color between red, white, red-white and yellow.

Why is it so healthy?

The radish consists of 95% water. Mustard oils are present in the rest of the radish, which makes the vegetable taste slightly pungent. These mustard oils are very healthy as they can kill fungi and bacteria in the stomach and intestines. Radishes also have a high vitamin C content. The redder a radish is, the more vitamin C it contains. In addition, the vegetables are good for the figure. 100g of radishes have 14 calories and the mustard oils bind fat in the body.

You can eat radishes raw as a snack or as an ingredient in salads. A delicious pesto can also be conjured up from the fresh radish leaves: finely puree the radish greens with the parsley together with the stalks and olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a blender. Pour into jars and keep cool until use.

Plant radishes yourself

Radishes are great for planting yourself - whether in the garden, on the balcony or inside on the window sill. Radishes need a semi-shady place, but are otherwise relatively undemanding. In addition, the radish does not need much space to grow. The cultivation of radishes is therefore also suitable for beginners. In addition, the vegetables only need 4-6 weeks to harvest, which is particularly beneficial for the rather impatient gardeners.