Daikon radish (Tillage radish)

Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus

Long white Asian radish doubling as a "biodriller" cover crop. Roots punch through compacted subsoil up to 60 cm; winter-kills leaving channels for water and root infiltration.

Hardiness ratings

Daikon radish (Tillage radish) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 2–10 −45.6 °C to 4.4 °C Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 2–9 −40 °C and warmer Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–6 −15 °C to 15 °C Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating

As a tender annual, Daikon radish (Tillage radish) doesn't overwinter — the zone range shows where the growing season supports it. See the RHS rating for its actual cold tolerance.

Growing notes

  • Roots reach up to 60 cm — opening channels in compacted soil that benefit the following crop's root system
  • Winter-kills at around -7 °C, leaving in-place mulch and root channels — a feature for no-dig systems
  • Brassica family — same rotation cautions as mustard for following brassica food crops

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Daikon radish (Tillage radish) against your zones

Reference

Daikon radish (Tillage radish) on Wikipedia