When do radishes mature?
This article will help with the timing for harvesting your radishes: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/radish/harvest-radishes.htm
Pulled out radishes, cut the bottom and tops off. Should I put the tops and bottoms I cut off my radishes straight back into my garden or not?
The radish tops and bottoms can be fodder for your compost bin or, for a fun project, you can try regrowing the radishes utilizing those cut-off parts. Radish tops and bottoms have the ability to regrow with each piece bearing different results. Regrowing radish tops will give you more greens while regrowing the bottom has the potential to grow new radishes. For more information visit the following link:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/radish-top-regrow-98007.html
For information on harvesting radishes, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/radish/harvest-radishes.htm
How do you keep radishes from getting hot to the taste in Zone 6, south?
There are a few things you can do to prevent radishes from getting hot to the taste.
When radishes grow slowly, they tend to become hot to the taste. The key to getting them to grow quickly is to keep them evenly watered (consistently evenly moist but not damp/soggy) so that they grow quickly. And given that they are a cool-weather crop, it is best to plant and harvest radishes when the weather is on the cool side.
Secondly, when you harvest radishes affects the hotness as well. Radishes are best picked as soon as they are mature when they are relatively young and small. If they are left in the ground too long they will get hot.
For a plethora of information on radishes, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/radish/
I live in Manitoba, Canada. The weather here is rather cool in May with threats of frost. Last night was an example. I, and 6-7 of my friends, ALL have the same problem with growing radishes. They all sprout well but then the leaves take over. They are lush and green but the root end does nothing. Almost all varieties do that, though we have had some luck with French Breakfast. Most sites on the internet state that radishes are very easy to grow. Obviously, we are doing something wrong! Words of wisdom?
Temperatures cool with threats of frost are generally too cold for most radish to grow.
The soil must be warm enough for germination and they need bright sun for good bulb formation.
Also if the plants are crowded and not thinned out this will inhibit the bulbs from forming. They should be thinned to about 1 inch apart.
If your growing leaves and no bulbs you may have too much Nitrogen in your soil. You can try rotating your crops to a different garden area.
I sometimes sneak in my radish on the edges of my raised beds.
Also if your spring temps are too cold and then the hot summer starts in, you could try planting some radish toward the end of the season as the temps cool down.
I am gardening in zone 4 and have good luck with French Breakfast and Cherry Belle.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/radish/radishes-bolting.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/radish/growing-radishes.htm
I keep getting white spots on my radish leaves. Also, if you can tell me how the soil should be prepared and what type of soil is best for growing radishes, as I haven't had much success. At times they seem to bulb but most times they just grow like thin roots. They're not overcrowded. I only sprinkled a tiny amount of seeds.
Are the spots powdery in nature or bleached out looking? It could be attributed to either powdery mildew or from water spots associated with overhead watering or splashing of the leaves. Limiting overhead watering will help with this water spots. The powdery mildew can be treated with neem oil, which is an effective and safe fungicide. It will also guard against many insect pests. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm
Add some bone meal to the soil when planting, which will help with growing larger radish bulbs. This article will also help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/radish/tips-how-plant-radish.htm
My radishes have lots of leaves but small fruit. How can I achieve the reverse?
This happens when the soil is too weak in phosphorus. Add some phosphorus, such as bone meal, to the soil. This article will help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/phosphorus-plant-growth.htm
We planted radishes too late in spring and they bolted 4 weeks after planting. One plant produced the perfect radish, but none of the others have any radish at all. What happened?
Radish is a cool weather crop. To warm of temperatures can cause the plants to bolt.
Also to tightly planted together can cause the bulbs to not form.
Here is a link with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/radish/radishes-bolting.htm