The reason why radishes are hollow

For inexperienced people, they may not have observed whether the radish is hollow or solid. The hollow radish is common in real production and life. Hollow radish does not mean that radish is inedible, but because of some special circumstances in the planting process, it causes partial nutritional deficiency. The hollowness of radishes is mainly related to the variety of radishes themselves and various small details during the planting period.

1. Varieties and sowing dates

The hollowness of radishes may be caused by the variety. Some small radishes with dense flesh grow slowly, and when their growth is balanced with that of leaves, they are not prone to hollowness. However, large radishes with sparse flesh grow quickly, and the growth of their roots far exceeds the growth of their leaves, making them prone to hollowness. In addition, improper sowing time can also cause hollowness. If the sowing time is too early, the temperature will be too high when the radish is growing, which will lead to growth stagnation, consumption of a large amount of nutrients, and easy hollowing.

Prevention and control methods: From the above content, it can be seen that choosing small radishes with dense flesh can reduce the hollow rate, and mastering the correct sowing time can allow them to grow in an environment with high day and night temperatures.

2. Planting density

If radishes are planted in suitable conditions and the spacing between rows and plants is wide, the fleshy roots will grow too fast, causing the growth of the roots to lose balance. The nutrients produced by photosynthesis in the leaves cannot meet the growth needs of the roots, thus causing hollowness.

Prevention and control methods: Reasonable close planting, maintaining a reasonable distance between rows and plants, not too wide or too dense, so that the growth of roots and leaves is in a balanced state.

3. Improper fertilizer and water management

Improper fertilization of radishes will cause hollowing, especially in the later stage of topdressing. If topdressing is applied too late or too much, or if the topdressing is not properly matched, excessive nitrogen fertilizer will be applied, leading to vigorous growth of the above-ground parts, hypertrophy of the roots, and hollowing. In addition, water is also one of the main factors causing hollowness. During the growth period of fleshy roots, if there is a lack of water, the roots will not get enough water to form and grow, which will cause hollowness. In addition, watering is inconsistent, the soil is kept moist in the early stage and dry in the later stage, resulting in the inability to transport and accumulate nutrients normally, which is prone to hollowness.

Prevention and control methods: Strengthen fertilizer and water management, water and fertilize reasonably, and apply fertilizer according to the growth conditions of the plants. The principle of fertilization is to use base fertilizer as the main fertilizer and topdressing as the auxiliary fertilizer. A reasonable combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and the application of appropriate amount of boron fertilizer in the later stage can reduce the chance of hollow fertilizer and water. When watering, be careful to water evenly and keep the soil moist. Water in time during droughts and drain in time to prevent waterlogging during rainy days.

4. Improper harvesting and storage

Harvesting too late when planting can also cause hollowness, especially for radishes planted in spring and summer, which are very likely to become hollow due to harvesting too late. During storage, if the temperature is too high and the humidity is too low, the radish will respire faster and will like a lot of water, causing it to become hollow. If the temperature is too low, it will become hollow due to frost damage.

Prevention and control methods: Master the correct harvesting time and sell promptly after harvesting to avoid hollowing due to storage problems.