China Rose
Radish
Raphanus sativus
Description
China Rose Radish Microgreens (Raphanus sativus var. Longipinnatus ‘China Rose’) grow rapidly and can be harvested in about 5-7 days. These microgreens have beautiful pinkish red stems and deliciously flavorful green cotyledons. Adding these microgreens to salads and other dishes brings a delightful burst of refreshing and subtly piquant radish taste.
Quick Facts:
-
Common Name: China Rose Radish
-
Scientific Name: Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus ‘China Rose’.
-
Other Names: Chinese Rose Winter Radish, Watermelon Radish, Red Meat Winter Radish
-
Family Name: Brassicaceae
-
Flavor: Mild Pungent, Piquant Flavor
-
Seed Rate: 25g-30g per 10″ x 20″ tray
-
Seeds Per in2: 0.125g-0.15g
-
Avg. Yeild/1020 Tray: 275-345g
-
Pre-Soak: No
-
Weight Duration: 2-3 Days
-
Germination Time: 2-3 Days
-
Blackout Time: 1-2 Days
-
Harvest Time: 5-7 Days
-
Growing Difficulty: Easy
Did You Know
FUN FACT
The China Rose Radish is native to China, Japan, and the western parts of Asia. It originated in China and quickly spread to Europe and the Mediterranean. This variety, introduced to Europe around 1850 by Jesuit missionaries, is one of the oldest types of heirloom radishes.
Plant Details &
Grow Guide
How To Grow China Rose Radish Microgreens
If you’re looking to add a touch of sophistication and a subtle zing of radish, Radish China Rose microgreens are the perfect choice. These tiny greens not only bring visual appeal but also enhance the flavor of salads and garnishes with their mild radish taste. In just 5-7 days, you’ll have these microgreens ready to enjoy, adding a burst of nutrition to your meals.
Let’s delve into the steps involved in cultivating your very own Radish China Rose microgreens.
Step 1 Preparing Your China Rose Radish Seeds
Firstly, you’ll want to use a scale to measure your seeds. For a tray that’s 10″ × 20″ in size, the recommended seeding rate is between 25g and 30g. If you’re using a smaller tray measuring 10″ × 10″, simply divide the total amount by two, resulting in around 12.5g to 15g.
If you’re feeling a bit rebellious like me, you can skip the weighing process and just estimate the spacing between your seeds to be approximately ⅛ ¼” (3 6mm) apart.
After you have measured your seeds, there is no need to wash or pre-soak them. The reason being that China Rose Radish seeds are small, with a diameter of about 3 to 4mm. If they get wet, it will become quite challenging to evenly distribute them on your growing medium.
Step 2 Sowing Your Seeds
Prepare your tray by choosing a medium you prefer, such as soil, potting mix, or coco coir. Leave a gap of about 1 to 2cm between the edge of the tray and the level of the medium.
Keeping this space between the tray edge and grow medium will be beneficial during harvesting, as it reduces the risk of accidentally digging into the medium with your knife or scissors.
Ensure that you distribute and level out the medium evenly using your hands. This will prevent clumps from forming and avoid seeds from grouping when you sow them.
Start by lightly spraying your growing medium with a spray bottle until it becomes slightly damp, but not overly saturated.
Next, carefully distribute the seeds evenly across the surface of the medium. Take your time to ensure that they are spread out in a uniform manner. Finally, give the seeds a gentle misting with water so that they are all covered with a fine layer of moisture.
Step 3 Germination & Weight Period
Take an empty tray without any holes and put it on top of the seeds you have planted. I usually use a 15lb (6.80kg) paving block for trays that are 10″ x 20″ or a 7lb (3.17 kg) brick for trays that are 10″ x 10″.
This assists the seed’s radicle in penetrating the soil when it starts to grow. Without any weight, the radicles find it more challenging to dig into the growing medium and establish firm roots.
Keep in mind that the seeds will germinate while they’re covered and weighed down. A lot of people confuse the germination and weight period to be independent of one another and that you add them together, this is incorrect.
The germination time is there to give you an idea by what time the seeds will germinate, but you don’t add the germination time and blackout period together.
While your seeds are germinating and are weighed down you will need to keep your medium moist. You can do this by lightly misting your seeds every 12 hours, once in the morning and once at night.
Step 4 Blackout Time
After allowing the seeds to rest for about 2 to 3 days, they should have sprouted and now you can carefully lift the empty tray. It’s time to remove the weight and begin the blackout phase.
Take your empty tray and flip it over to create a dome that blocks out light. Place it back over your seeds.
By keeping them in darkness for another 1 to 2 days, the newly sprouted seedlings will naturally stretch and reach out for light, helping them grow taller.
Now you can start watering your china rose radish microgreens from the bottom. Simply add water to the drainage tray underneath. Personally, I recommend adding 1 cup of water twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening (every 12 hours).
Once the blackout period of 1 to 2 days is over, you can remove the top tray or blackout dome and expose your microgreens to light. I’ve found that providing them with 17 hours of light followed by a 7 hour break works well for me.
Continue growing your China Rose Radish microgreens for around 5 to 7 days, remembering to water them daily with approximately 2 cups of water per day. Once every 12 hours.
Step 5 Harvest
Harvesting your china rose radish microgreens is a straightforward and satisfying task that only requires a sharp tool. Personally, I absolutely love using the Green Mercer Produce Knife—I highly recommend it! But if you prefer scissors, there’s also a fantastic option available; these sturdy and dependable heavy duty scissors.
Now, here’s an important tip to keep your harvest pristine; make sure to keep your chosen tool (whether it’s a knife or scissors) away from the soil! It’s imperative in avoiding any accidental contact between the blade and the soil, you don’t want any unwanted dirt from sneaking into your microgreen harvest and contaminating it.
By following this important tip, you’ll ensure that your harvested microgreens are of top notch quality and purity.
Plant Details & Taxonomy
China Rose Radish (Raphanus sativus var. Longipinnatus ‘China Rose’) is a beautiful and tasty microgreen that combines botanical elegance with subtle piquant radish flavor.
This upright plant grows annually and has a unique elongated root that has a pinkish red color. When it comes to seed weight, you can expect around 250 300 seeds per gram.
Known for its quick growth and striking appearance, China Rose Radish microgreens are an excellent choice for beginner microgreen growers. These microgreens are easy to care for and require minimal maintenance, making them perfect for those who are new to growing microgreens.
What sets China Rose Radish microgreens apart is their refreshing taste with a mild pungent essence, which adds a delightful crunch to salads or gives sandwiches an extra zing.
| Rank | Scientific Name |
| Kingdom | Plantae – Plants |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta – Vascular plants |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
| Division | Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants |
| Class | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Subclass | Dilleniidae |
| Order | Capparales |
| Family | Brassicaceae – Mustard family |
| Genus | Raphanus L. – radish |
| Species | Raphanus sativus L. – cultivated radish |
| Variety | Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus ‘China Rose’ |
| Common Names | Rose Colored China Radish, Red Meat Radish, Watermelon Radish, Red Meat Winter Radish |
Microgreen Pests & Diseases
The following are the most common pests and diseases that can affect your microgreens.
White Mold – Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic fungal disease that causes what’s known as white mold, it can infect over 400 plant species worldwide. It’s also called cottony soft rot, stem rot, watery soft rot, crown rot, and seedling blight.
S. sclerotiorum key properties are its ability to create sclerotia which are its black resting structures, and mycelium which are the white fuzzy spiderweb-like growths you see on stems and growing medium.
Damping Off
Damping-off is an umbrella term that covers fungi and fungi-like organisms in several genera including Rhizoctonia, Botrytis, Phytophthora, and Fusarium, with the soil fungus Pythium being the often culprit.
Damping-off is a soil-borne fungal disease that affects seeds and seedlings typically by rotting of the stems and roots at and below the soil surface.
When a seed germinates the seedling will emerge fine but within 24 hours to a few days will become mushy and water-soaked, collapse at the base of the stem and die.
Aphids – Aphidoidea
Aphids suck! Quite literally. They’re soft-bodied insects that use their piercing-sucking mouths to feed on plants and there are over 4,000 aphid species in the world.
Other common names are greenflies, blackflies, and plant lice. They come in varying colors such as light green, black, white, brown, gray, or yellow.
When aphids feed on plants they secrete a sticky fluid which is called honeydew (no, don’t eat it). This goo they leave behind drips onto plants and can attract other pests such as ants. If the honeydew is left on leaves it can promote black sooty mold.
China Rose Radish Nutrition Facts
Radish China Rose microgreens are a delightful nutritional surprise, despite their small size. These tiny greens pack a punch when it comes to essential nutrients. With just 18 calories, Radish China Rose microgreens offer a rich source of vitamins and minerals that significantly contribute to your health.
These microgreens are abundant in vitamin C, which helps strengthen your immune system. They also provide a commendable amount of vitamin A, and vitamin K.
But that’s not all – Radish China Rose microgreens also provide an ample dose of vital minerals. Calcium supports strong bones, iron aids in efficient oxygen transport within the body and magnesium plays multiple roles in various bodily functions.
In addition to their nutritional benefits, these microgreens offer a unique flavor profile that tantalizes your taste buds. They also contribute dietary fiber to promote digestion and gut health.
Nutrition value per 100 g. (Source: USDA National Nutrient database)
| Principle | Nutrient Value | Unit | RDA |
| Energy | 18 | Kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 4.1 | g | 3% |
| Protein | 0.6 | g | 1% |
| Total Fat | 0.1 | g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0 | mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.6 | g | 4% |
| Vitamins | |||
| Choline | 7.3 | mg | 1% |
| Folate | 28 | µg | 7% |
| Selenium, Se | 0.7 | µg | 1% |
| Vitamin A | 0 | µg | 0% |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) | 0.02 | mg | 2% |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.02 | mg | 2% |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 0.2 | mg | 1% |
| Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxin) | 0.046 | mg | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 22 | mg | 24% |
| Vitamin E | 0 | mg | 0% |
| Vitamin K | 0.3 | µg | 0% |
| Electrolytes | |||
| Sodium, Na | 21 | mg | 1.40% |
| Potassium, K | 227 | mg | 4.83% |
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium, Ca | 27 | mg | 2.70% |
| Copper, Cu | 0.115 | mg | 12.78% |
| Iron, Fe | 0.4 | mg | 5.00% |
| Magnesium, Mg | 16 | mg | 3.90% |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.038 | mg | 1.65% |
| Phosphorus, P | 23 | mg | 3.29% |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.15 | mg | 1.36% |
| Phytonutrients | |||
| β-Carotene, beta | 0 | µg | 0.00% |
| α-Carotene, alpha | 0 | µg | 0.00% |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0 | µg | 0.00% |
Recommended Seed Providers
I highly recommend True Leaf Market and SeedsNow for all your seed needs. Their wide selection of high-quality seeds and exceptional customer service make them the go-to choice for both novice and experienced gardeners alike.
True Leaf Market
For over 45 years True Leaf Market has been a provider of high-quality seeds both GMO and NON-GMO organic seeds. They also provide phytosanitary certificates if you need to import seeds to a country outside of the US.
SeedsNow
SeedsNow is a family-run company, with the aim of assisting individuals, families, and communities in preparing for the future through the promotion of an organic and self-sustainable lifestyle. All their seeds are completely free from any genetic modifications, making them heirlooms, open-pollinated (OP), raw, natural, and untreated. Additionally, they do provide a selection of hybrid varieties on their website which will be clearly labeled as such in the product listings.
Buy China Rose Radish Microgreen Seeds
These seeds offer a burst of vibrant flavor, bringing a delightful peppery punch to your meals. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced grower, these microgreens are easy to cultivate and grow quickly. Add a touch of freshness and a pop of color to your dishes by ordering China Rose Radish microgreen seeds today.
Recommended Products
Explore our top curated picks for products and places to buy from to grow microgreens. Rest assured that all the featured items and products have been meticulously put to the test by our team, or have received glowing recommendations from our esteemed readers.
Microgreen Grow Trays
For my personal home use, these microgreen trays are my go to. Measuring around 12.2 x 9.06 x 1.77 inches (31 x 23 x 4.5 cm), these trays are perfectly suited for cultivating microgreens in a home microgreen grow room. What’s more, they’re durable, and cleaning them is a walk in the park, making them an all-around convenient choice.
1020 Microgreen Trays – Shallow Extra Strength Colors
Industry leading BootStrap Farmers 1020 microgreen trays! Designed with long lasting durability in mind, these colorful trays are built to withstand years of use and abuse. With a height of 1¼ inches (3.2 cm), these shallow trays make harvests easy, saving you time and increasing your yield. The trays come equipped with 36 drainage holes that effectively remove excess water, promoting a healthy growing environment and preventing mold growth. If you’re serious about growing microgreens and want the best trays available on the market, these trays are it!
Comments (2)
To the microgreensilo.com admin, Thanks for the post!
You’re most welcome, I’m happy you’re enjoying my posts! If you ever need help or advice regarding microgreens feel free to reach out! All the best.