Chinese radish is a two- or annual plant. This root vegetable belongs to the Cabbage family. Most actively grown in Japan, Korea and China. In our country, Chinese radish grows well in the Far East.
The most common varieties are Red Radish (raspberry ball) and Lobo (ivory fang).
The appearance of the vegetable
The shape of the “body” depends on the variety. It is round, spindle-shaped and elongated (oval). The color of the root crop can be white, green, yellow, red and purple. Also sometimes color mixing occurs and then the vegetable has a double, and sometimes a triple color (yellow-green, violet-white and so on). The pulp also has various colors and transitional shades. Usually its color depends on the color of the peel and can be either more saturated or lighter. Chinese radish weighs from 250 grams to 1 kilogram.
Basically, the plant is grown for 2 years. In the first year, leaves are formed (usually their number does not exceed 16 pieces) and root crops. It has a small mass (no more than 300 grams). In the second year, the radish begins to bloom and its seeds ripen. The root crop increases the size and weight.
Taste
These varieties of radish do not contain as much oil as in Russian. Due to this, she has no island flavor and bitterness. They contain many minerals and are rich in vitamins, as well as various enzymes, fiber and essential oils. Due to this, they have a soft and juicy pulp.
The photo shows the Chinese radish Lobo, or ivory fang.
Growing
Usually it is grown in the fields, after collecting cucumbers, tomatoes, legumes and potatoes. Planting a vegetable after other representatives of the Cabbage species is not recommended. If this is not taken into account, then Chinese radish can be affected by keel and other diseases characteristic of this species. It can also be grown after garlic, onions and other early crops.
Before sowing, it is necessary to prepare the soil differentially. To do this, you can use mineral fertilizers and, if necessary, organic fertilizers, with the exception of manure. When using it, the radish Chinese Loba cracks, is poorly stored and decays, and also becomes tasteless and often sick. The most suitable "organic" is humus. You can also use wood ash.
Sowing radishes is best done in the 2nd half of July. If the Chinese radish was planted in the 1st half of the month, then there is the likelihood of root crops overgrowing, which will entail a decrease in marketability. If the weather in the growing zone is suitable, then it grows until November.
These varieties tolerate cold weather well, they begin to emerge at a temperature of 2–4 degrees Celsius above 0. When frozen to -5 degrees, they do not freeze and do not die.
Water the radish should be plentiful and regular, so it will give a good harvest.
An interesting fact: if you plant Chinese radish in the last days of July or in the beginning of August, the quantity of the crop will be greatly reduced, but at the same time marketability and preservation will improve.
The photo shows a red Chinese radish, or raspberry ball.
Beneficial features
Chinese red radish and Lobo is used to remove harmful substances from the body and treat certain diseases. They can prevent the appearance of fatty degeneration and other liver diseases. They also have diuretic properties, so they are used to clean the renal system from deposits consisting of sand and small stones. It is well suited for the prevention of urolithiasis.
Tip: if you constantly consume salads, which include these varieties, then the appetite increases. This increases the production of gastric juice and speeds up the digestion of food.
The pulp contains components with a calming and analgesic effect. Therefore, it is used during neuritis, muscle pain and radiculitis.
Fresh root juice is widely used for the prevention of colds and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Who should not use radish?
Doctors do not recommend eating these varieties of radishes for pregnant and lactating women. Some components of vegetables accumulate in the body, and when they are overabundant, the uterus may come in tone. This is unacceptable when bearing a child, as this can provoke termination of pregnancy in the early stages and to premature birth. Red radish can provoke allergies in mother and baby, as its components can penetrate into breast milk.
Radish is also contraindicated for people who have heart diseases, ulcers, gastritis, enterocolitis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
These radish varieties are very popular in cooking.
Cooking Application
There are a large number of dishes in which these varieties of radish are used. They are mainly used in the manufacture of various salads, less often they are used in the preparation of soups, meat dishes and side dishes.
Root crops help acquire an unusual taste and aroma of food. The taste of the vegetable does not change during heat treatment. They can be stewed, boiled, fried and steamed.
Red radish and Lobo are very juicy and tasty varieties. Their colors are diverse, which is why they look unusual. In cooking, they are widely used, due to their taste. They have no bitterness and pungency, so they have a delicate taste. They are also used to treat and prevent many diseases. However, some people are not recommended to eat them.