Senga's Blog
Eco-chic Outdoor Living & Exterior Design
January 12/2010 – The Planning Stage: Heirloom Radish 'French Breakfast'
The irony of this edible and in particular its name is that there is no actual record of the French actually eating it for breakfast!
Low in calories, one cup of radishes contains about 20 calories. Radishes are a good source of vitamin C. Eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables lowers the chances of cancer. A recent study found that eating nine or ten daily servings of fruits and vegetables, combined with three servings of low-fat dairy products, were effective in lowering blood pressure.
Botanical name: Raphanus sativus ‘French Breakfast
Country of Origin: France
History: This radish has been in cultivation for over 100 years.
Description: Elongated red skinned at the top, with white blunt ends, grows to 5cm (3 in.) Flower pods are edible.
Best harvested: Young to avoid pithiness and bitterness - max. of 10 cm diameter.
Time to Plant: Cool season = March 15th – April 30th and again August 15th – September 15th (Hint sow minimum: 4 weeks before last spring frost and 6 weeks before first fall frost and avoid sowing or growing plants in summer heat).
Where to Sow and Grow: Outdoors in cool weather and ample moisture, Semi Shade, 10mm deep x 30mm apart.
Maturity: 28-30 Days
Tip: The faster the radish grows, the better the flavour and grows in cooler weather to avoid bitter taste.
Taste: Mild flavour
Uses: Salads, stir fry dishes, baked and eaten as "chips" or grated and mixed with sour cream and lemon juice as a salad/side dish. ‘French Breakfast’ is traditionally split lengthwise and drizzled with butter or olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, and served as a simple but elegant appetizer or as a palate cleanser between dishes in a meal.
Place in Square Foot Vegetable Garden and Edible Green Roof: As radishes in general is a faster growing crop, it can be inter planted with slower growing crops such as onions. By month’s end I will have this nicely slotted into a master plan of the vegetable garden and post it on my blog.
