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When to Plant Radish in Suwannee County, FL

Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables, with some varieties ready in under a month. They come in round, elongated, and large winter types.

Suwannee County, Florida is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 4 and the first fall frost is November 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 267 days.

At an elevation of 383 feet, Suwannee County receives approximately 53.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Radish during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Radish will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Radish root diseases.

Suwannee County, FL (Zone 8b) Long season
267 days
Last Spring Frost March 4
267 growing days
First Fall Frost November 26

Suwannee County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

5.1-6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (221 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 19 🍅 Harvest: Mar 19 – Apr 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (218 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 4 🍅 Harvest: Apr 1 – Apr 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (222 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: Apr 21 – May 12

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Suwannee County

How your county's soil matches Radish's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1โ€“6.0) is more acidic than Radish prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Suwannee County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Radish will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.4%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Radish.

How to Plant Radish

0.5"
Planting Depth
2"
Between Plants
6"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Radish

15
successive plantings in your 267-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 17.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Radish

Radish needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Radish Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 2.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 7.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 7.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 7.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 2.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Suwannee County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Radish Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Radish needs ~520 GDD — county provides 4,872 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Suwannee County, FL

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow February 18 Feb 18 โ€“ Mar 11
Harvest March 18 Mar 18 โ€“ Apr 8
Fall Sowing September 17 Sep 17 โ€“ Oct 1

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 2" apart ยท Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Direct Sow
March Direct Sow Harvest
April Harvest
May โ€”
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October Fall Sowing
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

22โ€“35 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

267 days in Suwannee County

Growing Tips for Radish in Suwannee County

Direct sow Radish outdoors after March 04 in Suwannee County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Suwannee County dries quickly โ€” mulch Radish with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in Suwannee County reach 91ยฐF โ€” grow Radish as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 267.0-day season in Suwannee County allows multiple plantings of Radish. Sow every 11.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Radish in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow every 1-2 weeks for continuous harvest. Do not transplant. Harvest spring radishes promptly to prevent them from becoming pithy and hot.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Hyssop

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Radish in Suwannee County, FL?

Suwannee County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 4. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Suwannee County, FL?

Suwannee County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 4 and first fall frost is November 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Suwannee County, FL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.