Blog

When to Plant Radish in Humboldt County, NV

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.

Humboldt County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and the first fall frost is September 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 108 days.

At an elevation of 5,527 feet, Humboldt County receives approximately 8.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, 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. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Radish successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Humboldt County, NV (Zone 5b) Short season
108 days
Last Spring Frost May 30
108 growing days
First Fall Frost September 15

Humboldt County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.2-8.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Jul 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (59 days to spare)
Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Aug 6

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 Humboldt County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.2โ€“8.6) is more alkaline than Radish prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Radish.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.9%). 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

6
successive plantings in your 108-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 11 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.3″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 382 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 0.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 0.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 2.2" 0.2" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 2.2" 0.3" 1.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 2.2" 1.1" 1.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 0.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Humboldt 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 ~584 GDD — county provides 2,214 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Humboldt County, NV

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 16 May 16 โ€“ Jun 6
Harvest June 13 Jun 13 โ€“ Jul 4
Fall Sowing July 7 Jul 7 โ€“ Jul 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

22โ€“35 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

108 days in Humboldt County

Growing Tips for Radish in Humboldt County

Direct sow Radish outdoors after May 30 in Humboldt County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Humboldt 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 Humboldt County reach 94ยฐF โ€” grow Radish as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 108.0-day season in Humboldt 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 Humboldt County, NV?

Humboldt County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 30. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Humboldt County, NV?

Humboldt County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and first fall frost is September 15.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Humboldt County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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