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When to Plant Radish in Bathurst, NB

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.

Bathurst, New Brunswick is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 160 days.

At an elevation of 131 feet, Bathurst receives approximately 27.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly gray-brown podzol soil. Summer highs average 73ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Radish to ensure they mature before fall.

Bathurst, NB (Zone 5a) Moderate season
160 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
160 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Bathurst Soil Profile

Soil Type

Gray-Brown Podzol

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (134 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 13 – Jun 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (134 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 13 – Jun 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (134 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 13 – Jun 3

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.

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/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€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 2.2" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 2.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Oct in Bathurst). 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 ~135 GDD — county provides 760 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Bathurst, NB

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 19 Apr 19 โ€“ May 10
Harvest May 17 May 17 โ€“ Jun 7
Fall Sowing August 1 Aug 1 โ€“ Aug 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Direct Sow
May Direct Sow Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August Fall Sowing
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 Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

22โ€“35 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

160 days in Bathurst

Growing Tips for Radish in Bathurst

Your generous 160.0-day season in Bathurst 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 Bathurst, NB?

Bathurst is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bathurst, NB?

Bathurst, New Brunswick is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bathurst gardeners in Zone 5a 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 Bathurst, NB. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.