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When to Plant Radish in Queens County, NY

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.

Queens County, New York is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 782 feet, Queens County receives approximately 45.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Radish during the growing season.

Queens County, NY (Zone 7b) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Queens County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (179 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 25 🍅 Harvest: Apr 22 – May 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (179 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: Apr 26 – May 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (188 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: May 7 – May 28

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 Queens County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1โ€“6.5) is more acidic than Radish prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Queens County is excellent for Radish โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.8%). Annual compost additions will help 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

13
successive plantings in your 228-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 08 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 03.

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€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 3.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 3.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Queens 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 ~477 GDD — county provides 3,819 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Queens County, NY

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 15 Mar 15 โ€“ Apr 5
Harvest April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ May 3
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 โ€“ Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Direct Sow
April Direct Sow Harvest
May Harvest
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
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: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

228 days in Queens County

Growing Tips for Radish in Queens County

Direct sow Radish outdoors after March 29 in Queens County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 228.0-day season in Queens 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 Queens County, NY?

Queens County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Queens County, NY?

Queens County, New York is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Queens County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Queens County, NY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.