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When to Plant Radish in Fayette County, PA

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.

Fayette County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 174 days.

At an elevation of 250 feet, Fayette County receives approximately 41 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Radish during the growing season.

Fayette County, PA (Zone 6a) Moderate season
174 days
Last Spring Frost April 27
174 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Fayette County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (127 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Jul 10

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 Fayette County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1โ€“6.3) is more acidic than Radish prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.7%). 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

9
successive plantings in your 174-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Fayette 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 3,175 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Fayette County, PA

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 13 Apr 13 โ€“ May 4
Harvest May 11 May 11 โ€“ Jun 1
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23

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: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

174 days in Fayette County

Growing Tips for Radish in Fayette County

Direct sow Radish outdoors after April 27 in Fayette County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Your generous 174.0-day season in Fayette 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 Fayette County, PA?

Fayette County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 27. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fayette County, PA?

Fayette County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 27 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Fayette County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Fayette County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.