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When to Plant Radish in Dixie 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.

Dixie County, Florida is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost is November 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 257 days.

At an elevation of 428 feet, Dixie County receives approximately 55.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 101ยฐF, so Radish may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. 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.

Dixie County, FL (Zone 9a) Long season
257 days
Last Spring Frost March 11
257 growing days
First Fall Frost November 23

Dixie County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

4.8-6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (204 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 5 🍅 Harvest: Apr 2 – Apr 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (208 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 11 🍅 Harvest: Apr 8 – Apr 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (214 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 27 🍅 Harvest: Apr 24 – May 15

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 Dixie County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.8โ€“6.0) is more acidic than Radish prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Dixie 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 (1.7%). 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 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Radish

14
successive plantings in your 257-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 19 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 28.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 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€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 2.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 7.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 8.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 7.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 8.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 2" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Dixie 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 ~734 GDD — county provides 6,617 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Dixie 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 28 Sep 28 โ€“ Oct 12

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 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

257 days in Dixie County

Growing Tips for Radish in Dixie County

Direct sow Radish outdoors after March 11 in Dixie County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Dixie 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 Dixie County reach 101ยฐF โ€” grow Radish as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 257.0-day season in Dixie 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 Dixie County, FL?

Dixie County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 11. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dixie County, FL?

Dixie County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 11 and first fall frost is November 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Dixie County gardeners in Zone 9a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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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 Dixie County, FL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.