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When to Plant Daikon in Logan County, IL

Daikon is a large, mild Japanese radish that can grow over a foot long. It is excellent for pickling, stir-fries, and as a soil-breaking cover crop.

Logan County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 184 days.

At an elevation of 1,132 feet, Logan County receives approximately 39.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Daikon to ensure they mature before fall.

Logan County, IL (Zone 5b) Moderate season
184 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
184 growing days
First Fall Frost October 16

Logan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (99 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Jul 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (106 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 16

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 Logan County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0โ€“6.7) is within Daikon's preferred range (5.8โ€“7.0).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) โ€” Daikon will thrive.

How to Plant Daikon

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Daikon

4
successive plantings in your 184-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 146 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Daikon

Daikon needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Daikon Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Logan County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Daikon 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.

Daikon needs ~735 GDD — county provides 2,254 GDD Excellent fit

Daikon Planting Timeline โ€” Logan County, IL

Daikon Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Harvest May 27 May 27 โ€“ Jun 24
Fall Sowing August 7 Aug 7 โ€“ Aug 21

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Direct Sow
May 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

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.8โ€“7 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

184 days in Logan County

Growing Tips for Daikon in Logan County

Direct sow Daikon outdoors after April 15 in Logan County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Daikon 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 in late summer for fall harvest. Loosen soil deeply before planting. Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart. Harvest before hard freeze as exposed shoulders may crack.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Hyssop

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Daikon in Logan County, IL?

Logan County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Daikon planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Logan County, IL?

Logan County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 16.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Logan 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 Logan County, IL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.