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When to Plant Radish in Spokane County, WA

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.

Spokane County, Washington is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 139 days.

At an elevation of 1,645 feet, Spokane County receives approximately 20.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Radish during the growing season.

Spokane County, WA (Zone 6a) Short season
139 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
139 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27

Spokane County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (92 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jun 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Jun 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Jul 31

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 Spokane County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5โ€“6.2) is more acidic than Radish prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.4%) โ€” Radish will thrive.

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

7
successive plantings in your 139-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 23 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 19.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/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€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 2.2" 0.8" 1.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 0.3" 1.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 2.2" 0.4" 1.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 2.2" 0.7" 1.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Spokane 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 2,536 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline โ€” Spokane County, WA

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ May 18
Harvest May 25 May 25 โ€“ Jun 15
Fall Sowing July 19 Jul 19 โ€“ Aug 2

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 Fall Sowing
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

139 days in Spokane County

Growing Tips for Radish in Spokane County

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

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

Your generous 139.0-day season in Spokane 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 Spokane County, WA?

Spokane County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Spokane County, WA?

Spokane County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is September 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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