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Tue, Apr 24, 12 at 7:15
| Is it just me, or have others planted vegetables that don't seem to mature in the amount of time advertised on seed packets? For instance, a month ago, I planted some radishes. On the package, it said "25-30 days." Does that start from the time you plant the seeds, or from the time they germinate? Either way, the radishes aren't even close to being ready. The leaves have come up nicely, but the "bulbs" are just tiny. I would say that they need at least 3 more weeks. I've had this same problem with other vegetables too. Do seed companies tend to exaggerate how quickly their seeds will turn into mature vegetables? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| The maturity dates are guidlines based on grower trials. This is under optimum conditions and it can vary based on weather and your growing conditions. I will say that radishes are a very quick crop and most varieties are going to be in the 30 day range from time seed is planted. If yours are around 30days and are not showing a radish but only a stem they are palnted to close or most likely under stress from poor soil or drought or heat and are not likely to form a bulb at this point. I know that is not what you wanted to hear but it is my assesment. Rodger |
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| Agree with all rodger said and this is a frequent discussion here so you can use the search button to read more comments if you want. If your "leaves have come up nicely but the bulbs are just tiny" then there are several possible causes - all of them method-of-planting based and they will not bulb. DTM on the seed packet is nothing more than an estimate based on ideal conditions. Dave |
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| What I find fascinating is that even after many years of growing veggies I had never heard of 'Days to Maturity' before coming on these forums. In the UK seed packets don't give this information at all. I can only imagine that with our variable climate it is well nigh impossible to put a time on when something will be ready, or even when precisely to sow it. For example, I've just picked out a packet at random: Tendergreen bush bean. Sow Mid-March to June. Harvest Mid-June onwards. As others have said these timings must be based on ideal conditions and your results may fluctuate widely from the ideal. |
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| Thanks for the info, Rodger. I think the most likely culprit is poor soil. Actually, I was given the seeds as a freebie from a seed company, and was just using them to mark a row of parsnips, so I honestly don't care that much whether they form bulbs or not. :) I'll just leave them in a little longer and see what happens. LOL. OK, thanks, Dave--I may do a search on older posts here to learn more about the problems with radishes. That's interesting the way they label the packets of seeds in the UK, flora_uk. I think I like that approach. :) |
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