- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
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Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 40–50 days
Family: Brassicaceae
Native: Unknown
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annual
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Plant Dimensions: 2'–5' tall, 12" wide
Variety Info: Slender, green 3"–12" pods with a mildly spicy flavor similar to root radishes. Pods will grow to 12", but best enjoyed at 3"–6". Rat's Tail radish is closely related to the common root radish, but it is an aerial radish that does not produce an edible root. Instead, it produces edible seed pods above ground. It can be grown in the spring, but also during the summer, as it withstands heat well. 'Rat's Tail' will not produce pods when temperatures fall below 45°F.
Attributes: Frost Tolerant, Heat Tolerant
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is above 40°F, ideally 65°–85°F. Successive Sowings: Every 1 to 2 weeks until mid-summer.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended; roots sensitive to disturbance.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: ½"
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 6"–12"
Row Spacing: 24"
Thinning: When 1" tall, thin to 1 every 6"–12"
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Harvest pods when they are 3"–6" long. Harvest regularly to keep plants producing pods. Larger pods become hard, tough and bitter tasting so they should be picked and discarded to boost production of new pods.
- Carisa H.Verified BuyerRated 4 out of 5 stars12/31/25Spicy Green Bean is Yummy
This was my first year growing Rat Tail's, and it was generally a good experience. These plants do tend to take up a lot of room in the garden, not like your ordinary radish plants which stay smaller. I recommend harvesting the pods when they are smaller, as the large pods are very tough and not fit to eat. The pods are best when used in a stir fry or pickled, but you can also chop them and put them in soup.
For the amount of pods I got off this late crop of radishes, the plants took up a disproportionate amount of room. If I had been maximizing my fall garden for productivity, this would have been an issue. I recommend keeping that in mind if you intend to grow these.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ProfessionalBIBotanical Interests1/3/26Hey Carisa,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such detailed feedback about your first experience growing our Rat's Tail Radish Seeds! We're thrilled to hear it was generally a good experience for you. Your insights about harvesting the pods when they're smaller and how versatile they are in stir fries, pickled, or chopped in soup are incredibly helpful for other gardeners considering this unique variety!
You make such a great point about the space these plants need compared to regular radishes - that's definitely something to keep in mind when planning garden layouts, especially for fall crops. We really appreciate you sharing both the positives and the practical considerations. This kind of honest feedback helps fellow gardeners make the best choices for their growing spaces.
Thank you for choosing us and for sharing your growing experience with us. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Edward T.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars8/11/245 Stars
Incredible radish-like flavor with beautiful flowers! I bought this as a more heat-tolerant replacement to traditional in-ground radishes and it will be a garden staple for years to come. The pods are best picked when under three inches or else they get a bit stringy.
Which best describes you as a gardener? Expert - Joyce V.Verified BuyerRated 4 out of 5 stars7/28/244 Stars
Not growing very well but it’s been terribly hot.
Which best describes you as a gardener? Expert - Sandra G.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars6/15/235 Stars
I’m am so excited to plant the Rat Tail radishes. I am patiently waiting for the seedlings to emerge.
- Priscilla G.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars5/9/225 Stars
I love this plant. It is a great alternative to radishes for the summer. It gets so hot here in my zone 8b garden! I also love that it is quite the conversation starter when I add them to salads. Thanks for a great plant!