Customer Service Hours
Mon-Fri 8-4 MST
Features
Family
Brassicaceae
Native
Unknown
Life Cycle
Annual
Plant Height
Tall (Greater than 24")
Further Information
Growing Conditions
- Frost Tolerant
- Heat Tolerant
About Rat's Tail Radish Seeds
Raphanus sativus var. mougri
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.
Planting Radish
Days to Maturity
40–50 days
Plant Spacing
A group of 3 seeds every 6"–12"
Light Required
Full sun to part shade
Plant Height
Tall (Greater than 24")
Planting Depth
½"
Coverage & Planting Details
| Coverage | This packet sows up to 13 feet. |
|---|---|
| Row Spacing | 24" |
| Seed Depth | ½" |
| Seed Spacing | A group of 3 seeds every 6"–12" |
| Thinning | When 1" tall, thin to 1 every 6"–12" |
| Germination | 5–10 days |
| Start Indoors | Not recommended; roots sensitive to disturbance. |
| Direct Sow | 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. |
| Growing & 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. |
Find Your Frost Date & Grow Zone
Average First Frost Date
October 19
Average Last Frost Date
May 19
Your Hardiness Zone is
5b
Send Your Recommendation
Total 5 star reviews: 8 Total 4 star reviews: 2 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
Slide 1 selected
Search
Rating
Which best describes you as a gardener?
11 reviews
- COREY T.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars6/1/26I like these
Very good growth so far - about 7 weeks in and starting to get some flowering. (Cincinnati, OH)
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests6/1/26Hey Corey,
We love hearing about your excellent growth with our Rat's Tail Radish Seeds! Seven weeks in and already starting to flower - that's fantastic progress! Those unique seed pods are going to be such a treat once they develop. Thanks for sharing your Rat's Tail radish growing success with us! Keep on growing 🌻️
- 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.