Variety field guide
What to expect from Purple Plum
Purple Plum is an annual radish selection grown for fast roots, greens, succession planting, storage types, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Introducing the vibrant and striking Radish Seeds - Purple Plum, a delightful addition to any vegetable garden. This unique radish cultivar showcases a stunning purple exterior that leads to a crisp, white interior. As they mature, the roots maintain their vivid color and develop a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of peppery spice, making them a versatile ingredient in the kitchen.
About Purple Plum
Purple Plum is an annual selection of radish, with a rosette habit and an expected height or spread of 7–12 in. It is best suited to fast roots, greens, succession planting, storage types, and seed saving. Notable traits include purple coloring; harvest roots before pithiness and use tender greens where appropriate; crisp and mild when young, becoming stronger with age or stress.
Choose Purple Plum when the garden plan calls for fast roots, greens, succession planting, storage types, and seed saving and the listed rosette habit fits the available space.
History and provenance
These root crops were selected in Eurasian farming traditions for rapid growth, root form, storage, greens, and cold-season use. Small salad radishes, long daikon types, turnips, and rutabagas differ in species or crop group and should not share one generic maturity or harvest description. Purple Plum Radish, a vibrant jewel among root vegetables, emerges from the fertile soils of the Mediterranean, where its ancestors have thrived for centuries. The name \"Purple Plum\" captures the radish's striking hue and its sweet, crisp flesh, reminiscent of the juiciest plums. This radish variety is celebrated not only for its visual appeal but also for its subtle peppery flavor that enlivens the palate.Historically, radishes have been a staple in Mediterranean diets, valued for their refreshing crunch and nutritional benefits. The Purple Plum Radish, with its unique coloration, was often reserved for special occasions, adding a splash of color to festive platters and symbolizing abundance and prosperity.In traditional Mediterranean cuisine, the Purple Plum Radish is a versatile ingredient. It is sliced thinly into salads, providing a crisp contrast to softer greens, or pickled to enhance its flavor and extend its shelf life.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Raphanus sativus L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity | 20-29 Days |
| Germination | 3-7 Days at 45–60 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/2 in |
| Plant height / spread | 7–12 in |
| Growth habit | Rosette |
| Spacing | 2 in between plants; 12 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Sandy loam; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Purple Plum from seed
Sow 1/2 in deep and keep the seed zone evenly moist. Expect emergence in 3-7 Days when the seed-zone temperature is near 45–60 °F. Germination preparation: Direct sow into a prepared, weed-free seedbed; avoid disturbing developing roots or dense stands. Light requirement: Cover evenly to 1/2 in. Soaking: None required. Stratification: None required. Scarification: None required.
Planting and care
Plant during spring/Fall and provide full sun. Space plants 2 in apart with 12 in between rows. Use sandy loam with a pH near 6.0–6.5, and follow a moderate watering plan. Support requirement: No-Support. Frost response: Hardy. Good container fit with drainage, even moisture, and the listed spacing
Harvest and use
Approximately 20-29 Days, from direct sowing to market-size roots. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date. Harvest: Harvest roots before pithiness and use tender greens where appropriate. Uses: Fast roots, greens, succession planting, storage types, and seed saving. Flavor: crisp and mild when young, becoming stronger with age or stress. Seed saving: Insect-pollinated radish. Best uses include fast roots, greens, succession planting, storage types, and seed saving. Flavor and eating quality: crisp and mild when young, becoming stronger with age or stress.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type Purple Plum plants that match the expected rosette habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Insect-pollinated radish. Radish cultivars can cross through insect-carried pollen. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Allow selected plants to pass the eating stage and reach full botanical seed maturity. Harvest only when seed heads, pods, or fruits have matured enough for sound seed development. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Flea beetles, imported cabbageworm, cabbage loopers, aphids, slugs, root maggots, and clubroot risk where the pathogen is present. Management: Use rotation, insect netting before pests arrive, regular leaf inspection, sanitation, and well-drained soil. Do not plant the same brassica family repeatedly in one bed. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions - Purple Plum
When is Purple Plum ready? Use 20-29 Days. Approximately 20-29 Days, from direct sowing to market-size roots. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date.
How long does germination take? Expect 3-7 Days at about 45–60 °F. Cooler, hotter, crusted, saturated, or dry seedbeds can slow emergence.
How large does it grow? Expect about 7–12 in with a rosette habit. Space plants 2 in apart and rows 12 in apart. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container? Good container fit with drainage, even moisture, and the listed spacing Use a container with drainage and enough volume to maintain the listed spacing and steady moisture.
Can I save seed? Insect-pollinated radish. Keep compatible varieties isolated and allow selected plants to reach full seed maturity.
