Bolting in numbers - Выход в стрелку в цифрах

In this post I want to share results of my small experiment with four different seed sources. It wasn't surprise for me to see the difference in favour of Russian material. The explanation is simple. While in USA and Canada we talk about heirloom black radish seeds Russians talk about different developed varieties backed up with registration and genetic maintenance.

Harvest - Уборка урожая

We are expecting minus nine this night and I decided to finish my garden. Although several undeveloped radish plant still left in the ground for my further observation. Please note that I had four different seed sources. The one with white and elongated roots is the popular Russian variety Graivoronskay (ГРАЙВОРОНСКАЯ). It is not black but it still pungent as black one.

At the end of the summer

In Canada officially summer starts on June 21st and finishes on September 21st. You don't fill always summer in Edmonton in September like it might be in Toronto or Vancouver. But September of this year was really warm and last weekend temperature reminded good days of July. So far my black radish is still in green and it is still shooting for flowers. I have to pull out another 3 bolting plants.

 

 

 

Still bolting - September 4

Today I pulled out three plants with the sign of bolting. I thought that my August record for bolting would be the final count but here three plants more with root weight 45, 50 and 130 g.

My Friend Experience

Friend of mine Hugh, who is a devoted gardener, decided to try  black radish. The package that he bought was not specific about time of seeding and he put seed in soil in early spring. It was no surprise for me that all his black radish  plants bolted. I didn't know about this till I call him at the end of June with offer to try black radish. I gave him some Oregon origin seeds with a hope that he will be more successful with late seeding as his gardening on open field with no trees around to shade the garden.

Since that time I've got two email from him as follows.

1.
"I planted some just after the July long weekend then again 10 days later. The July long weekend planting is bolting some and the 10 day later has a couple plants bolting. It may be due to the heat we have had lately. Just for fun I did a planting on Aug 1 and its doing fine. I will take some pictures. Everything else in the garden is doing just great. I should have some sweet corn, cantaloupes and watermelon ready next week. Even the soybeans are doing good and have pods - could have vegetable beans to harvest by next weekend!"
 2.
"Unfortunately my garden was hit by hail on Thursday afternoon and the radish is not looking pretty. I will take pictures. If it makes it I will let you know. Sweet corn is just coming on and then this hail!"

Two months of growth

If your read my previous posts you should know that all spring seeding ended up with bolting plants. Today is two month of the most recommended day of seeding. There is some bolting any yet but not like with early spring and early summer seeding.  I found interesting numbers of bolting plants related to the seed origin. I am going to present those bolting numbers latter as I still counting it. So far crop looks promising even it was damaged again by quarter size hail. The picture of recent crop is below.

 

Under attack

I have a few plants of black radish standing along. Those plants are under attack. I think it is flea beatle. I noticed one on my photo, but picture resolution was not good enough to demonstrate it here.