Growing Radishes and Runner Beans in Pots

Although many vegetables need space to produce a worthwhile crop in a pot, there are plenty that can be grown successfully in more cramped conditions. Grow a container planted with radishes outside your back door, and you can grab a handful whenever you need them.

When to Plant: Spring to summer
At Its Best: Late spring to early autumn
Time to Complete: 30 minutes

Materials Needed:

• radish seed
• low, wide pot
• soil-based potting mix
• watering can with fine rose

Prepare and Sow

Fill the container with potting soil and firm the top lightly. Sow seed on the surface and cover with 1/2 inch of soil. Water with a fine spray.

Thin Out

As seedlings germinate and grow, thin them out, leaving the others to mature fully. You can eat the removed seedlings as an early salad crop.

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Harvest

Water your pot regularly. Radishes are usually ready about five weeks after sowing. Don't allow them to grow for longer than this because their taste becomes hotter and unpleasant, and they lose their crunch. To harvest, simply pull them up when ready. They store well in the refrigerator for a few days.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited