Radish Celeste was developed by the Dutch corporation EnzaZaden, which has existed since 1938 and is engaged in crossbreeding of different varieties of vegetables and seed production. This variety is cultivated in many countries, as it is easy to grow, and the radish itself contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals.
Radish celeste
Radish Celeste has a slightly spicy taste
Celeste radish tops tasty and healthy
Description
Celeste belongs to the early ripening very plastic hybrids. It suits both gardeners and farms.
Appearance and taste
Celeste has the following external characteristics:
- the shape is regular round;
- fruit color - saturated pink-red, the surface is smooth;
- tops - undersized;
- leaves are bright green, low;
- the size of root crops at full maturity is 4-5cm in diameter;
- the weight of the average fetus is 25-35 g;
- pulp - dense, white, tender;
- the taste is pleasant, with bitterness, slightly spicy.
Pros and cons
The variety has a number of the benefitsthat makes it quite popular:
- grows both in open ground and in greenhouses;
- fruit ripening occurs simultaneously;
- high level of germination of fruits;
- able to quickly adapt to changing conditions;
- does not form arrows and peduncles;
- good taste;
- decent appearance;
- does not need a long daylight;
- has a short growing season - the crop can be harvested after 3 weeks;
- can be stored for a long time and remain in good condition;
- safely transfers transportation;
- not susceptible to disease peronosporosis.
Cons the variety is much smaller:
- radish is poorly developed if the soil is heavy, saline and acidic;
- Needs frequent watering, but does not like waterlogging;
- demanding on soil fertility;
- development depends heavily on how the land was planted before.
Fields of application
The variety is recommended to be used fresh - it is added to salads, snacks and cold soups, and tender tops are used as greens, since its taste does not have bitterness.
Celeste is often chosen for the preparation of medicinal compounds in traditional medicine and home-made cosmetics.
Planting Celeste
Despite the unpretentiousness, there are a number of requirements and features for growing Celeste.
Site selection and preparation
Culture loves natural light, so pick a spot that is well lit. Do not forget about the rules of crop rotation (see below for more details), and also do not plant radishes in the same place for several years in a row, since the soil needs to be restored and rest.
Land for planting should be loose, not acidic, with a pH of 6, preferably sandy loam. Carefully check the composition of the soil - if it is poor or heavy, add river sand for looseness. If the acidity level is too high, perform a liming procedure.
After you complete these preparatory measures, completely dig the site, apply mineral fertilizers if necessary, and at the end level the planting site and leave it for a while to warm the soil.
Crop rotation rules
For a large crop and to avoid a shortage of nutrients, follow crop rotation rules. Radishes should not be planted in areas where the following cruciferous crops used to grow:
- mustard;
- cabbage;
- swede;
- rape.
After such predecessors, Celeste will not be able to develop normally. The soil on which tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers previously grew is suitable for planting.
Seed preparation
If you buy seeds in finished form, in factory packaging, then they can simply be sown in the soil. If the seeds are unprocessed, they are prepared and disinfected. The most popular processing method is soaking in hot water or potassium permanganate. The procedure is as follows:
- fold the seeds in a gauze bag and put them in a container of hot water for 15-20 minutes or soak the seeds in a pink solution of manganese also for 15-20 minutes;
- dry the seeds and sow.
So that the seeds grow faster, they are kept for a day or two in a damp cloth in a warm place. For successful germination, soaking in solutions of stimulants is also practiced (the procedure must be performed according to the instructions for the drug).
The timing
If you use a greenhouse or a greenhouse for cultivation, planting can be carried out year-round, but the most suitable period for this is March-April.
Celeste seeds germinate at a soil temperature of about +5 degrees. The tops can withstand short-term frosts of up to –3-5 degrees, but it is better to provide the radish with the opportunity to develop at temperatures favorable to it - not lower than +15 degrees.
Ripening occurs in 25-35 days, but these periods may shift depending on the time of planting and growing conditions. Sown in early February, the seeds ripen in about a month and a half, in March - in a month, and if planted in April, the ripening period is 21-25 days.
If the radish is grown for winter or autumn consumption, keep in mind that from September to January root crops do not grow as fast as in springtime - the ripening period can be delayed up to 2 months. And direct planting is carried out every 14 days.
Schemes
Radishes are sown according to this scheme:
- in the prepared place, form grooves up to 2 cm deep, the distance between them should be at least 15 cm;
- moisten the wells with warm water;
- take the seed material, put it in the grooves, at a distance of 4 cm from each other;
- sprinkle holes on the ground without tamping.
If the soil is heavy, then the seeds are planted to a minimum depth of not more than 1 cm. After planting is carried out, it is advisable to cover the area with film or agrofiber. Shelter can be removed only during the irrigation of the site, and completely removed - a few days after the formation of sprouts.
Grade Care
To get the maximum yield, you need special care for the beds. Consider the necessary actions.
Watering
When watering radishes, make sure that the water does not stagnate, otherwise the root crops begin to rot. Shallow irrigation can be detrimental to the culture, as it causes the formation of soil crust and the growth of weeds.
Irrigation in 2-3 approaches allows water to penetrate deep into the soil. To do this, you can use a watering can with a fine sieve. The best way to water is sprinkling on foliage. Use warm, settled water.
Top dressing
To feed the radish, fertilize the soil well with mineral and organic fertilizers. You need to do this both before planting, and as the radish grows:
- At the landing stage Pipette 10 g of urea, 40 g of double superphosphate, 1 cup of wood ash and 5 kg of compost or humus per 1 m2. Dig a bed to a depth of about 20 cm, knead fertilizers and work the soil with a rake.
- At the stage of growth add phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, sulfur (dilute 20 g of potassium sulfide, superphosphate and 1 glass of ash into 10 liters of warm water). Also, radishes may need nitrogen fertilizers (if the leaves of the bushes grow too pale) - add 10 tsp to 10 liters of water. urea.
Soil care
In the first weeks after planting, carry out the procedure of loosening seedlings. Do it carefully, loosen to a depth of 2-3 cm, gradually deepening to 5-6 cm to ensure better penetration of air and nutrients to the roots of plants.
Try to carry out a similar procedure after each watering or rain.
Growing Features
Consider the features of growing Celeste in open ground and in a greenhouse.
In the open ground
Radish is an unpretentious and cold-resistant crop, but despite this, you need to take into account some of the features of cultivation in open ground. There are 2 factors that affect yield - humidity and temperature. If they are fully satisfied, then you can get a plentiful harvest.
If the soil dries, this will adversely affect the quality of root crops, the growth of radishes will slow down, and in case of excessive moisture, the fruits may crack. As for the temperature, the optimal values are + 15-18 degrees - the root crops will grow to a normal size and with the corresponding taste characteristics.
In the greenhouse
You need to plant radishes in a greenhouse as well as in open ground - the preparation of soil and seeds occurs according to the same scheme, however, there are several nuances:
- in greenhouses there is not enough natural light, so be sure to install lamps and provide radish with a 12-hour light day;
- in greenhouses, you can adjust the temperature, so plant radishes at any time of the year;
- make sure that the temperature is within + 18-20 degrees, as the variety does not like hot weather;
- the greenhouse must be ventilated at least twice a day, since fresh air is of great importance for the crop;
- plant radishes in a greenhouse in ordinary greenhouse soil - high-quality, fertilized, with low acidity.
Pests and diseases
Celeste can independently resist many diseases and pests, but sometimes it is too actively affected by such problems. Radishes of this variety are most often attacked by two types of parasites:
Pest | Symptoms | Fight |
Cruciferous flea. | These are small black beetles that can turn radish leaves into a sieve in a very short time. Female fleas lay eggs on leaves, and hatched larvae eat plant roots. | Mix wood ash and tobacco dust in a ratio of 1: 1 and spray the plant every week from the moment the leaves appear. You can also use an infusion of ash (250 g per 8 liters of water). |
Aphid. | Small insect of greenish-yellow, black-brown colors. She feeds on plant sap, attacking it with entire colonies. Affected areas become discolored due to this and look like small beige dots. Leaves are deformed, turn yellow and dry. | Radish is sprayed with foam of household, green potash or tar soap, and after half an hour it is washed with clean water. In case of mass damage, general-acting insecticides can be used - Tanrek, Admiral, etc. (instructions for use on the package.) |
And diseases are as follows:
Disease | Symptoms | Fight |
Kila. | A disease with which radish can become ill if it grows in lowlands where water accumulates, or it has been planted in acidic soil. Root crops are covered with rounded or elongated growths, the growth of culture stops. The roots turn brown and rot. | To process a bed with milk of lime (2 tbsp. L. Dilute lime in 10 liters of water). To avoid illness, 3 days before sowing, pour ash into the soil at the rate of 100 g per 1 sq. M and loosen it. |
Mosaic. | A viral disease due to which growth inhibition, mosaicity, leaf deformation and slight vein necrosis are observed in radish. | Modern remedies are powerless against mosaics. The only way to get rid of it is to collect all the affected plants and burn them. |
Downy mildew. | Dark spots with blurry, fuzzy edges appear at the base of the rosette of leaves and on their parts located in the ground. Over time, the spots merge and cover the entire root crop, because of which it cracks and hardens. | To prevent the disease during the growing season, spray the radish twice with boric acid diluted in water (10-15 g per 10 l) or Rizoplan twice. |
Gray rot. | It develops due to high humidity. Brown spots appear on the root crops, which are pulled by a fluffy coating with small black spots. Tissues soften and rot, leaves lose their tone. | Radish can be sprayed with a solution of mustard powder or iodine (50 g or 10 drops per 10 liters of water). |
Prevention measures against diseases and pests are as follows:
- Agrotechnical:
- thinning and weed removal, preventing overgrowing of beds;
- observe watering regimen;
- prior to sowing the culture, notify the bed;
- Do not leave straw, weeds and manure near the beds;
- conduct regular radish inspections.
- Folk:
- periodically sprinkle the bed with wood ash or tobacco dust;
- Dissolve a piece of laundry soap in a bucket of water and spray the plant once a week.
Possible problems
During the cultivation of Celeste, they face the following problems:
- Root crops are small, coarse and fibrous. This is due to late sowing, when the temperature rose above +22 degrees. Because of this, radishes develop worse. Also, the cause may be a lack of moisture in the first 2 weeks of root crop growth.
- The radish turned out to be bitter - the rules of agricultural technologies were not complied with (there were no irrigation, the soil was not fertilized).
- Celeste began to shoot. This means that at the beginning of growth the temperature regime was violated - the temperature was either below +10 degrees or above +25. Another reason is that the seeds are too thickly sown.
- Root crops are solid and dense - a crust has formed on the bed after rain or irregular watering.
How to collect and store crops?
The yield of Celeste's radish is from 1.5 to 2 kg per 1 sq. Km. m. If all conditions have been met, then harvesting begins 24 days after sowing. To obtain a crop of higher quality and greater external attractiveness, the period is extended to 30 days. After this period, Celeste's radish will weigh up to 30 g each root crop.
The variety perfectly tolerates transportation over long distances and after 3-4 days its appearance does not change at all. It is better to transport along with tops to preserve the freshness of radishes for a longer period.
Below is a video in which experienced gardeners characterize the Celeste variety, and also share the secrets of its cultivation:
Reviews of gardeners
Lyudmila Petrovna, 52 years old, Omsk. This season I decided to plant Celeste radish, as it is considered unpretentious in care. They harvested an excellent crop, did not encounter the problem of pests. In general, I was pleased with my choice.
Igor Konstantinovich, 47 years old, Vladivostok. I am just gaining experience, and therefore for my garden I choose simpler varieties of vegetables that do not need careful care. So I came across Celeste - the seller of seeds advised this variety and told how to care for it. It was not possible to harvest to the maximum, but even what we got turned out to be very tasty, and everyone liked it.
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Providing the Celeste variety with proper care, you can get an excellent crop of delicious bright root vegetables - juicy radish will be a good addition to summer soups and vitamin salads, which are so useful for the body.
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