Two fields within 6 miles of my house have cover crop planted on them. They were wheat fields (bearded wheat - so pretty) and then afterwards, Daikon radish was planted as cover crop. Cover crop is planted to both conserve the dirt and to bring up nutrients from deep below the hardpan line. When we plow, we run the risk of making a 'line' that is never broken. Any dirt below that is hard and nearly impenetrable from years of X" deep of plowing. Cover crops can alleviate this.
Wheat gets harvested around the Fourth of July, so it was some time after that the radishes were planted - perhaps in August when the seeds were broadcast. They don't look like they're in rows and since radish seed is fairly small, it was most likely broadcast - strewn at a rate predetermined by some kind of machine or by hand. Anyway. I've got to contact the farmer as I took 5 radishes to eat. I'm sure he/she won't mind but I would like to trade them some soap or something. I make it a point to never take something without asking. In this case, I made an exception (because I was so excited to see an entire field of radishes) but will give something in trade. Below is one of the five radishes I harvested. Imagine 25 ACRES of Daikon radishes! Wow. Just wow. Truck farms (those farms growing tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage or other vegetables for sale) aren't really around here but more up north near Lake Michigan. However, 6 miles to the north of me was a 30+ acre field of tomatoes and peppers. I never got the change to introduce myself to them but plan to next year. Perhaps I'll take them a jar of preserved green tomatoes.
These radishes I plan to shred and try to preserve ala Kimchee. Or something... I found a website that says you can chunk and roast these like other root vegetables.
I guesstimated 25 acres but it could be more like 40 total. THAT is a lot of radishes! Eventually the frost and cold will kill them out, they'll return to the soil and enrich it for next year's crop - most likely soybeans or field corn.
Wheat gets harvested around the Fourth of July, so it was some time after that the radishes were planted - perhaps in August when the seeds were broadcast. They don't look like they're in rows and since radish seed is fairly small, it was most likely broadcast - strewn at a rate predetermined by some kind of machine or by hand. Anyway. I've got to contact the farmer as I took 5 radishes to eat. I'm sure he/she won't mind but I would like to trade them some soap or something. I make it a point to never take something without asking. In this case, I made an exception (because I was so excited to see an entire field of radishes) but will give something in trade. Below is one of the five radishes I harvested. Imagine 25 ACRES of Daikon radishes! Wow. Just wow. Truck farms (those farms growing tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage or other vegetables for sale) aren't really around here but more up north near Lake Michigan. However, 6 miles to the north of me was a 30+ acre field of tomatoes and peppers. I never got the change to introduce myself to them but plan to next year. Perhaps I'll take them a jar of preserved green tomatoes.
These radishes I plan to shred and try to preserve ala Kimchee. Or something... I found a website that says you can chunk and roast these like other root vegetables.
I guesstimated 25 acres but it could be more like 40 total. THAT is a lot of radishes! Eventually the frost and cold will kill them out, they'll return to the soil and enrich it for next year's crop - most likely soybeans or field corn.
Beautiful Daikon radish. Stir fry, shredded and salted, roasted, I'm going to experiment with different dishes with these. My friend told me of a radish quiche/tart that sounded quite interesting.
Things that fascinate me... We, here in NorthWest Indiana are in zone 5b or so... Wonderful to see these kinds of things...
Things that fascinate me... We, here in NorthWest Indiana are in zone 5b or so... Wonderful to see these kinds of things...
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