I totally remember when I took these photos! At that time, I had a dream of having a home filled with various root vegetables that I grew myself. A few weeks before taking these pictures of my radishes, I celebrated my garden’s first harvest on my birthday by capturing a photo and writing a blog post.
When I first decided to grow my own food, one goal was to have a fresh supply of crunchy radishes for salads and pickling. I hoped to grow as many swollen pungent tasting edible root veggies as I could lol.
Radishes are believed to originate from the eastern Mediterranean region, China, and middle Asia. The reason why China is considered the center of origin is that wild radish still grows there. During ancient times, the Greeks greatly valued radishes that they even created small golden replicas of them. In 1544, a German scientist observed radishes weighing up to 100 lb (45 kg). Radishes were already a common crop in England by 1586 and were one of the first European crops introduced to America by the Spaniards. By 1629, they were already being grown in Massachusetts. (Radish, 30 June 2020)
My first attempt at growing radishes in November 2022 was semi-unsuccessful. Although I grew a few bundles, I mostly ended up eating the abundance of leaves they produced rather than enjoying a ton of crunchy root veggies.
Although my radish roots didn’t grow abundantly, their large fluffy greens were a great lead to what I consistently and successfully grow today.
I will be sharing some of the dishes I made using radishes soon, along with their connection to lily pads and collard greens.
If you are new to my blog, let me introduce myself. I am Dr. Toynessa Epstein. I am a wife, writer, and independent research scholar with a doctorate in education (Ed.D). I have been vegan for over 12 years and have created content as The Plus Size Vegan since. After completing my doctorate, I was diagnosed as neurodivergent and, for the first time, had access to tools to help me ease out of the constant state of burnout I lived in. Since obtaining my doctorate and starting my first post doc study, I have used my relationship with plants, food, creativity, movement, gardening, and research as tools to heal, serve, and create. As a homemaker and a yoga teacher (RYT500), I am remaining a lifelong student, asking questions and managing a small urban homestead that I hope one day feeds more than my family and I.
My latest writing below
Savannah’s Glory: Short Story #1 of 72
Mae’s Orange Retreat: Short Story #13 of 72
Bibliography
“Radish.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 30 June 2020, https://www.britannica.com/plant/radish.