The black radish (''Raphanus sativus'' L. var. ''niger'' J. Kern) is a root vegetable of the family

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous plants, while some are shrubs. The leav ...

and is a variety of winter

radish The radish (''Raphanus raphanistrum'' subsp. ''sativus'') is an edible root vegetable of the family Brassicaceae that was domesticated in Asia prior to Roman times. Radishes are grown and consumed throughout the world, being mostly eaten raw ...

. It is also called Black Spanish radish or Erfurter radish. The edible root has a tough black skin and white flesh. There are round and elongated varieties. Like other radishes, black radish has a sharp flavor due to various chemical compounds that the plant primarily uses as pest defense. Some of these phytochemicals are produced in high concentrations.

History

The

domestication Domestication is a sustained multi-generational relationship in which humans assume a significant degree of control over the reproduction and care of another group of organisms to secure a more predictable supply of resources from that group. ...

and early history of radishes is not completely solved. Black radish likely originated from ''Raphanus maritimus'' while spring radish varieties originated from ''Raphanus landra.'' Cultivation can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, where illustrations in tombs show extensive use of a long variety of radish. The region of today's Syria is likely the geographical origin of black radish. It was first mentioned in Europe in 1548. At that time, it was one of the most common radish varieties. It lost its importance with the introduction of new radish-varieties but was still widely cultivated until the early 20th century. In the second half of the 20th century it had to give way to spring radish varieties and got "forgotten" in European cuisine. It is now considered an “old variety” and enjoys renewed popularity as health-food through mentions in lifestyle and food blogs and magazines.

Description

Black radish is an

annual Annual may refer to: *Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year ** Yearbook ** Literary annual *Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), ...

plant whose

root In vascular plants, the roots are the organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often below the su ...

is encased in a black or dull brown skin and with a white flesh. Generally, black radish is bigger than spring radish varieties and grows around seven to ten centimeters in diameter or length. The plants can grow up to a height of . Depending on the variety, the radishes are round, cylindrical or elongated.

Cultivation

Black radish takes 35 days to 55 days or longer to mature. It can be sown in mid summer to autumn, depending on the climate and be harvested in autumn or winter. Too high temperatures during growth should be avoided because the radishes get woody and spongy at such a climate. Sowing can happen directly in the field or indoors and the plants can later be transferred to the field. The plants should be spaced to each other or even more, if bigger radishes are desired. The

seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...

s should be sown in a depth of . Black radish requires a well-drained, loamy, soil with a pH of 5.9 to 6.8. The plants should get around six to eight hours of sun. Harvest should take place once the top portion is poking above the soil. Known pests are cabbage root maggots,

cutworm Cutworms are moth larvae that hide under litter or soil during the day, coming out in the dark to feed on plants. A larva typically attacks the first part of the plant it encounters, namely the stem, often of a seedling, and consequently cuts it ...

s and

flea beetle The flea beetle is a small, jumping beetle of the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae), that makes up the tribe Alticini which is part of the subfamily Galerucinae. Historically the flea beetles were classified as their own subfamily. Though mo ...

s. For storage the mature plants can be kept in the ground if temperatures are low. The radish can also be kept for months in a root cellar or be stored in the fridge for up to three weeks at .

Food

Black radish can be eaten raw as salad or cooked in soups or stews. As long as the black skin seems fresh and does not smell

mold A mold () or mould () is one of the structures certain fungi can form. The dust-like, colored appearance of molds is due to the formation of spores containing fungal secondary metabolites. The spores are the dispersal units of the fungi. Not ...

y, it can be consumed as well. The strong taste of the root can be reduced by adding salt to the raw root.

Medicine

In folk medicine black radish juice has many different uses. It has been used since antiquity for its purported stimulation of bile function. Black radish has been used for many centuries in some regions of Asia, Africa, and Mexico. Black radish juice contains glucosinolates. Glucoraphasatin and glucorapanin are the most abundant. Consequently, black radish has been studied for its potential use in the prevention of cholesterol gallstones.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q159587 Radishes Food plant cultivars