The trial
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- Week 10: Final assessment
- Week 9: Getting ready for judging
- Week 8: Nearing completion
- End of week 6: Roots swelling
- Week 5: Good germination rates
- Week 3: Seed germination
- Week 1: Preparation & seed sowing
The main RHS radish trial was sown on 3 March. Hazel Kennedy (Trials Senior Gardener) is caring for this trial of 33 different radish cultivars.
The objectives of this trial are to assess the range of cultivars for the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) and to demonstrate their cultivation. The Vegetable Trials Sub-Committee will assess the trial in April using the following criteria - earliness : shape : taste : appearance. The average size root of each cultivar will be recorded.
Preparation
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| The plot was cultivated by hand using a three-tined cultivator to break up the ground and bring any weeds, including their roots, to the surface. A landscape rake was used to level the surface before marking out the area. | Initially the bed was marked out using the 3, 4, 5 triangle method (Pythagoras's theorem) to create straight edges for the bed. | The bed measures 17m (56.6ft) long and 9m (30ft) wide. An area made up of two half beds with a central path was marked out using a tape measure and string lines. Sufficient space from the edge of the bed was left to allow for the fleece covering the crop to be dug in and a fence to be erected. |
Sowing
A marking tool was used to measure out seed-sowing drills about 2.5cm (1in) deep and 30cm (12in) apart, making 54 rows (108 half rows split over the two halves of the bed). This spacing allows for three rows of each of the 33 entries in the trial and guard rows at either end of the bed.
Using a marked rule, seed was sown 2.5cm (1 inch) apart in the drills.
Once the seed was sown the soil between the rows was cultivated once more to break up the ground that was trodden on while seed sowing. Then, the back of a landscape rake was used to bring the soil into the drills covering the seeds. The same rake was then used to lightly rake the soil surface leaving a nice finish.
Crop protection
A groove was dug around the outside of the bed to hold the fleece in place. As well as bringing the cropping date forward, the fleece will prevent birds from eating the seedlings and protect against flea beetle.
Once the fleece was rolled out and tucked in a fence was erected around the bed to prevent damage from mammals.
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