Radish

The Radish. A common household ingredient, used in a variety of dishes worldwide.

Scientifically given the name Raphanus raphanistrum, this vegetable originated from the family Brassicacae, domesticated in Asia prior to Roman times. Radishes are grown and consumed throughout the world, and we enjoy eating them raw in salad vegetables. 

There are many different kinds of radishes, with differences from size, flavour, color, to length of time taken to mature. For those of you that are interested in Chemistry, radishes have a sharp flavour due to many chemical compounds produced by the plants such as glucosinolate, myrosinase, and isothiocyanate. 

Occasionally, you can find radishes being grown as companion plants, though they are known to suffer a few pests and diseases. The process of germination can take anywhere from a month up to several months. They are quick and easy to grow, and anyone can plant them! Take a look at this website to find out how you can grow them all on your own. Simply put, the steps are to sow the seeds, keep them in the sun, have a three year crop rotation, plant them every two weeks, and to consistently water them. 

Besides being a great source of nutrition to incorporate into your daily meals, radishes are also used as a cover or catch crop in winter, or a forage crop. Radishes are a great snack for all you healthy people, for one cup of sliced radishes only contains 19 calories. Radishes are related to wasabi, an essential paste for Japanese cuisine. California and Florida boast the biggest crops in the United States.

Radishes are also rich in antioxidants and minerals such as calcium and potassium - they help to lower high blood pressure and thus reduce risks for heart disease. Radishes are also known to help improve blood flow. Furthermore, radishes have been used as a folk remedy for centuries. They are used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat many conditions such as fevers, sore throats, bile disorders, and inflammation.

In conclusion, not only are radishes convenient and easy to grow, they are also extremely useful to us and can benefit us in many ways.