Radish Daikon

[SarahJane]

I have been trying to find seeds to grow the big beer radishes you get in Germany.
I have found a variety of white radish "radish daikon mooli minowase" and have decided to give it a go....

Has anyone grown this, and if so, was it a success?

Still, if it doesnt grow well and is not the same as the german beer radish ( commonly served with a dash of salt and a stein of beer!) I will have to do what I usually do.... stash a few fresh ones in my suitcase every time I fly back to the UK!! Unfortunately last time I was charged 35 euros as my case was too heavy! So it would be much simpler to grow them!

[ina]

I can assure you that the name is NOT German...

[SarahJane]

I can assure you that the name is NOT German...

No , its not german but it was the only variety that remotely resembled what I am trying to find.

I should have looked in the shops when I was over there last week for some seeds, but forgot and sadly they dont have great garden centres and nurserys like we do over here.

I shall have a go at growing these and continue my quest......

[maggienetball]

Try ebay for seeds (german version). You probably only need to know the german word for radish and there will be a photo of it on the seller's site.

[Mainer in Exile]

The German word for the big beer radishes is "Rettich", if that is any help.

[ina]

I have seen the seeds here, though - try Lidls or Aldi!

[adekun]

Everybody grows daikon here. I don't as I can't stand the smell. Pleased I don't have to experience it mixed with a few steins. Still, the MIL doesn't drink. I do know they are really easy to grow. It's worthwhile digging deep when preparing the ground.
Can't imagine they are that different to what's grown in Germany? Perhaps you can pick some up in an Asian supermarket and compare.

[SarahJane]

The German word for the big beer radishes is "Rettich", if that is any help.

I have just recieved some seeds in the post from Germany, I have some which are Mairube.
Would you mind translatiing for me as my german is terrible!

[Mainer in Exile]

A Mairube is a turnip.

[SarahJane]

Thanks for that! I thought that it was (due to the pic on the front of the packet, but needed to be certain!!)

[wyverne]

I grow daikons (japaese radish), and even in my adobe soil with variable water quality (from the murray) they are gutsy little performers, and taste great. Eaten raw, they're milder than radishes, and are superb cooked like turnips. Their flavour is between the two but without the strong aftertaste of turnips. They're quick growing and don't need the enormous amounts of water or the very active, very rich soil that a lot of rapidly growing oriental vegetables need. They deeply penetrate even relatively hard-packed soil, allowing deeper penetration of moisture and so better drainage and aeration, leaving it improved for later crops. they're a companion for carrots, helping their germination and early growth and benefitting from the protection carrots give against some pests of brassicas and rellies.
Hope this helps
wyverne

[JustinFun]

I have been trying to find seeds to grow the big beer radishes you get in Germany.
I have found a variety of white radish "radish daikon mooli minowase" and have decided to give it a go....

Has anyone grown this, and if so, was it a success?

I grew Daikon last year as my wife and I are Japanese food fanatics - lots of fun to grow as they get huge really quickly (at least a foot long), and great in stir fries or soups. Only trouble was the slugs were also fond of the roots, so we had a lot of cutting out of slug tunnels from the roots.

On a Japanese food front, we were very frustrated to see on Gardeners World (UK) this week, a brief mention of sowing soy beans, with no follow up of how they were going to grow them, etc. I would *love* to grow our own edememe, but have never seen seeds for sale anywhere.

Does anyone have any experience of growing soy/edememe? I thought the climate of Japan was not that dissimilar to our own, so should they grow alright if you can find seeds?

[adekun]

My bean/pea growing didn't work. The edamame turned out to be endoumame and didn't turn out at all. Neighbour grumbled about his being poor too and the weather. I will try again this year.

[JustinFun]

I would *love* to grow our own edememe, but have never seen seeds for sale anywhere.

Nevermind - should have googled before posting:
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_no ... php?id=101

I am now extremely excited - just have to find room for even more beans in our allotment!
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[adekun]

When dried they are called daizu. I love the flour kinako too.