About 2 years ago, I had some radishes that went to seed, gave a stunning show of flowers and then grew seed pods which I couldn't resist trying.
They had a wonderful flavour - fresh like a garden pea but with that hint of peppery radish flavour. It was a wonderful flavour - it soon became a regular in our salads. The radish variety was just your common garden breakfast radish.
Now when radishes go to seed I don't worry - there's a wonderful treat to follow - both for the eyes (the beautiful radish flowers) and followed by those delicious pods.
Browsing through my Garden Organic Heritage Seed Library catalogue I've
selected the rat tail radish on several occasions (a radish cultivated especially for their
seed pods not their roots). But they are too damn popular - I always get
my second choice radishes instead.Last summer I was volunteering at the Capital Growth Regent Park Allotment Garden and saw a magnificent specimen growing in their Heritage bed. I asked about it and mentioned I'd never been able to get some seeds. Amy kindly offered for me to help myself to the dried pods to save some seed. And this is the first year I have had the opportunity to grow them.
Things taste sweeter when you've had to wait - and they taste wonderful with that peppery flavour, crisp freshness and a satisfying crunch. Even my chilli addict boyfriend loves them.
They've grown brilliantly in our disappointing summer but they are a brassica after all which love the wet.
If you like radish I think you'll LOVE Rat Tail Radish!
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