Late August means late-summer plantings of some crops that I can quickly turn around from seed to harvest. One of those quick-turn crops is radish and in particular, a radish called Roxanne.

What a name for a radish, right?

Roxanne happens to be one of the first two National Winners of the 2015 All-America Selections Vegetable Award. It’s a hybrid radish with sleek and beautiful smooth red skin and creamy white flesh, just as a classic radish should have. The bright-red ball grows to a diameter of about 1.5 inches, so spacing seeds about that distance in the garden is a good idea.

Roxanne promises to be a tasty radish, too, even as it overstays its welcome in the garden and grows larger than its recommended size. Roxanne will stay firm even during a prolonged stay in the garden.

Planting and Harvesting Roxanne Radishes

Roxanne grows well in a range of environments. In mild climates it can be planted at intervals throughout fall and winter. In cold climates it may do well into winter, especially with a protective covering of mulch.

The crop is ready from seed to tasty radish in 27 days.

How All-American Selections Are Made

All AAS candidates are trialed in gardens throughout the country and by folks who know what makes a terrific variety.

The wide distribution of gardens is important in determining how well it grows where, and if that particular variety is worthy of National Winner status. Vegetables undergo an extensive trialing process lasting at least two growing seasons side-by-side with similar varieties already on the market. Judges evaluate the candidates and compare them to existing varieties based on growth habit, taste, disease resistance and other characteristics. In short, Roxanne is an assured winner.

(Thanks to AAS for providing the photo!)