Description of the Red Meat radish variety, cultivation features and yield
Common radish has many varieties. Of these, for a number of features, the Red Meat radish, bred by Japanese breeders, stands out. Since ancient times, the root vegetable has been included in the daily diet as a medicinal and prophylactic agent.
Description of the variety
The Red Meat variety is quite rare in summer cottages and farms. Despite its low prevalence, the fruits are valued for their juicy, dense white flesh and rich taste. In terms of taste, the fruits resemble the Daikon variety and the radish harvest of European origin. Regardless of the method of preparation, the vegetable is practically not bitter and has properties in common with the annual radish.
Red radish is distinguished by large fruits, the weight of which reaches 300 g. Root crops are rounded or cylindrical with a thin dark red skin. There are also hybrids with white skin and pink to red flesh.
The top of the vegetable almost always has a deep green hue.
The root vegetable has a rich composition of vitamins, including beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, thiamine and others. The composition includes macro- and microelements, organic acids and dietary fiber.
Beneficial features
Periodic consumption of the root vegetable helps to have a beneficial effect on the digestive process due to the intake of coarse fibers into the body. Radish improves appetite and accelerates the elimination of toxins and harmful substances. The vegetable serves as a prophylactic against gallstone disease and constipation.
The antibacterial properties of the radish make it suitable for treating intestinal diseases. With radiculitis and gout, compresses made on the basis of radish help, and vegetable juice is rubbed into the skin to combat hair loss. Root tincture is used to remove age spots and freckles. Given the low calorie content of the product, it is recommended to use it during active weight loss. 100 g of radish contains about 35 kcal.
Benefits and contraindications
Despite the abundance of useful characteristics, eating a large amount of root vegetables can lead to undesirable consequences. In particular, it can cause bloating in the intestines or irritation of the stomach lining. Contraindications for the use of red radish include:
- The presence of inflammatory processes in the digestive system, including gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, enterocolitis with increased secretory function.
- Certain diseases of the kidneys, heart, liver, and pancreas.
- Recently suffered a heart attack.
- Individual intolerance and allergy to the product.
Growing and care
The culture does not require special growing conditions and careful care. Root crops can even grow on clay-type soil with shallow planting. But a rich harvest can be obtained only on fertile soil with the use of organic fertilizers. Planting is best done after legumes, winter grains, and early potatoes. You can sow a crop in late spring or summer.
Before planting, you should prepare the soil - dig it up, apply fertilizer (compost or humus) and add slaked lime when the soil is acidic.
After sowing, the land must be shed abundantly and mulched. In the process of ripening seedlings, it is necessary to constantly remove weeds from the beds, ensure stable watering and fertilize the earth with ammonium nitrate, potassium salt and superphosphate. Manure should not be used as fertilizer, as it increases the likelihood of plant disease.
Saplings develop best at temperatures from 15 to 18 degrees. The Red Meat variety is considered cold-resistant and tolerates light frosts. It is important to remember that temperature changes can lead to a reduction in yield.
Pests and diseases
All varieties of radish are cruciferous and pests and diseases inherent in this family are dangerous for the vegetable. The most common disease is blackleg, which can affect both the planted plant and the seeds. In case of a disease, the stem of the plant becomes thinner and a constriction forms on it. The reasons for this are waterlogging, the presence of residues from other plants in the soil and sudden changes in temperature. The way to combat blackleg is to disinfect the soil with a solution of bleach.
In the event of a darkening of the stem and falling leaves, the plant is likely to be damaged by Fusarium. With such a disease, fetal curvature and further death may occur. To avoid crop damage, regular watering is required, especially in hot weather.
In addition to diseases, various pests can spoil the radish harvest. The most common insects are the red-colored flea beetles, cabbage whites and leaf beetles. To eliminate pests, it is necessary to spray the plants with insecticidal agents and fertilize the soil in a timely manner.
Harvesting and storage
The grown plants must be collected before the onset of frost. As a rule, the collection takes place in September. If you want to leave the fruits for storage, you need to carefully dig them out of the ground so as not to damage the thin shell and prevent subsequent rotting.
You can store the crop in a cellar, basement or refrigerator, subject to certain conditions. The suitable storage temperature for Red Meat radish is about 0 degrees, humidity indicator is 85-90%. If the root crops remain indoors for the winter, then groundwater and melted snow should not enter the storage.
Cooking use
Most often, red radish is consumed fresh. The vegetable serves as the basis for preparing various salads. Also, chopped root vegetables are suitable for use in vegetable and meat dishes. Due to the addition of radish, other products are absorbed by the body many times faster, and the dish itself acquires a special taste and spicy aroma.
To make a red radish salad, you can use the simplest recipe. The radish must be thoroughly rinsed, peeled and grated. Add the cabbage, onions and corn, chopped into thin strips. In a separate container, knead the sauce made from butter, cilantro and apple cider vinegar. It is enough to pour the salad with the prepared dressing and stir.
Serving fatty hot dishes, you can make a salad with chicken liver as an addition. It is better to grate the root vegetable or cut into pieces, and boil the liver until soft. You can add onions, oil and spices to the salad to taste.
For lovers of summer sweet salads, a recipe with the addition of grapes is suitable. In addition to it, boiled potatoes and celery can be mixed in combination with a root vegetable.
And summer residents who grow other plants in the beds may be interested in the recipe for salad with peas and radish. The method of its preparation is simple - the root crop must be peeled and grated, then held in cold water for 15–20 minutes to eliminate excessive bitterness. Add onion and green peas cut into rings to the vegetable, add sunflower oil, salt and mix.
During fasting and those on a strict diet, a recipe for a salad with rice is suitable. The dish includes boiled rice itself, red radish, carrots, herbs and an apple. For cooking, you need to finely chop the ingredients and season with a non-nutritive sauce. Boiled eggs can be added to the salad to taste.
Traditional recipes for treatment
The healing properties of the Red Meat radish make it possible to use it for various diseases, including colds and sore throats. In addition, the juice of the root vegetable is able to eliminate bacteria and heal external ulcers and wounds. Phytoncides in the vegetable have a positive effect on the protective properties of the body and increase immunity.
Thanks to a number of vitamins, red radish cleanses the intestines and dissolves small stones in the kidneys and gall bladder. It is a valuable product for stabilizing the digestive system and the human body as a whole. Periodic consumption of the root vegetable improves the absorption of food and removes toxins.
