DON'T worry we haven't given up on summer just yet but now is the time to plant winter radishes.

It is a vegetable we associate with summer salads but also a good one for us to plant as we think about what we would like available to us over the winter months, summer and winter types of this vegetable are much the same but the winter grown varieties tend to be a little bigger and also stronger due mostly to the slower growing nature of the vegetable at this time of year.

Winter radishes like a fertile soil therefore advisable to add some organic material before sowing out your radishes.

It is also an idea to add some lime to the soil prior to seeding and work this in well as the fungal disease club root can become an issue in this type of vegetable particularly if the soil is too acidic.

Sow the seeds in a well worked moist soil to a depth of 10mm, sowing in a wet soil that we find ourselves with at the moment will seriously restrict the growth of the seed and might even stop the seed from germinating.

If weather permits loosen the soil with your spade or fork prior to planting.

If you are growing in containers multi purpose compost is fine but again must be moist enough.

It is good to water with rain water if possible to collect but important not to overwater and that is why a nice free draining soil is best.

It is important to weed regularly and avoid the overwatering as remember it's not a nice leafy foliage you are looking for but as it is a root vegetable you want the root to do more of the growing than the leaf therefore keep water and nutrients to a minimum.

When the seedling plants are large enough thin to a distance apart of 100-150 to allow the plants to mature and grow in their own space uninhibited.

Winter radishes will grow slower than summer varieties but should be ready for harvest in 8-10 weeks but important if we enter a cold period to keep the plants lightly covered in some straw to protect from any early frosts.

Winter radishes keep well in the ground as long as you've spaced out well and roots are not touching each other.

Like all vegetables it is important to look out for pest that might be attracted to your radishes, a particular problem can be is the garden slug, treatment with a nematode product is becoming a preferred option.

As radishes are a member of the brassica family cabbage root fly can also be an issue.

If you choose to grow plants under a horticultural fleece this assists in keeping this type of pest away or a home made cardboard collar around the base of the plant attracts the fly to lay its eggs there and not make its home in your vegetables.

In around 8-10 weeks you should have a nice crop for that late summer salad.