It’s draft day! There’s excitement in the air. Hope, desire and future success lay in the balance. But, how will we know who’s best and who’s likely to be left wilting in the green room? It’s time to grade garden produce. This is America after all, we need rankings!
Just like the NFL and NBA drafts, nerds everywhere need to make themselves feel better by poking and prodding at potential draftees to speculate on their worth in this world. I assume MLB and NHL do this as well, but let’s be real, nobody is nerdy enough to care about those.
First under the microscope is the unassuming Radish. Let’s see how they stack up.
Size: Radish is small but scrappy. You’re not picking up a run stuffer here, but Radish’s small stature gives it a quickness unseen in other veggies – 30 days to harvest! If impressive size is your thing, Radish might not ring your bell. But, they have a tendency to flip that perceived negative into a positive across the garden.
Reliability/durability: As consistent as the day is long. High motor gets Radish moving early in the year. We’re talking leaves and underground growth before Bean and Cucumber are even thinking about germination. Sprout like clockwork and persevere through temperature ups and downs. Coaches best friend – low maintenance, orderly rows and spacing, very little after-hours tomfoolery.
Versatility: Perhaps the one real knock on Radish in this year’s draft. What you see is what you get. Now, what you’re seeing is a strong offering – lovely color, a bit of flair with the peppery flavor, a few varietal curveballs (watermelon, daikon) – but, the output is sound fundamentals with a low ceiling (salads). When Radish steps out of their lane, you can see it. Pickled Radishes, while tasty, smell like farts. And roasted Radishes, while interesting, taste gross.
Other ilities: Radish is just a small ball of usability. Can squeeze through the smallest gap making them a great partner in a tandem plant. Easy, natural talent and a born leader in the clubhouse. Always ready to jump off the bench and produce. Perfect plant for young/inexperienced gardeners to lean on for immediate results.
Production: Never in question. Radish travels in packs and churns out deliciousness at any level you desire. Get on the board early with an easy spring score to impress friends and family with your green thumb. Or, throw some in for a last-minute, late-season harvest. Radish rarely seeks the spotlight, but they deliver in bunches.
Grade: B+
Radish is a sneaky, relentless high performer. Tenacious from start to finish with a spicy attitude but the self-control to stay in their row. A dream to manage with little entourage (pests) or night life (disease) issues, Radish will almost certainly come off the board early due to their high floor. Set aside the lower ceiling to see Radish for what it is – a winner in the garden.