Growing mooli is quite simple – the most important part is to sow it the right time of the year. Mooli’s are best sow in July or August time as they have less chance of going to seed. Mooli’s are part of the radish family.

Soil

Dig the soil over and add some peat or compost and also some well rotted manure.

When growing mooli you do need a sunny spot for them. Sow the seeds 2cm deep and about 10 or 15cm apart.

If you sow mooli’s early they have a tendency to bolt before they have produced and root. By sowning around July or August these tend to bolt less.

Pest and Disease

Flea beetle – these can make many small holes in leaves.

Slugs – can eat the crop.

Harvesting

You can start picking mooli’s when they are around 15cm long – though they can grow longer without affecting their taste or them becoming woody.

The root is long and tapered so you need to put a garden fork close to the root to help lever it out of the soil.

The winter variety of radishes such as black Spanish long or China rose can be left in the soil and lifted as required, though you do need to cover the crowns with straw. Many gardeners do lift these by November and then you can keep them like carrots.