Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus
Tapper
Tapper daikon radish is commonly grown as a cover crop, for grazing, or in wildlife food plot mixtures. It is a cool-season annual with an extra-long taproot noted for breaking up compacted soils and scavenging for nutrients. Its quick growth is great for short growing seasons and provides a good ground cover that smothers weeds in a very short timeframe. Its leafy top-growth provides forage, and deer and livestock will dig up the long, flavorful tap roots. Livestock producers should be aware that other forages may need to be provided for a complete nutritional program when grazing radishes. Daikon oil seed radish should constitute no more than two-thirds of the livestock diet. It is best to plant radish with oats, annual rye, sorghum Sudan grass, or other types of forages to help provide enough dry matter for grazing.
Key features
- Cool-season annual
- Quick-growing
- Breaks up compacted soils
- Pulls nutrients from deep in soil
- Excellent ground cover