Vegetables

Raphanus sativus 'Cherry Belle'

Cherry Belle Radish

Brassicaceae

Cultivar of garden origin (species native to Mediterranean/western Asia)

At a Glance

TypeAnnual
HabitMounding
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 inches (10-20 cm)
Width3-6 inches (8-15 cm)

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

2 - 9
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Container Friendly
Maintenancelow

Overview

Raphanus sativus 'Cherry Belle' is a fast-maturing, round-rooted annual radish in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) reaching 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) tall with a 3–6 inch (8–15 cm) spread. This cultivar produces a bright cherry-red, globe-shaped root 0.75–1 inch (2–2.5 cm) in diameter with smooth, thin skin, crisp white flesh, and a mild, slightly peppery flavor. Leaves are medium green, oblong to spatulate, 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) long, rough-hairy. Maturity is 22–28 days from direct sowing — one of the fastest vegetable crops from seed to harvest. An All-America Selections winner (1949). The rapid maturity makes it the standard beginner and children's gardening crop. Bolts rapidly in heat above 75°F (24°C) and day lengths above 14 hours; roots become pithy and pungent if harvest is delayed beyond 1 inch (2.5 cm) diameter. The All-America Selections designation and 75+ year history make it the most widely grown spring radish cultivar worldwide.

Native Range

The species Raphanus sativus is native to the Mediterranean and western Asia. 'Cherry Belle' was an All-America Selections winner in 1949 and remains the most widely planted spring radish after 75+ years.

Suggested Uses

Planted in vegetable gardens, salad gardens, children's gardens, containers (1+ gallon), and as interplants between slower-maturing crops. Eaten raw in salads, with butter and salt, on sandwiches, or in crudité. The 22–28 day maturity is the fastest in this collection and a standard introduction to vegetable gardening for children and beginners. The open-pollinated habit makes it a seed-saving teaching cultivar.

How to Identify

Distinguished from 'French Breakfast' by the globe shape (versus elongated cylindrical), the uniform cherry-red color (versus red with white tip), and the smaller diameter at maturity (0.75–1 inch versus 1–1.5 inches). Distinguished from 'Daikon' (R. sativus var. longipinnatus) by the small round red root (versus large elongated white root) and the much faster maturity (22–28 days versus 50–70 days).

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 8"
Width/Spread3" - 6"

Colors

Flower Colors

white
pink

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Spring
Bolts in response to heat and long days. Flowers are four-petaled (typical Brassicaceae cruciform), white to pale pink. Fruit is a spongy silique (seed pod) 1–3 inches (2.5–8 cm) long containing several seeds. Open-pollinated; crosses with other Raphanus sativus cultivars. For seed saving, isolation of 0.5 mile (0.8 km) is recommended.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White to pale pink (if bolting)

Foliage Description

Medium green, oblong to spatulate, rough-hairy, with irregularly toothed margins

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamsandsilt
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Direct sow seeds 0.5 inch (1 cm) deep, 3–5 weeks before the last frost, spacing 2 inches (5 cm) apart in rows 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Successive sowings every 7–10 days extend the harvest through spring. Pause in summer; resume in September for fall harvest. Consistent moisture prevents pithy, cracked roots. Harvest at 0.75–1 inch (2–2.5 cm) diameter, 22–28 days after sowing. Do not delay harvest — roots become pithy, hollow, and pungent within days of reaching maturity. The rapid cycle makes 'Cherry Belle' a standard interplanting and succession crop. Container culture in 1+ gallon pots is feasible.

Pruning

No pruning applicable. Harvest entire plants by pulling. Thinnings at 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall are edible as microgreens.

Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 1 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic

Planting Guide

Planting Methods & Timing

Planting Method

direct sow

Direct Sow Timing

3-5 weeks before last frost; successive sowings every 7-10 days through spring; resume in early fall

Days to Maturity

22–28 days

Plant Spacing

2 inches

Companion Planting

Good Companions

lettuce
spinach
pea
carrot

Avoid Planting With

hyssop
other brassicas in close succession