Champion radish freshly pulled in a sunny garden

How to Grow Champion Radishes From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Champion is a large, round radish with bright-red skin and crisp, mild white flesh. It grows a little bigger than most salad radishes yet stays tender and mild well past the point where others turn hot, making it forgiving for beginners. An All-America Selections winner, Champion matures in about 25 to 28 days from a spring or fall sowing. Its dependable size and sweet, crunchy bite make it a garden favorite.

This is the quick guide to Champion. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting radishes, see our complete guide to growing radishes from seed.

Quick start

Direct-sow Champion seeds about half an inch deep and one inch apart in cool spring or fall soil. Thin the seedlings to about 2 inches apart so the large round roots have room. Keep the soil evenly moist and growing fast for mild, crisp flesh. Harvest in about 25 to 28 days once the roots reach an inch or more across.

Best tip

Champion is one of the most forgiving radishes because it stays mild and crisp even when it sizes up larger than a typical salad radish. Sow it in cool spring and fall weather and keep the soil evenly moist so it never stalls. In hot-summer regions like the South, grow it as a spring and fall crop and skip midsummer sowings, since heat turns even Champion hot and pushes it to bolt.

At a glance

Botanical nameRaphanus sativus

Plant typeCool-season root vegetable (annual)

USDA zones2 to 11 (grown as a cool-season annual)

SunFull sun to part shade (6+ hours)

Days to maturity25 to 28 days

Height8 to 10 inches (tops)

Spacing1 inch, then thin to 2 to 6 inches apart

WaterEven and consistent; keep soil evenly moist

Uses

Champion is a versatile salad radish with a mild, sweet crunch. Slice it raw into green salads, grain bowls, and slaws, or serve whole radishes with butter and flaky salt in the classic French style. Its larger size makes it satisfying for fresh snacking, and it adds crisp bite to tacos and sandwiches. Quick-pickle extras to keep that peppery crunch on hand for weeks.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Champion radish take to grow?

Champion is a fast spring radish, ready to pull in about 25 to 28 days from sowing. Sow in the cool weather of spring and fall for the best flavor.

What does a Champion radish look like and taste like?

Champion produces large, round, bright-red roots up to about 1.5 inches across with crisp white flesh. The flavor is mild and sweet, staying tender longer than most radishes before turning hot.

What is Champion radish best used for?

It is a classic salad radish: slice it raw into salads, serve it whole with butter and salt, or add crunch to tacos and sandwiches. Its larger size makes it great for snacking.

Any tips for growing Champion radish?

Sow every two weeks in cool weather and keep the soil evenly moist so the roots stay mild and crisp. Thin seedlings to about 2 inches apart, and pick promptly once they size up so they never turn woody.

Ready to grow your own? Champion seeds give you large, mild, crisp red radishes in under a month. For the full step-by-step, see our complete radish growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Sale

Champion Radish Seeds – Non-GMO HeirloomHeirloom, non-GMOHeirloom Champion radish — big, mild scarlet globes ready in about 25 days.

Price$4.99Starting at$3.99

View product

Want more radishes? These value packs pair Champion with other varieties:

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.