The first seeds you can plant in your garden in the Spring are radish seeds.
Using this simple test, you can determine the quality of your soil before you use it for growing other plants. Radish seeds are the recommended seed to test your soil quality for several reasons. First, radishes are super fast to germinate (you will have your test results in little time). Second, radish seeds are sown directly into the soil early enough in the garden season that you will still have enough time to grow other plants once you have tested your soil with radishes. Third, they are a cheap and effective way to test the health of your soil.
Both the color of the leaves and health of the root help determine your soil quality. If the sprout comes up yellow, it is an indication that your soil is nitrogen deficient and you will need to add a layer of composted animal manure as fertilizer. If your radishes fail to produce a vegetable root but they still have a healthy top it is a clear sign your soil lacks potassium and phosphorus. You can amend your soil by adding wood ash (for potassium) or bone meal (for phosphorus).
If the sprout is green and your radish root is red, your soil is healthy and you are ready to plant in your Radishes are rich in ascorbic acid, folic acid, and potassium. They are a good source of vitamin B6, riboflavin, magnesium, copper, and calcium.
Happy gardening!
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