We eat the red roots of radishes. We eat the greens. And we also eat the green seed pods.
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| A trough of radishes in flower. The red stalk through the middle is a beet plant going to seed, to collect seeds for next year's beets. |
When radish plants are about to go to seed, they develop these small and pretty, pale pink flowers. From each flower, a seed pod will grow. When the seed pods are still green (so the seeds inside are still soft), they are edible to eat fresh or added to soups or stir fries, tasting like mild radishes. The pods are best when still young and tender.
I've let this trough of radishes go to seed just for the pods. I don't need this planting space for another 2 or 3 weeks, so the timing is great. Over the next two weeks, I'll be harvesting all of the seed pods and use them, fresh in salads and slaws as well as cooked. They're also good for pickling in a garlic brine. I may pickle a jarful if I have enough at any one time.
Radish seed pods -- making our meals interesting.
