A Valentine Radish

Beauty Heart Radish

It seemed only appropriate to serve Beauty Heart radish at our Valentine’s dinner.

We were introduced to the beautiful pinky red radishes when we were living in Beijing where it is very popular. Members of my Women of China work unit brought some pickled Xin Li Mei radish to a picnic outing. They called it Beauty Heart which I much prefer to Red Meat, as it is sometimes called in seed catalogs. It is also called Watermelon radish for its ‘large’ size, green skin and red interior.

I have not been successful in growing Beauty Heart radish. I think my growing season is too short and cool. My book, Oriental Vegetables: The Complete Guide for Garden and Kitchen by Joy Larkcom, says that it needs several months of warm weather, beginning when temperatures are reliably above 60 degrees. They are ready for harvest in about 80 days. She makes the point that growing them in an unheated hoop house provides ideal conditions. That explains why the Beauty Hearts I bought at Winterfare from Red Fire Farm are so beautiful and delicious. And why the ones I have tried to grow are such failures.

I originally thought these radishes were really turnips because of the size. I was wrong. I also thought the roses carved of vegetables on banquet tables were dyed turnips, but no, the petals are carved from Beauty Heart radishes, and as good to eat as they are a pretty decoration.

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Tags: Vegetables, Winterfare

Beijing, Chinese Plants, In the Kitchen and At the Table, Vegetables | Pat February 15, 2010

7 Comments

By Helene J. Powers, February 15, 2010 @ 12:22 pm

Pat, It was great to take your sprouts workshop at the Winterfare, and then to see this post! Also love the changes you’ve made to the blog. I always have found it striking, re: both visual and written content, and these updates just make it more so. Congratulations!
By Lisa at Greenbow, February 15, 2010 @ 3:15 pm

What a beautiful veggie. I thought it was a watermelon before I read the narrative.
By Jen, February 15, 2010 @ 5:35 pm

I thought the same thing when I got them thru my CSA last year (that they were turnips!) I ordered a seed called “Red Meat Radish” that I’m hoping will produce a similar thing. Unfortunte name for a vegetable though, right?
By Tinky, February 15, 2010 @ 7:39 pm

Gorgeous, interesting, and fun…….
By Rose, February 16, 2010 @ 9:42 am

I’ve never seen a radish like this before–I, too, thought it was a watermelon at first. Does it taste like a radish?

I just saw your post on your friend Elsa. My sympathies on her passing. I remember reading an earlier post about what a remarkable woman she was. Her gardening wisdom and teaching will surely be missed.
By Pat, February 17, 2010 @ 1:20 pm

Rose – I am back on line and can comment myself. Yes, Beauty Heart does taste radish-y. Very good. Elsa is certainly going to be missed. She inspired and encouraged so many gardeners with great wit.
By Christine, April 21, 2010 @ 9:29 am

Sorry for the late post, but wanted to say thanks for the growing advice! I just bought some seeds and was going to save them for cooler weather (in Oakland, that means Nov/Dec), but I think I’ll start some now. So tasty!