About this product
Full description
The quiet classic. China Rose is a Chinese radish introduced to European gardens in the nineteenth century and grown by Victorian head gardeners for its long white root with rose-pink skin. It has found a second life as one of the finest microgreens for elegant plating.
Where Rambo is dramatic, this is refined. The stems come blush-pink rather than deep purple, growing long and upright below vivid green leaves, and the pepper is gentler and more considered. Both are radishes, both are peppery — but they do different jobs on a plate, and serious kitchens keep both.
White root hairs are normal, not mould. Fine white hairs appear around the roots in the first few days and worry a lot of first-time growers. True mould is fuzzy, grey-green and smells wrong; root hairs are fine, white and attached directly to the roots. Mist gently rather than rinsing them away.
Care and use
- Fill shallow tray (5-7cm deep) with moist seed compost or vermiculite
- Damp not soggy - well-drained essential
- Scatter seeds thickly across surface in single dense layer
- Do NOT pre-soak - direct sowing correct for this variety
- Press gently into contact with compost
DARKNESS PHASE (Days 1-3):
- Cover with second tray or cardboard to exclude light
- Keep at 18-22°C
- Do not water unless surface drying
- Darkness triggers stem elongation
LIGHT PHASE (Day 3-4):
- Uncover when shoots are 2-3cm tall
- Move to bright windowsill immediately
- Pink colour develops within 24 hours
- Mist twice daily with spray bottle
GROWING (Days 4-10):
- Continue misting twice daily
- Watch pink deepen from pale rose to fuller blush
- Vivid green leaves develop rapidly
HARVEST (Day 7-10):
- Harvest when shoots are 6-8cm tall
- Seed leaves should be fully open and green
- Cut with sharp scissors just above soil line
- Rinse briefly, dry gently, use fresh
- NO SECOND HARVEST - discard compost after cutting
IMPORTANT - WHITE ROOT HAIRS:
- Tiny white hairs often appear on/around roots in early days
- These are ROOT HAIRS - natural feature of healthy germination
- Not mould - do not discard batch based on their appearance
- True mould: fuzzy, grey/green, off smell
- Root hairs: fine, white, always attached to developing roots
- If in doubt, mist gently rather than rinsing
BETWEEN BATCHES:
- Sow new tray every 7-10 days for continuous supply
- Fresh compost or vermiculite for each new sowing
HYGIENE:
- Rinse trays thoroughly between batches
- Standing water causes rot - ensure trays drain freely
- Discard only if actual mould (fuzzy/grey/off-smelling) develops
STORAGE OF HARVESTED SHOOTS:
- Best used within hours for freshest colour and flavour
- If storing, wrap in slightly damp kitchen paper
- Keep in lidded container in fridge
- Use within 2-3 days for best condition
- Up to 5 days with some quality loss