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Margilan radish received such an unusual name in honor of the ancient capital of the Silk Road, which ran from China, through the countries of Central and Asia Minor to Europe. The root crop that got to the city of Margilan came to taste to the residents of the Fergana Valley, began to be cultivated by local peasants and, together with the production of silk, became part of the local culture and history.
However, Margilan radish has other names. Many people know this culture as Chinese or green radish, while the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom call the vegetable Lobo. Moreover, the existing Chinese version of the turnip tale tells about the ordeal of a peasant who raised Margilan radish and without success pulling it out of the ground.
Lobo root vegetable containing a tiny amount of mustard oil is softer than the pulp of European radish and other varieties of sowing radish.
There is almost no spice in the dishes of Margilan radish. And in terms of density, juiciness and taste, culture occupies an intermediate position between the famous Japanese radish, daikon, and other species of the genus. The radish possessing many names is also diverse in the shape and color of root crops, which can be round and elongated, bright green and almost white, pinkish-purple and almost red like radish, but always with a green head near the tops. Even the flesh inside is either green or white, or pink.
By the way, radish varieties with a greenish surface layer and bright purple or reddish pulp are called watermelon. And today, such Margilan radish is grown by gardeners all over the world and is at the peak of popularity among gourmets.
Chinese or Margilan radish larger than black radish and radish. The average weight of the root can vary from 300 to 1500 grams. And, in spite of the fact that the Chinese guest in Russian kitchen gardens is not too whimsical, quite reasonably such a culture needs care and sufficient attention.
Planting and caring for Margilan radish
Like other types of root crops, lobo are sown directly into the ground. The time when you can plant Margilan radish is chosen depending on the precocity of the selected variety and the climatic characteristics of the region. Most often the seeds fall into the soil in one of two time intervals:
- Spring sowing is carried out from the second half of April to mid-May.
- In summer, Margilan radish can be planted from the first decade of July until September, if the weather permits.
If you sow Lobo in the spring, you can face the massive formation of flower stalks on plants that have not yet formed a root crop. This is due to the increasing duration of daylight and the hot start of summer.
The flowering plants will have to be removed, because they cannot be used for food, and the beds are re-seeding.
Sowing and growing Margilan radish in the second term excludes such an unpleasant opportunity, and since the plant tolerates light frosts quite easily, the roots have time to gain weight and juiciness before the onset of stable cold.
The best temperature for plant development is 18–22 ° C, with the seeds starting to grow at 4–5 ° C.But in hot weather, when the average daily temperature exceeds +25 ° C, and in spring, when the air does not warm up more than +15 ° C, the risk of seeing flower stalks over the bed seriously increases.
Choosing a site for growing Margilan radish
Margilan radish yields good yields on neutral or slightly acidic soils, mostly light, rich in organic matter.
Soil for sowing culture is prepared in advance, compost, mullein or compost is brought not under the radish itself, but under the preceding plant.
This is caused by the fact that, in the presence of fresh manure, nitrogen can accumulate in the soil, lose its taste and quality, crack and be stored worse.
If organic fertilizers are not applied on time, it is better to do with mineral supplements. When digging for each square meter of soil, 20–30 grams of potash fertilizers, superphosphate and ammonium sulphate are applied. It is necessary to dig up the area for Chinese radish deeply, no less than 25-30 cm. If sowing is to be done in lowlands, it is better to raise the beds by 10-15 cm.
The future harvest depends on the quality of the seeds. When it comes time to plant Margilan radish, before sowing, sowing material is sorted out, separating empty, damaged, or undigested seeds. Since Chinese radish is distinguished by large root crops, the grooves are made at a distance of at least 30 cm. Seeds sow two or three pieces at a distance of 15-18 cm from each other.
- Before sowing, the beds are watered, and after soil incorporation, if necessary, watering of Margelan radish is carefully repeated.
- Shoots will appear much faster if you spread a covering material on the plot, which can be removed when the sprouts hatch.
- If soaked seeds were used, germination should be expected in a week, dry seeds sprout a few days longer.
At the stage of two to three leaves, thinning is performed.
It is not recommended to transplant seedlings, but if it is necessary, it is important not to damage the root and transfer the plant only with a clod of earth.
Margilan radish care and growing problems
As the Margilan radish grows, it requires abundant frequent irrigation, especially during the growth of the roots. The culture that remains without moisture in hot weather grows worse, loses its juiciness, and its tastes deteriorate sharply.
- When root crops grow to the size of a 10-ruble coin, they are first fed, introducing 25–30 grams of complex fertilizer per square meter.
- On sandy or other, not too nutritious soils, top dressing is repeated twice, and on rich soils only once.
- Three weeks before the time when the crop needs to be harvested, the application of especially nitrogen fertilizers is stopped.
In addition to irrigation and fertilizing, caring for a Margilan radish planted is not without other measures. Under the rosettes of foliage, all weed plants, as well as all the yellowed leaves that have fallen on the ground, must be removed, which will allow the light to better penetrate deep into the plantations and prevent the appearance of pests and pathogens on the radish. With the same purpose, as well as to reduce the risk of developing flowering, healthy leaves are cut off, blocking access of air and light to the plants in the garden. 
Root heads appearing above the soil level gently spud, preventing the radish from getting dear in the air and subjected to attacks from slugs and other pests.
Among the enemies of the Chinese radish are insects that parasitize on cabbage plants. Therefore, it is better not to grow Margilan radish after radish, all types of cabbage, mustard or turnip, but prophylactically treat the beds with tobacco dust or wormwood infusion.
When to dig up radish?
Although Margilan radish tolerates slight frosts, it is better to clean root vegetables before the onset of cold weather. When to dig lobo radish? At the same time, it is possible to focus on the time of ripening of the crop:
- Early varieties are ready for digging 57–70 days after germination.
- Mid-season and late Chinese radish are harvested after 70–110 days.
Cleaning is carried out in dry weather. If you have to harvest the summer harvest, it is better to pull out the radish in the morning or in the evening, when there is no bright sun.
On loose, light ground, you can pull Margilan radish by holding the tops, not far from the base of the socket. And in order not to damage large radish on chernozem or clay soil, root crops will have to be carefully dug.
Root vegetables, without cuttings and scratches, are stored for storage, and the tops are removed, leaving petioles no longer than 2-3 cm. Under conditions of a cellar or basement, Margilan radish can last until spring. To do this, root vegetables are placed in boxes and poured with sand, after which the containers are placed in a room with a temperature of 0–1 ° C and air humidity of about 85–90%.
