I have had my first disappointing harvest of the year: the radish ‘Red Flesh’ which I had planted in one of my raised beds seem to be bolting rather than forming decent roots. I have enough to create a small relish but they are not a patch on the other variety I have been growing, ‘Sicily Giant’.

It is possible that they have been overcrowded or too sheltered or have not liked the soil. The other variety has cropped from the same bed but, if it is faster growing, perhaps it has out-competed its neighbour. I have some more ‘Red Flesh’ growing in another location and I hope that will prove more successful. Still, a few failures along the way are part of enjoying the successes when they come and, if I do get this variety working elsewhere, it will taste sweeter still for having gained greater understanding of it.