These fast-growing brassicas produce massive, deep-penetrating taproots and abundant leafy top growth. Farmers plant them late in the season to provide high-protein winter grazing for cattle or sheep. When left in the ground, the thick roots break up heavy hardpan soils and scavenge deep nutrients, which are released back into the topsoil when the plant winter-kills and rots.
Heard on the job
We're flying fodder radish seed onto the corn stubble next week to give the stocker cattle something to graze through December.
Also heard as
- tillage radish
- forage radish