Radishes are a fast-growing, annual, cool-season crop. They are grown for their swollen tap-roots which can be globular, tapering or cylindrical. Both root and leafy tops can be eaten and are normally eaten raw in salads.

Radishes can be useful as companion plants for many other crops. This is probably because their pungent odour deters such insect pests as aphids, cucumber beetles, tomato hornworms, squash bugs and ants.

Radishes are rich in ascorbic acid, folic acid, potassium, vitamin B6, riboflavin, magnesium, copper, and calcium.