MERCADO

The Mercado radish is an early-maturing vegetable that boasts high yield and superior taste qualities. This variety is popular among domestic gardeners due to its ability to be grown from early spring to late autumn in both open ground and film-covered greenhouses. Mercado radish is characterized by its resistance to wilting and premature flowering, as well as its lack of fastidiousness regarding growing conditions, making it a reliable choice for various climatic zones. It possesses a strong immunity, resistance to short-term frost, and shade tolerance, allowing it to be grown even with dense planting.

The root crops of this variety have an oval or oval-flat shape, reaching a length of 4-5 cm and a mass of 20 to 30 grams. Their intense red color and dense, juicy white flesh without bitterness make Mercado radish particularly attractive to consumers. The taste of the root crops is slightly sweet and spicy with a spicy note, allowing them to be used primarily for fresh consumption. The plant leaves are semi-erect, inverted egg-shaped with a yellowish-green coloration and an anthocyan tint on the petioles.

The maturation period of Mercado radish ranges from 23 to 30 days from germination to technical maturity, with simultaneous maturation. Sowing is recommended from March to August depending on growing conditions: in greenhouses from late March to early April, under film in mid-April, and in open ground from May and in August. The optimal planting scheme is 3x15 cm on loose, water-permeable loam and sandy loam soils with southern exposure. The yield of the variety varies from 2.5 to 4.2 kg per square meter, confirming its status as one of the most productive radish varieties.