Seed Spotlight: Radish, The Race Winner

I ain’t the only one who tells stories about the plants–I come by it naturally. 

I’m thinkin’ ‘bout a day I was in a field with Mama and Papa. Must’ve been about six–too young for plowin’ or waterin’, but I got to help with the seeds. We were plantin’ a field o’ radishes. The day was cold, but warmer than it’d been lately–even at that young age I knew the hot season’d be here ‘fore I could grow outta my new coat.

“Papa,” I asked, “ain’t it too late for radishes?” Papa was always talkin’ ‘bout how ya’ have to plant seeds in the right season–too late or too early, they won’t grow right. We had already planted all our other cold-season crops.

“Too late for radishes?” Papa laughed. “My dear girl, it’s almost too early for ‘em. Why, radishes are the quickest vegetable we got ‘round here. Didn’t I ever tell ya’ about the radish that won the race?”

“Wait!” Mama chuckled, jumpin’ up from the ground. “I imagine I’ll want to write this down.” 

She came back with her trusty notebook, half-full o’ empty pages, and an ash pencil. Papa started his story.

“Many, many years ago, the vegetables decided to have a race. They wanted to find out which was the fastest of them all, and they promised a whole field of loose, black soil to the winner.

“So, they spread the word far and wide, invitin’ everyone to come. Didn’t matter what kind you were–corn, carrot, rutabaga. If you were a vegetable, you were invited. And they streamed in from all parts of the world–every vegetable you can imagine!

“One of these was Radish. He was a very small boy who wanted to be big. He lived in a spot of poor, dry, yellow sand that was hard to grow in. He thought that if he could win that field of loose, black soil, it might help him grow quicker.

“So, early one mornin’, he slipped away and joined the crowd of vegetables hurryin’ to the racin’ grounds–the thought of winnin’ that field of loose, black soil drivin’ him on.

“When the time was right, he took his place at the startin’ line between Potato and Asparagus. He held his breath waitin’ for the judge to shout, “Go!” Then he was off like someone’d shot him from a bow.

“Well, he ran as fast as his little roots could take him. And while he was running, something strange happened. Instead of gettin’ tired, like you do in a race, he got stronger. His main root got longer, then started fillin’ out. He found that as he ran farther and farther, he got faster and faster.

“Days and nights passed–for, you see, when vegetables race, it takes them many days to get to the finish line. With each day and each night, Radish pulled ahead of the competition. Still he ran–farther and faster, getting bigger and stronger all the time, always lookin’ ahead to that field of loose, dark soil that would help him grow up quicker.

“At last, after about thirty days, he saw the finish line. He ran faster and faster still, racing across it long before any of the other vegetables. The spectators at the finish line cheered. Young Radish had proven he was the fastest of them all!

"But young Radish also found that he was young no longer. During the course of the race, he had grown up. He now had no need for the field of loose, black soil he’d won because he was harvest-age. And he found that, now he was grown, he wished it hadn’t happened so fast.

“He gave the plot of loose, black soil to his favorite young farm girl, making her promise to plant new radishes there next season. And he whispered in her ear words of advice to give them as they started growing: ‘Chase the prize, but never forget to enjoy the race.’”

From Sarah: Now through February 23th, 2025, get a free packet of White Icicle Radish seeds with any order! Click on the button below to head over to the Shop page.

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