Hybrid

KN-Bravo

Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus

Wikimedia Commons

KN-Bravo's internal color ranges from pale purple to white with purple streaks. Lends beautiful color to kimchi or fresh salads. Roots average 4-6" x 2 1/2-3" with good, sweet eating quality. Suitable for spring and summer sowings. NOTE: This variety contains 5-10% white-rooted off types.

Harvest

49d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for KN-Bravo in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 root-vegetable →

Zone Map

Click a state to update dates

KN-Bravo · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing2-3 inches

SoilWell-draining, loose loam; friable texture essential for straight root development

WaterRegular; 1-1.5 inches per week, consistent moisture essential

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorSweet, crisp, mild radish flavor with tender texture and minimal pungency; pleasant crunch in fresh preparations

ColorPale purple to white with purple streaks (interior); dark green foliage (greens)

Size4-6"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	July – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	July – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	June – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	June – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	May – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	May – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	April – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	March – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	March – December

Succession Planting

KN-Bravo matures in 49 days, so it's genuinely worth staggering. Direct sow every 14–21 days from March through early May for a spring run, then resume in late August through September for fall harvest. The gap in between isn't optional — once daytime highs are consistently above 85°F, roots turn pithy and the plant pushes toward bolt rather than sizing up. In zone 7, that dead zone typically runs from mid-June through early August. Plan around it.

Complete Growing Guide

Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: RAF-an-us raf-an-IS-trum sa-TEE-vus. Spread: RAF-an-us raf-an-IS-trum sa-TEE-vus. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Ready for harvest in 49 days from sowing or transplant. Harvest at peak ripeness for best flavor and storage life. Pick regularly to encourage continued production where applicable.

Storage & Preservation

Store freshly harvested KN-Bravo radishes in a perforated plastic bag within the refrigerator's crisper drawer, maintaining 32–40°F (0–4°C) and 95% humidity. Roots keep for 3–4 weeks under these conditions, though quality gradually declines after the first two weeks. For longer preservation, freezing works well: blanch thin slices for 2–3 minutes, cool rapidly, and pack in freezer bags for up to eight months. Pickling is particularly suited to this long-type radish—slice lengthwise, pack into jars with vinegar brine and spices, and refrigerate for immediate use or process for shelf-stable storage. Drying is also viable; slice thinly, dry in an oven at 140°F (60°C) for 6–8 hours, then store in airtight containers. KN-Bravo's relatively mild flavor means it won't dominate fermented vegetable mixes if you choose that route, making it a flexible addition to kimchi or mixed pickles.

History & Origin

KN-Bravo is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Mediterranean

Advantages

+Easy to grow — beginner-friendly
+Quick harvest — ready in about 49 days
+Wide hardiness — grows in USDA zones 2-11

Companion Plants

Carrots and lettuce are the most practical neighbors for KN-Bravo — their roots occupy a shallower zone than a mature daikon-type radish, so there's no real underground fight for space or nutrients. Chives and garlic pull actual pest-suppression weight: their sulfur compounds disrupt the host-finding behavior of cabbage moths and flea beetles, two insects that zero in on brassicas fast. If your bed has any nematode history, border it with Tagetes marigolds — their root exudates have documented suppressive effects on Meloidogyne populations. Fennel stays out of any vegetable bed regardless of what you're growing; it's broadly allelopathic and will slow or stunt most neighboring crops within a few feet.

Plant Together

Carrots

Both are root vegetables with similar soil and water needs, can be intercropped efficiently

Lettuce

Shallow roots don't compete with deep root vegetables, provides living mulch

Radishes

Quick-growing radishes help break up soil for root development, harvest before main crop matures

Chives

Repels root maggots and other soil-dwelling pests that damage root vegetables

Marigolds

Deters nematodes and root-damaging insects, natural pest control

Spinach

Cool-season companion with shallow roots, doesn't compete for growing space

Garlic

Natural fungicide properties help prevent root rot and soil-borne diseases

Bush Beans

Nitrogen-fixing legumes improve soil fertility for heavy-feeding root crops

Dill

Attracts beneficial insects and helps repel carrot flies and other root crop pests

Keep Apart

Sunflowers

Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of nearby vegetables, competes heavily for nutrients

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that severely stunts or kills most vegetable crops

Fennel

Strong allelopathic effects inhibit germination and growth of most garden vegetables

Nutrition Facts

Calories

41kcal(2%)

Protein

0.93g(2%)

Fiber

2.8g(10%)

Carbs

9.58g(3%)

Fat

0.24g(0%)

Vitamin C

5.9mg(7%)

Vitamin A

835mcg(93%)

Vitamin K

13.2mcg(11%)

Iron

0.3mg(2%)

Calcium

33mg(3%)

Potassium

320mg(7%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170393)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Flea beetles, root maggots (less common in hybrid radishes), cabbage moths

Diseases

Fusarium wilt (rare in well-drained soil), bacterial leaf spot (minor in cool seasons)

Troubleshooting KN-Bravo

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level — stems look pinched and blackened, roots brown and slimy, plants fine yesterday

Likely Causes

Damping off — typically Pythium or Rhizoctonia solani, both soil-borne fungi that strike fast in wet, cool conditions
Overwatering or poor drainage keeping the soil surface saturated after germination

What to Do

1.Pull and trash affected seedlings immediately — don't compost them
2.Let the bed surface dry out slightly between waterings; KN-Bravo wants consistent moisture (1–1.5 inches per week) but not standing wet
3.Thin to 2–3 inch spacing right after germination — crowded seedlings hold moisture and block airflow, which is exactly what damping off needs to spread

Tiny irregular holes shot through leaves starting within the first 2–3 weeks after germination, worst in hot dry spells

Likely Causes

Flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) — small, jumping beetles that riddle brassica leaves; worse on stressed or newly emerged plants
Dry soil conditions that slow the plant's ability to outgrow the damage

What to Do

1.Cover the bed with row cover at sowing and keep it on until plants are well established — flea beetles locate hosts by smell and sight, so physical exclusion beats any spray
2.Hold soil moisture at 1–1.5 inches per week; a well-watered radish can grow through moderate flea beetle pressure in about 7–10 days
3.If pressure is heavy, spinosad-based sprays applied in the evening are effective without knocking out beneficial insects

Plants stunted and off-color, wilting even after watering, roots show firm knotty swellings or dark lesions when pulled

Likely Causes

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) — NC State Extension identifies these as the most destructive plant-parasitic nematodes in North Carolina; they inject growth-regulating substances that form galls directly on root tissue
Sandy soil with a history of susceptible crops — tomatoes, cucumbers, other brassicas — in the same bed

What to Do

1.Pull a root and look closely — Meloidogyne galls are firm knots fused to the root, not the loose detachable nodules you'd see on a bean; confirmed galls mean don't replant susceptible crops in that bed this season
2.Solarize the bed in summer using clear plastic laid tight to the soil for 6–8 weeks to knock back nematode populations before the next planting cycle
3.Incorporate a heavy load of finished compost before replanting — organic matter supports beneficial fungi that suppress Meloidogyne and improves drainage, which limits how much root damage translates to crop loss

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does KN-Bravo radish take to grow?▼

KN-Bravo is a fast-maturing hybrid radish reaching harvest-ready size in 49 days from direct sowing. You can begin harvesting at 40-45 days for smaller, more delicate roots, or wait until day 55-60 if you prefer larger sizes. However, avoid harvesting beyond 60 days, as roots become woody and hollow. Spring and summer sowings both perform reliably, making KN-Bravo ideal for succession planting—sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests throughout the season.

Is KN-Bravo radish good for beginners?▼

Yes, KN-Bravo is an excellent choice for beginner gardeners. It's easy to grow, requiring only full sun, loose soil, and consistent moisture. It has minimal pest and disease pressure, so you won't need to troubleshoot complex problems. The 49-day timeline means you see results quickly—perfect for building confidence. The only critical point: don't let soil dry out between waterings, and harvest on time to avoid pithy roots. Once you master KN-Bravo, you'll have the fundamentals for growing any radish variety.

Can you grow KN-Bravo radish in containers?▼

Yes, KN-Bravo grows well in containers. Use pots at least 6-8 inches deep with drainage holes, filled with well-draining potting mix. Space plants 2-3 inches apart, and thin seedlings early to avoid overcrowding. Container radishes dry out faster than in-ground crops, so check soil daily and water more frequently—aim for consistently moist (not waterlogged) conditions. Place containers in full sun. Container-grown KN-Bravo matures in the same 49 days as in-ground plants and works beautifully for small-space gardeners, balconies, or patios.

What does KN-Bravo radish taste like?▼

KN-Bravo offers a sweet, crisp, mild radish flavor without intense heat. The roots are tender with a pleasant crunch when eaten fresh, making them appealing to those who find traditional radishes too sharp. The distinctive purple-streaked interior looks stunning in salads, salsas, and vegetable platters. KN-Bravo is also beloved for kimchi fermentation, where the sweet flavor balances spice and the purple color intensifies, creating visually striking fermented vegetables.

When should I plant KN-Bravo radish?▼

Plant KN-Bravo 2-3 weeks before your last spring frost for spring crops, or sow in mid-to-late summer (typically July-August) for fall harvests. KN-Bravo performs reliably in both seasons, though spring sowings often produce more vibrant purple coloring than summer crops. For continuous harvests, succession plant every 2-3 weeks. Avoid the hottest part of summer if possible; spring and fall crops offer superior color and flavor. You can also sow indoors and transplant, but direct sowing is simpler and radishes prefer not to be moved.

Why does my KN-Bravo radish crop have white roots instead of purple?▼

KN-Bravo seed batches contain 5-10% white-rooted off-types—this is a known characteristic of the variety and reflects typical hybrid seed production tolerances. If color uniformity is critical for your needs (such as selling or high-end plating), you may need to thin or remove white-rooted plants once seedlings are large enough to identify. However, white-rooted KN-Bravo taste identical to purple ones and are equally crisp and sweet. For home use, most gardeners simply harvest the entire crop together.