Giant of Sicily is a stunning heirloom radish from Italy that brings Italian seed-saving traditions straight to your garden. These round, brilliant red radishes grow to about 2 inches across and mature in just 35 days, making them quick enough for succession planting throughout the season. Unlike the small, peppery radishes most gardeners know, this variety delivers genuinely great taste alongside its impressive size, earning its reputation as a summer staple across Mediterranean gardens.
Full Sun
Moderate
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Moderate
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Bright red, golf ball-sized roots that stay crisp and flavorful rather than turning woody or hollow. The Italian heirloom lineage means you're growing the exact same variety that Sicilian gardeners have preserved for generations. At 35 days to maturity, it rewards impatient gardeners with fast results while maintaining the quality and taste that made it worth saving in the first place.
Giant of Sicily radishes are eaten fresh, typically sliced thin and enjoyed raw in salads or with a pinch of salt and good butter, a preparation that lets their crisp texture and genuine flavor shine. Their substantial size makes them suitable for stuffing or roasting whole, preparations less common with smaller radish varieties but perfectly suited to their 2-inch diameter.
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Sow seeds directly into the garden bed at a depth of 1/4 inch. Seeds germinate quickly, sprouting within 3 to 6 days under ideal conditions. Plant in full sun in well-draining soil and keep the soil consistently moist during germination and early growth.
Harvest Giant of Sicily radishes at 35 days after sowing, or when roots reach about 2 inches in diameter. You can begin harvesting slightly earlier if you prefer smaller, more delicate radishes, or wait a few days longer if you want maximum size. Gently pull roots from the soil or loosen soil around them first to avoid breaking the root. The bright red skin and firm feel indicate readiness; avoid letting radishes overmature in the ground, as they become woody and hollow.
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“This radish carries the authentic provenance of Sicily, passed down through Italian seed-saving traditions. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds sources pure Italian seed for Giant of Sicily, honoring the regional agricultural heritage embedded in this cultivar. Heirloom radishes like this one represent living history, preserved not in museums but in gardens and seed packets, connecting modern growers to the knowledge and preferences of Sicilian farmers who selected for size, flavor, and reliability over generations.”