VegetableRadish
Green Meat Luobo Radish
Green Meat Luobo is a Chinese heirloom radish that breaks the mold of what most gardeners expect from radishes. Unlike the globe-shaped varieties common in Western gardens, these elongated roots stretch 10 inches long and are filled with bright green flesh that looks nearly identical to a cucumber. Despite their unusual appearance, they deliver the crisp sweetness radishes are known for, though they develop a pleasant bite if left to mature fully. Ready to harvest in 60 days, they thrive in hardiness zones 3-10 and are especially rewarding when planted in late summer for a fall harvest.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Loose, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
12 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
4
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-10
Size
12in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The bright green interior flesh is genuinely arresting when you slice into one, catching most gardeners off guard. These radishes grow long and uniform rather than round, making them as striking on the plate as they are in the garden. Their crisp texture and sweet flavor remain consistent, but they offer more complexity and a gentle heat if you let them size up fully. Fall planting yields the most predictable crops, since cool-season growth seems to favor the development of that distinctive color and flavor.
Common Uses
Green Meat Luobo radishes work beautifully in fresh preparations where their crisp texture and color shine: sliced thin for salads, pickled for preservation, or served raw with salt as a simple side. Their substantial size and uniform shape make them ideal for slicing into rounds or sticks. The mild-to-spicy flavor develops complexity as they mature, so younger roots suit delicate preparations while fuller-grown ones handle bolder dishes and fermentation.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Green Meat Luobo seeds in late summer, approximately 6-8 weeks before your first expected frost date. This timing allows the radishes to mature during cool fall weather, when they develop their best flavor and color. Plant seeds at the spacing recommended above and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Harvesting
Harvest Green Meat Luobo radishes when they reach 4-12 inches long, typically 60-69 days after sowing. You can pull individual roots as soon as they're large enough to use, or wait until the full maturation window and harvest the entire crop at once. Gently loosen soil with a fork before pulling to avoid breaking the roots. The green flesh inside is your best indicator of readiness; a cross-section should reveal that distinctive bright green color throughout.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Raphanus sativus
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Raphanus
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)CAN (I)GL (I)
History & Origin
“Green Meat Luobo carries the legacy of Chinese radish breeding, where this particular lineage developed its signature elongated shape and internal green coloring. The name 'Luobo' itself reflects the plant's cultural roots in Chinese agriculture, where radishes have been cultivated for centuries as both culinary staples and medicinal crops. This heirloom variety represents generations of selection for specific traits: the length, uniformity, and that remarkable green flesh that distinguishes it from its round-rooted cousins. Its arrival in Western seed catalogs reflects growing interest in diverse Asian vegetable varieties and the gardening community's appreciation for heirlooms with genuine visual and flavor distinction.”