Ready in just a little over 3 weeks, this knobby little radish is full of character but easy on spice. Even children have been known to smile at its appearance. Every fruit is distinctive -- this isn't one of those vegetables that looks like it came from a designer's studio instead of a friendly vegetable patch! The shading from brightest scarlet to pure white is dotted with merry flecks, and the size of the fruit ranges from 1 to 1 1/2 inches, with a wide, long white root trailing from the end.

The plant is columnar, reaching about 6 to 8 inches tall and up to 6 inches wide. The festive look and mild, satisfying flavor have made Sparkler a home garden favorite for decades, and we're delighted to have it available again to Park gardeners.

Sparkler is easy to grow and quick to harvest. Before planting, fertilize the soil, making it as loose, rich, and moist as you can, to enable the small root to grow. Fertilize again about 2 weeks after planting. Direct-sow the seed as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring, planting successively every week until late spring. Radishes cannot withstand much heat, so stop sowing when the weather is about to warm up in your climate. You can also sow for fall, beginning in late summer and succession-sowing again until a month before frost. Pkt is 100 seeds.