Repotting guide

When & how to repot Daikon 'April Cross' (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus 'April Cross')

Also called April Cross daikon, spring daikon.

More about daikon 'april cross'

About Daikon 'April Cross'

Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus 'April Cross' · also called April Cross daikon, spring daikon · edible

'April Cross' is an F1 daikon bred for strong bolt resistance, making it one of the few daikons reliable for spring sowing. It produces smooth, white, mild roots up to 40 cm. Slow to run to seed even in lengthening days, it suits spring through autumn sowing in deep, loose, stone-free soil.

Mature size: Roots up to 40 cm long, 5-7 cm wide; tops 40-55 cm tall

Watch for — Forked roots: Stones, hardpan, or fresh manure cause splitting and forking. Deeply work and de-stone the bed and skip recently manured ground.

How to tell daikon 'april cross' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For daikon 'april cross', watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot daikon 'april cross' on before it becomes hard root-bound.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot daikon 'april cross'

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Daikon 'April Cross'is grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Upright rosette of bristly green tops above a long, smooth, cylindrical white root, partly exposed at the soil surface..

What size pot to step daikon 'april cross' up to

Pot daikon 'april cross' on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot daikon 'april cross'

Pot daikon 'april cross' on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting daikon 'april cross'

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check daikon 'april cross' regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh deep, loose, stone-free sandy loam, ph 6.0-7.0 at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water daikon 'april cross' in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for daikon 'april cross'

Daikon 'April Cross' wants deep, loose, stone-free sandy loam, ph 6.0-7.0. Cultivate 40 cm deep and remove stones; avoid fresh manure, which forks the roots. Light, friable soil lets roots drive down straight. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting daikon 'april cross' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot daikon 'april cross'?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for daikon 'april cross'. Daikon 'April Cross' is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into deep, loose, stone-free sandy loam, ph 6.0-7.0 so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does daikon 'april cross' need?

When is the best time of year to repot daikon 'april cross'?

Can you put daikon 'april cross' straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing daikon 'april cross' should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise daikon 'april cross' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting daikon 'april cross'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.