Repotting guide

When & how to repot Korean Radish 'Altari' (Raphanus sativus var. caudatus 'Altari')

Also called Altari radish, Korean kkakdugi radish, baby Korean radish.

More about korean radish 'altari'

About Korean Radish 'Altari'

Raphanus sativus var. caudatus 'Altari' · also called Altari radish, Korean kkakdugi radish · edible

'Altari', the Korean ponytail or chonggak radish, produces small, plump white roots with a green-tinted shoulder and prized, edible leafy tops. Crisp and pungent, it's the classic radish for kkakdugi and chonggak kimchi. Quick-maturing in around 50 days, it suits spring and autumn sowing in loose, fertile, stone-free soil.

Mature size: Roots 8-12 cm long, 4-6 cm wide; leafy tops 25-35 cm tall

Watch for — Woody, over-hot roots: Heat and drought stress toughen roots and intensify pungency. Keep moisture even and harvest promptly while roots are tender.

How to tell korean radish 'altari' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For korean radish 'altari', 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 korean radish 'altari' 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 korean radish 'altari'

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Korean Radish 'Altari'is grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Upright clump of abundant green leafy tops above small, plump, oval white roots with green shoulders..

What size pot to step korean radish 'altari' up to

Pot korean radish 'altari' 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 korean radish 'altari'

Pot korean radish 'altari' 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 korean radish 'altari'

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check korean radish 'altari' 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 loose, fertile, well-drained 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 korean radish 'altari' 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 korean radish 'altari'

Korean Radish 'Altari' wants loose, fertile, well-drained loam, ph 6.0-7.0. Work in compost and remove stones; light, friable soil produces plump, unforked roots. Avoid fresh manure to keep roots smooth. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting korean radish 'altari' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot korean radish 'altari'?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for korean radish 'altari'. Korean Radish 'Altari' is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into loose, fertile, well-drained 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 korean radish 'altari' need?

When is the best time of year to repot korean radish 'altari'?

Can you put korean radish 'altari' straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing korean radish 'altari' 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 korean radish 'altari' after repotting?

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