If you are getting pods then the flowers were fertilized. :) Saying that their flowers are "perfect" and "self-pollinating" but at the same time "self-incompatible" sounds kinda ridiculous. Pretty sure something can be either one or the other but not both.

When I save radish seeds I allow the pods to dry down mostly on the plant before harvesting and allowing to dry further for a while. Then I break the pods open (I gently grind them with my feet if I have a lot) before sifting and winnowing out the chaff.

Rodney

Yes, that does sound ridiculous. That's what I was wondering about. But those words come from "Garden Seed Saving Guide, The: Easy Heirloom Seeds for the Home Gardener" by Jill Henderson. Must have meant something to her. I guess the question is whether pods necessarily have fertile seeds.

Looking into it a bit more, radishes do have perfect flowers and they are self-incompatible but they are not self-pollinating. Pollen must travel from one plant to another.

Rodney

You need to have at least two radish plants in flower at the same time. Sounds like you do, so you should have seeds.

Here's what Suzanne Ashworth gives as a definition in Seed to Seed. Perhaps is will make more sense than what you read.

"Self-Incompatibility: A trait associated with some perfect flowers whose pollen cannot grow in a flower on the same plant, but grows normally when transferred to a flower on another plant of the same variety."

Her comments on radishes in particular include: "Most radishes are self-incompatible. The pollen is viable, but cannot grow in a flower on the same plant. Pollen carried by insects to a flower on another plant will grow normally. Because the insects must carry pollen from one plant to another and not just from one flower to the other, the larger the group of plants the better the pollination and seed production will be."

Self-Incompatibility may seem strange, but it exists in other plant species, too. Some broccoli, cauliflower, and turnip varieties are a few examples. Google it: read the WIkipedia listing if you want the genetics of it :0

Yes, reading, you need more than one flowering Radish plant to get fertile seed. So you would need a few Madras/ Rat Tail plants flowering at the same time to get good seed.

Read that since the flowers are very attractive to pollinating insect life, Radish cross extremely easily. Even with related weeds in many areas. Even apparently with some radishes left to flower in a garden in a yard a 10 minute walk away? How do they commercially produce seed?

Thank you. That makes some sense. Although I have three plants - one is in full bloom, and another is in occasional bloom. The third has not bloomed. The first plant has a slew of pods, so maybe I just got real lucky! I gather that a pod implies fertilization. Of course, chickens can lay eggs without a rooster, so maybe a radish can make pods without male pollen? On the other hand, a single plant cannot make pods? I gave one plant to a friend, and she may end up being disappointed.

I've successfully saved seeds from Cherry Belle. I'd recommend an heirloom if you want to save seeds. I leave those plants at the end of a row, next to the fence go to seed. It's important not to lose track of where you saved the seeds. I lost mine from last year.