Abstract: To evaluate the effects of phosphate tailings-based conditioner (PTC) on the growth of radish crops and its fluorine release risk during soil improvement, this study conducted seed germination and pot experiments to examine germination, growth and fluorine accumulation and transformation in cherry radish (Raphanus sativus). Radicus persicatus cultivated in soils amended with 0% (CK), 0.05%, 0.50%, 2.00% and 5.00% PTC. The results showed that the germination energy, germination rate and germination index of cherry radish seeds were not inhibited in soil with PTC content ≤ 5%. Moreover, such PTC levels promoted the expansion of fleshy roots and the increase in plant height of cherry radish at maturity. While PTC addition elevated pre-planting soil levels of total fluorine, bioavailable fluorine, total calcium and water-soluble calcium, these values for bioavailable fluorine and water-soluble calcium declined at maturity, suggesting their uptake by radish or immobilization in the soil. The accumulation of fluorine in underground roots increased with the amount of PTC in the soil, whereas the accumulation in shoots exhibited an inverse trend. A significant reduction in the root-to-shoot transfer factors of fluorine indicated that PTC restricted fluorine translocation from roots to shoots. This phenomenon likely stems from the uptake of calcium by cherry radish roots and the calcium-fluorine co-precipitation mechanism, which concurrently reduced fluorine's interference with aerial physiological processes (e.g., photosynthesis), preventing fluorine toxicity in cherry radish when soil PTC ≤ 5%. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing PTC application strategies and managing fluorine risks.