Scientists have found that plants grow better with the help of some soil bacteria, named plant growth-promoting bacteria or rhizobacteria; from the Greek ‘rhiza’ meaning roots. Such bacteria form symbiotic associations with plant roots and enhance nitrogen and mineral fixation by plants. Rhizobacteria may thus be spread onto crop soils to enhance yields, but field experiments are so far rarely successful. Agronomists Berger et al. demonstrate that Kosakonia radicincitans promotes radish growth both in pots and field conditions.