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Everything you need to know about growing horseradish
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Horseradish is a pungent root vegetable that is commonly used to impart a zesty, hot flavor to foods. Horseradish is a hardy perennial, and can be grown in cold climates, full sun, or light shade. Planting horseradish in your home garden will supply you with an abundance of the vegetable right at your fingertips, which you can use to season meats, fish, soups, sauces or even add to a fresh mixed salad for a little extra kick.
Steps
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Obtain horseradish crowns or roots to plant. Purchase a cutting of horseradish from a greenhouse or grocery store. Most of the time, these places will sell crowns (the uppermost part of the plant) or roots that are pre-cut and ready to plant. Most gardeners start horseradish from crowns, as the plant grows from the roots and only its weed-like flowers produce seeds. [1] X Research source
- Like carrots or potatoes, horseradish roots are ready to go straight into the ground.
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Find an out of the way place to plant the horseradish. Set aside an area in the corner of your garden to plant the horseradish crop, or designate a unique space such as a barrel or hanging planter to keep it from overtaking other plants. Horseradish takes roots quickly and flourishes in cool conditions, and it can quickly spread throughout your garden if you don’t check its growth. [2] X Research source
- Horseradish is a perennial, so plant it somewhere you'd like to have it growing for years to come.
- If you are working with a smaller garden, look into alternative planting methods such as terracing or using contained planting methods like a half barrel or Smart Pot. [3] X Research source
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Dig a hole about a foot deep. Loosen the soil about 12 inches deep where you decide to plant the horseradish. Make the hole wide enough to accommodate the entire length of the root, as it should be planted at an angle. Space the horseradish 18-20 inches (46-51 centimeters) away from the nearest plant so that the roots have plenty of room to spread and grow. [4] X Research source
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Plant the horseradish diagonally. Place the horseradish crown or root into the hole at roughly a 45 degree angle, with the thinner, bottom portion of the root slanted down. This will allow the roots to radiate out beneath the soil while keeping the leaves of the crown vertical above ground. Fill the hole with a shovelful of compost to act as a fertilizer.
- Horseradish roots can be buried completely, or you can leave the top of the root visible to track its development.
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Make sure the plant gets plenty of sunlight. Horseradish should ideally be grown somewhere open with ample sun exposure, but a slightly shaded area is also acceptable. Unlike more temperamental plants, horseradish doesn’t require direct sunlight to thrive, although it will help it grow faster. Avoid planting horseradish near walls or fences or beneath trees that might strangle root growth. [5] X Research source
- Horseradishes are perennial plants, so they will come back every year.
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Water the horseradish once or twice a week. Horseradish roots are very good at retaining moisture and therefore only require watering once or twice throughout the week. Water horseradish plants more frequently in the hot summer months when the soil tends to be drier. Be careful not to overwater horseradish, as this is one of the few conditions that can be harmful to its survival. [6] X Research source
- When watering horseradish, it’s only necessary to keep the soil around the roots slightly damp. Don’t drown them.
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Fertilize as needed. Fertilize during the spring with a high-phosphorus, low-nitrogen fertilizer. Fertilizing is optional, as the compost you used to plant the horseradish should provide sufficient nourishment, but can help the roots grow larger. Keep an eye on the progress of developing horseradish plants and use a fertilizer if the plants’ growth seems stunted or if soil health is poor. [7] X Research source
- Do not fertilize more than once per growing season: in the case of horseradish, once a year in the springtime.
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Prune suckers and weeds from the plant. As the horseradish grows, it will begin to sprout tall leaves known as “suckers” and various types of weeds. Keep these pruned down to prevent them from spreading. A healthy horseradish plant should have only 3-4 leaf stalks—any more may cause unintended spreading and irregular shaped roots should they be allowed to continue growing. [8] X Research source
- Horseradish weeds can also spread undesirably to other plants.
- Some weeds take the form of tall, spiked stalks that grow white flowers. This is a common sign that the horseradish has survived the harshest winter weather. [9] X Research source
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Wait until late fall to harvest horseradish. A cold-hardy vegetable, horseradish reaches its peak in size and flavor after it has been through a frost, so wait until late fall to harvest horseradish crops. It usually takes around one year for a horseradish plant to reach maturity after its initial planting, so if you first planted the root in fall it should be ready to harvest by the following fall. [10] X Research source
- The growing season for horseradish is one year from fall to fall.
- A harsh frost will often kill off the foliage that grows at the crown of the plant. This is a good way to know when the horseradish is ready to be pulled. [11] X Research source
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Loosen the soil around the roots and remove the plant. Use a shovel or trowel to gently loosen the soil beneath the plant’s leaf stalks. Once the root is visible, take hold of it and pull until the entire root system has been removed. Fully-grown horseradish plants will be between 6-10 inches in length, so dig deep to keep from damaging the root. [12] X Research source [13] X Research source
- Accidentally severing any part of the root may result in unwanted growth and spreading.
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Cut away small sections of horseradish to use or store. Snip away the green leaf stalks on the horseradish crown. These can be thrown away or used as compost. Cut the horseradish into small, thin sections that can easily be used later for cooking or other purposes. Unused horseradish can be stored in a plastic sandwich bag and will keep in the refrigerator for 3 months or longer. [14] X Research source [15] X Research source
- If you know you want to continue growing horseradish, let a few root segments remain in the soil when you harvest.
- Wash and dry horseradish roots thoroughly before using them to prepare food.
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Replant roots sections to keep the plant growing. If you decide to replant the harvested horseradish, cut the plant roughly 3-4 inches beneath the crown (around the root’s midpoint) and return the root portion to the soil, keeping the crown portion to use in the kitchen. The roots will reestablish themselves on their own, and you can resume regular watering and weeding. [16] X Research source
- Although the crown of the horseradish can produce a new plant, best results will be achieved by replanting the root system.
- If you don’t want the horseradish plant to return after a harvest, you’ll need to make sure that all traces of the plant’s roots have been removed from the soil. Otherwise, they will continue to take up growing. [17] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWe grate the horseradish root for Easter. Will the root keep till then if picked after the first heavy frost?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.It would be better to wait and harvest closer to Easter. Alternatively, you could process and can the horseradish in the fall.
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QuestionWhen is the best time to plant horseradish??Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.Horseradish crowns can be planted in the spring or fall.
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QuestionCan I freeze horseradish?Community AnswerYes, you can.
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Tips
- Try using horseradish in food or tea as a medicinal herb to clear clogged sinuses. [18] X Research sourceThanks
- Horseradish pairs well with hearty meats and fish like steak, prime rib, tuna and salmon.Thanks
- Plant horseradish in an out of the way corner of your garden or using a separate planter to keep growth from overtaking other plants.Thanks
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Warnings
- Horseradish has a naturally hot flavor very similar to Japanese wasabi. Use it sparingly in food or cut down on the heat by balancing it with white vinegar or blending it into creamy sauces.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Horseradish crowns or roots
- Garden space or planter
- Compost
- Water
- Shovel or trowel (for planting and harvesting)
References
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/vegetables/growing-horseradish-zw0z1401zsto.aspx
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/vegetables/growing-horseradish-zw0z1401zsto.aspx
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8iYe2qDo8
- ↑ http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/grow-prepare-horseradish
- ↑ http://www.gardeningblog.net/how-to-grow/horseradish/
- ↑ http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/grow-prepare-horseradish
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8iYe2qDo8
- ↑ http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/grow-prepare-horseradish
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/vegetables/growing-horseradish-zw0z1401zsto.aspx
- ↑ http://www.gardeningblog.net/how-to-grow/horseradish/
- ↑ http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/grow-prepare-horseradish
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/vegetables/growing-horseradish-zw0z1401zsto.aspx
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8iYe2qDo8
- ↑ http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/grow-prepare-horseradish
- ↑ http://www.gardeningblog.net/how-to-grow/horseradish/
- ↑ http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/vegetables/growing-horseradish-zw0z1401zsto.aspx
- ↑ http://www.gardeningblog.net/how-to-grow/horseradish/
- ↑ http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/use-horseradish-sinus-infections-uti-cold-flu-bronchitis/
- Videos provided by GrowOrganic Peaceful Valley
About This Article
Article Summary
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To grow horseradish, plant horseradish crowns or roots at a 45-degree angle in your garden where there’s ample sun. Water the horseradish once or twice a week so the soil is just damp. As your horseradish grows, regularly prune some of the tall leaves, or “suckers,” so there are just 3 or 4 at a time. You can harvest your horseradish in the late fall after its been growing for at least a year to get it at peak size and flavor. For more information from our reviewer, who’s a Professional Gardener, on harvesting and replanting your horseradish, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Great article, covers everything. I was going to buy some seeds, but I guess I will wait until I can find the roots (I don't live where it is used, and not in the US). I want to make horseradish sauce and also use it for health purposes. This article has helped to figure out if and where I can grow it." ..." more
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"Great article, covers everything. I was going to buy some seeds, but I guess I will wait until I can find the roots (I don't live where it is used, and not in the US). I want to make horseradish sauce and also use it for health purposes. This article has helped to figure out if and where I can grow it."
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"I have memories from my homeland seeing horseradish growing in the garden. It's time for me to plan one in my own garden, too. This article was very helpful outlining the steps and providing with the tips about how to start my own horseradish plant."
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"Very helpful, especially the visuals. I just acquired some from a friend and couldn't imagine how it would grow. I wonder how long it keeps after harvesting. I live in Japan and I'm used to wasabi, I'm excited to see how the horseradish will grow."
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"We wanted to grow our own, but we were having a hard time trying to find anyone who knew a thing about it, where to find seeds, plants or anything. But you saved us with great know-how, and your pictures are the best! We now have a great garden."
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"I have grown horseradish all my life. Needs very little attention, Easter time is the best time to dig it out and make preparations for the Easter season. Thanks for your suggestions."
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