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What is horseradish ? Although technically aperennial vegetablebelonging to the brassica family , it is most often grown as an yearbook and used meagerly as a condiment . A niggling of it , after all , goes a long means ! That is true in another sense as well , since horseradish plant is encroaching and can canter beyond where it is imagine to be .

Therefore , when considering how to grow horseradish , you ’ll want to take whole tone to corral it before it acquire out of script . Although the horseradish growing zona theoretically extend from USDA Zones 2 through 9 , the industrial plant prefer coolheaded experimental condition .

The leaves of several horseradish plants.

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Growing Horseradish at a Glance

Common Name : HorseradishScientific Name : Armoracia rusticanaHardiness zona : 2 - 9Soil : Rich , deepLight : Full or partial sunWater : MediumFood : Compost or downhearted nitrogen fertilizerPropagation : Root cuttings or seedsSafety : Eye and peel irritant

HorseradishCharacteristics

The uncivilised horseradish plant originated in eastern Europe and westerly Asia , possibly deduct its common name from the Germanmeerrettich , which actually means “ sea radish . ” “ Meer ” could have slurred into “ female horse , ” with that equid moniker finally being dropped in party favour of plain “ sawhorse . ”

The industrial plant , which usually transcend out at around 2 to 3 groundwork , has large , undulating leaves , which can get up to 2 feet long and 6 inches across , resembling those of the plant dock .

Horseradish makes clusters of pocket-sized four - petal white flowers in early to mid - summertime . However , those often are snipped off so that all of the industrial plant ’s vim will go into give rise yellow - white-hot or blank carrot - corresponding root that have a biting , spicy flavor .

A small plot from a garden growing horseradish plants.

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RecommendedHorseradishVarieties

PlantingHorseradish

Horseradish unremarkably is originate from stem cutting cry sets or thongs rather than from seedlings .

When is the best time to plant horseradish?

flora horseradish ascendant cuttings as betimes in the saltation as you could work the primer , rather late March or early April , since the crop requires a five - month growing time of year to senesce by its harvest time in late autumn . Start horseradish seedlings in January or February so they will be large enough to specify out in April .

Where can horseradish grow?

When engraft horseradish , choose a location in full or partial sun which has deep , richsoil . If possible , confine the roots by placing them in a raised bed . Alternatively , you may make a small-scale , confined bottom underground by burying a bottomless 5 - gallon bucket or a PVC tube 1 metrical unit in diam and 2 feet mysterious . Keep in judgement thatcompanion plantinghorseradish with white potato might help to serve dissuade murphy bug .

How do you plant horseradish?

Loosen the soil to a deepness of 8 to 10 inches before you do your planting , rather dig in some compost and/or organic fertiliser as well .

Can you grow horseradish in containers?

If you prefer growing Armoracia rusticana in containers that are above the ground rather than undercover , just ensure that those containers are deep enough to countenance plenty of room for the radical to grow . A half barrel should do or consider a 15 - gallon pot that is 18 in deep .

WateringHorseradish

As with most vegetables , horseradish plant opt about1 column inch of weewee a week . During periods when there is no rainfall , you may have to offer the equivalent of that amount via irrigation . Just fend off overwatering horseradish industrial plant , as that can cause their root to rot . A 2 - in layer of mulch around the plants , composed of shredded drained leaves or compost , should help suppress weeds as well as maintain ground moisture for ideal horseradish refinement .

FertilizingHorseradish

Compost or composted manure should render enough nutrients for your horse radish if you dig 1 inch of it into the soil before you implant your ancestor newspaper clipping . However , if you favor , you also can add a low-pitched - nitrogenorganic fertilizersuch as 5 - 10 - 10 , applying 2 to 3 pounds per 100 satisfying foot . Avoid using fresh manure , which can cause rife foliage or forked roots in horseradish as well as possibly burning the plants .

PruningHorseradish

Some agriculturalist prefer to dispatch the suckers on horseradish industrial plant so that the remain roots uprise larger and straighter than they would otherwise . To do this “ stripping , ” draw out the scandal back from around the upper part of the root when the flora is about 8 to 10 inches grandiloquent and rub or rationalize off all the small roots and the leafy sucker they produce from the sides and top of the plant , while not disturbing the big primal root word or roots and its ( or their ) foliage . fight the soil back into stead and repeat the stripping 6 workweek later .

PropagatingHorseradish

As was previously mentioned , horseradish propagation usually is accomplished via sets , since root horseradish is not difficult . However , you’re able to set about plants from horseradish seeded player in mid to tardy winter , if you prefer .

Sow the source ¼- to ½-inch deep in damp and sterile seed - starting mix , keeping their containers at temperature between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit until those seeds evolve in one to two workweek . You then will demand to keep the container under a grow light , on a sunny windowsill , or in a glasshouse until the seedling rise big enough to be transplanted outdoors .

Safety Considerations

Although Armoracia rusticana is edible for human , it will cause a burning champion in your mouth . PennState Extensioncautions that you should “ machinate your horseradish in a well - ventilated region or even alfresco . It emits fumes that can make your nose ladder and rag your eyes . ” Since the plant also can be a skin irritant , it is a practiced idea to outwear glove and goggles when work with it .

As for your dearie and livestock , theUtah State University Extensionwarns , “ Do not give animals horseradish . The volatile rock oil in the plant cause keen inflammation of the belly and can be disastrous . ”

Potential Pests and Diseases

To ascertain flea beetles , which can riddle horseradish foliation with little hole , cover the plants with floating run-in cover while they still are young . Make trusted that the row cover is pinned down with dirt on all sides so that the beetles ca n’t get in to lie their eggs on the plants .

Horseradish also can be infected by white rust , a fungal disease that cause blank pustules on the bottom of the leaves . To prevent it , avoid rise Armoracia rusticana where other brassicas have grown before . The Bohemian character reportedly is more resistant to that rusting than the mutual eccentric is .

HarvestingHorseradish

Although horseradish green are edible , their flavor is key as bitter . The flora ’s green , in fact , are one of the foods consumed at Passover , when bitter herb are rust to act the bitterness of the Israelites ’ captivity by Egyptians .

When is the best time to harvest horseradish?

As to when to harvest horseradish , you ’ll want to do that in late autumn after frost has drink down the foliage , preferably between previous October and early November . If the roots are n’t heavy enough for a harvest time at that time , leave them in the priming coat until early springtime and reap them before the plant begins making new foliage .

How do you harvest horseradish?

wear down gloves when “ picking ” horseradish root , as it can get at the skin .

How do you store horseradish?

After scratch the beginning with a vegetable brush and allow them to dry , stack away them in a black perforate plastic bag in the veggie drawer of your refrigerator for up to three calendar month . Alternatively , place them in moist backbone in a blue fruit root cellar . ( Inner Light can get the roots to turn green . ) Grated horseradish must be put in in acetum to maintain its flavor . Use 2 to 3 teaspoon of white wine acetum per loving cup of horseradish .

Looking for more repeated vegetables ? control out our guide on growingasparagus , artichoke , andrhubarb .

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

A horseradish plant with small white flowers blooming from it.

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We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised bed , or an in - undercoat plot out back — and choose the right plant for your soil and region .

The white roots of a horseradish plant.

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Young couple (heads not seen) use trowels to dig into a small raised garden bed on Astroturf, surrounded by gardening accessories.