Preparation & Planting
Before planting Horseradish, spade or rototill the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches, turning under or mixing in generous amounts of well-decayed compost or other organic material. Incorporate either a complete garden fertilizer (10-10-10) at a rate of 1 lb./100 sq ft. Or a liberal amount of well-decayed manure into the soil. Fresh or partly fresh manure used before planting will cause excessive top growth and forked roots. Let the worked-up soil settle a few days before planting.
Plant root cuttings, sometimes called “sets”, in early spring as soon as soil can be worked. Space the sets 1 foot apart, setting them vertically or at a 45 degree angle. If angled, make sure that the tops point along the rows in the same direction. This makes cultivating easier. Cover the sets with 2-3 inches of soil.
Weed control is especially important early in the season when the plants are relatively small. It is best to cultivate in the same direction that the sets were planted. Mulch around each plant with organic material such as compost or leaves. It will benefit the plants by retaining moisture in the soil, keeping the soil cooler, and controlling weeds.
To grow high quality Horseradish, lift and strip the roots twice, first when the biggest leaves are 8-10 inches long and again 6 weeks later. To lift and strip, carefully remove the soil from around the upper ends of the main root, leaving roots at the lower end of the set undisturbed. Raise the crown and remove all but the best sprout or crown of leaves. Rub off all small roots from the crown and sides of the main root, leaving only those at the bottom. Return the set to its original position and replace the soil.
Harvesting
Horseradish makes its greatest growth during late summer and early autumn. For this reason, delay fall harvest until late October or early November, or just before the ground freezes. Harvest by digging a trench 12-24 inches deep along one side of the row. Then, working from the opposite side of the row with a shovel or spading fork, dig the roots. Use the tops as a handle for pulling them laterally from the soil. Trim the green tops so there is only one inch left. Trim off side and bottom roots saving those that are 8 inches and longer for next spring’s planting stock. Cut the roots squarely across at the top and sloping at the bottom. This will make it easier to distinguish which end to set upright at planting time.
Tie cleaned root cuttings in small bundles and place them in moist sand. Over-winter Horseradish in a root cellar or basement that stays between 32-19 degrees during the winter. The roots must not be exposed to light, otherwise they become green. If storage and temperature conditions cannot be met, an alternative would be to harvest
Horseradish in spring rather than fall. Dig the roots as soon as new growth starts to appear in spring. Replant lateral roots for next spring’s crop. Roots left in the ground for two growing seasons become stringy and woody.
Storage & Use
Store Horseradish roots for fresh grinding in dark plastic wrapping in the refrigerator. Protect the roots from light to prevent their turning green.
The most common way of preparing horseradish for table use begins with peeling or scraping the roots. Grate the root directly into white wine vinegar or distilled vinegar. Avoid using cider vinegar, as it causes discoloration in the grated Horseradish within a rather short time. Depending on your preference, the vinegar may be slightly diluted. Bottle the Horeradish and cap the containers as soon as possible after grating. Refrigerate at all times to preserve the pungent flavor. Freshly grated Horseradish will keep only for a few weeks. Then prepare a fresh supply.
Horseradish may also be dried, ground to a powder and put up in bottles in a dry form. Dried Horseradish will keep much longer than the freshly grated product, but is generally not as high quality.
Problems
Occasionally, Horseradish may suffer from root rot. Select only disease-free root cuttings to use as planting stock. Rotate the planting site so it is not grown in the same place more often than every 3-4 years. Certain insects can also be a serious pest on Horseradish foliage. Use the following pesticides for the following insects: (Consult product labels for legal restrictions, rates and complete instructions!!!!!!)
What Makes Horseradish Hot?
Horseradish is a member of the mustard family (sharing lineage with its gentler cousins, Kale, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts and the common Radish) and is cultivated for its thick, fleshy white roots. The bite and aroma of the Horseradish root are almost absent until it is grated or ground. During this process, as the root cells are crushed, volatile oils known as isothiocyanate are released. Vinegar stops this reaction and stabilizes the flavor. For milder horseradish, vinegar is added immediately.
Companion Planting
Horseradish is said to help fruit trees. It helps prevent brown rot on apples and potato diseases.
Garden Notes
Once established, Horseradish is very hard to get rid of and spreads very rapidly, so grow it in a sunny, out-of-the-way corner.