Growing horseradish

Growing horseradish is easy – the tricky bit is stopping it taking over your garden.

In the UK, it grows wild and is easily confused with dock.

Horseradish leaves are not as wide as dock leaves, so be cautious if you think you have it growing in your garden already.

It is very versatile – not just as a sauce with beef, but it goes well with smoked mackerel, sausages, ham, trout, eggs and avocado.

It also has diuretic and digestive uses and is a natural antibiotic.

If you’re on a low salt diet, then horseradish is really useful as a seasoning.

Growing Horseradish
Horseradish will grow anywhere – and that’s part of the problem;-)

Plant in early spring for harvest that year or autumn for harvest the following year.

Dig out a trench at least 2 feet (60cm) deep – horseradish has extremely long tap roots.

Replace about 15 inches (40cm) of topsoil and then add some compost .

Lay the roots of horseradish on this about 12 inches (30cm) apart and then cover with more soil. Firm in with your heel.

Seed can be sown in early spring – thin plants to 12 inches (30cm) apart.

Keep well watered.

Harvesting Horseradish
By mid fall (autumn) the roots should be ready to harvest.

Dig up all the plants.

Use the larger roots to make horseradish sauce and store the smaller ones in sand for replanting next year.

By digging up all the plants, you’ll prevent the horseradish from getting out of control and taking over your garden.

Rescue Remedy for Growing Horseradish
Well, if you’re sure you’ve got horseradish and not dock, then you’ll have to be ruthless and dig up what you don’t need.

You’ll probably have to do that more than once as well – it grows like a weed once it’s established.

Use the larger roots and store the thinner ones in sand for replanting.

You could plant some of the smaller shoots in pots – either give them away or sell them once they start into growth.

For an explanation of gardening terms that you might not understand, please check out the Growers Dictionary section.
I found that I was either skimping on explanations or giving too much information on the individual pages so I have posted all relevant terms in one section - if there's anything you need to know, please drop me an email.

Growing Horseradish - to Index