Growing Horseradish

Armoracia rusticana : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P P                

(Best months for growing Horseradish in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Easy to grow. Plant root pieces. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 20 inches apart
  • Harvest in 16-24 weeks. Some improvement in flavour if left till after frost..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best kept separate
  • Horseradish leaf

Horseradish is grown from root cuttings. If you know someone who has it in their garden, just one piece of root will start off for you.

Dig a deep hole and refill with compost as the horseradish has a long taproot. Plant it and then leave it alone. Apart from constant wet or cold, horseradish will grow in any part of the garden.

Horseradish is an aggressive grower and will quickly take over the garden. It will also grow well in a deep container or sink an old bucket in the ground to prevent spreading. Otherwise, remove all the plant when you harvest it and save one piece to replant.

Can be planted in early Autumn or Spring

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Horseradish

Strong, spicy flavour traditionally used with roast beef.

Used grated for horseradish sauce or horseradish cream.

Your comments and tips

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29 Oct 23, Joy Thomas (USA - Zone 7b climate)
I live in NW Arkansas. I planted bohemian horseradish late this spring in large feed bucket containers. When do I harvest? Can I leave some in the ground or will it freeze since it us above ground in a container?
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27 Mar 21, Garre MacKillip (USA - Zone 3b climate)
can i plant horseraddish i bought in a store, maybe cut the root in quarters and plant? just curious. Thank You.......Garre
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29 Mar 21, (USA - Zone 3b climate)
Plant in June.
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28 Feb 21, Deana Bess (USA - Zone 6b climate)
I am growing horseradish for the first time; I started it in a gallon container in the greenhouse in December and it has been doing well except aphids. I believe this is because it is ready for a bigger space and I am concerned about putting it out in the gardens now. Our last frost date is not until the end of April. However, even if the foilage died back, it seems it would re-grow when the temperatures were better. I am experimenting and will likely put it out and then if we get another frost or snow, I will cover it with mulch and leaves.
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01 Mar 21, Anon (USA - Zone 6b climate)
It says plant Feb/Mar and you planted Dec. There could be your problem. Yours could be nearly ready to harvest but you still could be having frosts or snow. Not ideal. Take the advise here and plant later. Try your mulch and see how it works.
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30 Jul 20, Quaid (USA - Zone 6b climate)
I bought some horseradish a couple weeks ago that i have in peat moss inside the house. If i plant them outside in early autumn, can i leave them outside over winter?
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18 Jul 18, Chad (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I enjoy eating what we can grow here on our farm. I've been thinking of growing horseradish. I'm in the central MS area. 8b I think but not certain. This will only be growing for our use not looking to grow commercial. What can I do or would you recommend? Thank you
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04 Jun 19, Lucy (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I have horseradish it’s easy to grow. I live up in northern Minnesota. By accident I have three patches growing. Remember to get rid of weeds around the horseradish. Also you shouldn’t dig up the roots until September through April. Months with a R in them. Try going where they sell plants and ask if they have horseradish roots.
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22 May 18, Deloris (USA - Zone 7a climate)
Can I grow horseradish here
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17 Jun 17, Glenn Dahlem (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Are places unusually hot in summer, such as Phoenix, AZ area, too hot for horseradish to grow, assuming it's being watered throughout the summer months?
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Showing 1 - 10 of 13 comments
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Hi Catherine, I use to mix the horseradish with beetroot and use it as a salad next to grilled steak or sausages. It is delicious! Ingredients: 3-4 small beetroots 1 small horseradish root Salt Splash of vinegar (optional – don’t use if using horseradish from a jar as it normally already contains vinegar) Mustard seeds (optional) Cumin seeds (optional) Method: 1. Rinse any mud off the beetroots and put them in a saucepan (metal is best; it might stain enamel) and cover them with water. 2. Bring the water to the boil and leave to boil for 30-40 minutes. 3. Drain the now very purple boiled water from the pan and refill with cold water and allow the beetroots to cool enough to be handled. 4. Clean off the skin (you should now be able to rub it off with your fingers, but use the flat of a knife to scrap it off if you like) and trim off any roots or stem stubs. (You can bake the beetroot and it will be more tasty and healthy) 5. Cut up the beetroots – you can grate it, julienne it, cube it, slice it...whatever you prefer. 6. In a separate bowl finely grate the horseradish. Be a bit careful here if you’ve never grated horseradish before as it’s tremendously powerful – I recommend you don’t hold your head over the bowl whilst grating it! 7. Teaspoon by teaspoon, add the horseradish to the beetroot and taste until you reach a combination you like. Don’t just throw it all in at once because if it’s too strong it’s hard to correct. Horseradish from the jar normally isn’t as powerful as fresh horseradish so you might need a few extra teaspoons. If you have any horseradish left over, put it in a small jar with some salt and vinegar and keep it for a dressing next time you prepare some beef or lamb. 8. Check the seasoning and add some salt and a splash of vinegar if you feel it needs it. 9. You can, at this point, add some mustard seeds (about a heaped teaspoon) or a sprinkle of cumin if you like these flavours. Mustard seeds aren’t so strong but be a little careful with the cumin as it can overpower. 10. Serve! Enjoy!

- Vali

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