Neglected Horseradish

greenthumbomaha · May 1, 2018

I didn't want to step on my strawberry patch to pick so I just admired this from far.

I planted this root well over 5 years ago and never harvested it. It looked extremely woody before it leafed out. It takes up the entire bed by the end of the season.

Will it be edible, and will I be able to dig this out without a subsequent call to 911.

- Lisa

The raspberries make access difficult too.

SQWIBB · May 2, 2018

It should be fine, I harvest in the fall.

Worth1 · May 2, 2018

Can I grow it in central Texas?

gothicgardens · May 2, 2018

Dig horseradish in any month that ends in R. Cut the tops off and replant for the next crop. It will grow anywhere but the sidewalk.

greenthumbomaha · May 3, 2018

Worth, I don't know if it will grow in Texas, but if it does you need a BIG space for a little piece of it. It grows much larger than rhubarb and hangs on to its giant leaves.

- Lisa

Nan_PA_6b · May 3, 2018

I can't believe there's anywhere horseradish won't grow. The root can be huge. I dug up a bunch of very old roots one year, and had to cut away some woody parts, but there was still a lot of usable stuff. And though I dug up everything I could, next year there was still horseradish.

Nan

MissS · May 4, 2018

Yes Worth it will grow there and it's right up your alley. Once planted, you will always have it....

CamuMahubah · May 4, 2018

When I bought my house that was built in the early 1900's it came with horseradish and rhubarb. I have no idea when they were planted. This is area is heavy Czech heritage and I'm told that any old farm house you stumble upon would have horseradish growing.

I've never harvested horseradish but a neighbor begged me for the tops!

The rhubarb is very delicious.

When my cat eats the horseradish leaves she makes sure to puke them back up on fresh dried laundry...smells like a Chinese restaurant when I hit them with the lawnmower too..

Nan_PA_6b · May 4, 2018

Horseradish plants are pretty. Very dramatic leaves, and impressive spring flower spikes.

Nan

GrowingCoastal · May 4, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissS

Yes Worth it will grow there and it's right up your alley. Once planted, you will always have it....

That is very true, whether you want it or not!

Gardeneer · May 8, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Can I grow it in central Texas?

I have grown it in Atlanta, GA. But not in full sun.
Horseradish is very invasive. You cannot get rid of it. Because a bit of root left deep in the ground will grow back. Where to plant it ? In the neighbor,s yard.\

oakley · May 8, 2018

Be careful where you plant it,

Invasive. But I'll have a lifetime supply and the roots freeze well. Mine has been
coming up for years twisting throughout my blueberry bushes. For some reason they
seem to like each other...

**carolyn137** · May 8, 2018

On the farm where I grew up the uppermost greenhouse on the west side got sun from about midday onward. And there was a whole row of it maybe 30-40 ft long.

My mother would tell me to go up and pull some roots and always from the middle of the plant, wash them off by the faucet at the end of that greenhouse and bring them down to the house.

She would have clamped that grinder to the kitchen table,I knew what came next. As I turned the crank just a few tears would start and then I'd be in full mode crying.

I don't even remember what she used it for, I wouldn't eat it,and she said that the leaves tasted good,whatever that means as well.

Her mother was Swedish, my grandmother,she was Hedwig in Sweden near Uppsala, but was called Hattie after immigrating to the US with the rest of the Carlsons in her family , I just called her grandma.

Mom once wrote out some recipes on index cards,I still have them and maybe there's even a card for horseradish something or other.

Carolyn

b54red · May 20, 2018

I tried to grow it once and it got destroyed by bugs. I was really surprised that anything would eat it but there seems to be a pest for everything down here. I love good and really hot horseradish and so does my wife. When we make our own cocktail sauce for boiled shrimp and such it is so full of horseradish it is only slightly pink. It kinda slaps you in the back of the head when you eat it but it does a wonderful job of clearing your sinuses.

How deep do you plant it? Does it like full sun or partial shade?

Bill

Nan_PA_6b · May 20, 2018

Mine was planted in about 5 hours of sun, pure clay.

Nan

May 4, 2018	#7
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,149	Yes Worth it will grow there and it's right up your alley. Once planted, you will always have it.... __________________ ~ Patti ~

May 8, 2018	#13
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	On the farm where I grew up the uppermost greenhouse on the west side got sun from about midday onward. And there was a whole row of it maybe 30-40 ft long. My mother would tell me to go up and pull some roots and always from the middle of the plant, wash them off by the faucet at the end of that greenhouse and bring them down to the house. She would have clamped that grinder to the kitchen table,I knew what came next. As I turned the crank just a few tears would start and then I'd be in full mode crying. I don't even remember what she used it for, I wouldn't eat it,and she said that the leaves tasted good,whatever that means as well. Her mother was Swedish, my grandmother,she was Hedwig in Sweden near Uppsala, but was called Hattie after immigrating to the US with the rest of the Carlsons in her family , I just called her grandma. Mom once wrote out some recipes on index cards,I still have them and maybe there's even a card for horseradish something or other. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

May 2, 2018	#2
SQWIBB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Philly 7A Posts: 739	It should be fine, I harvest in the fall.

May 2, 2018	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Can I grow it in central Texas?

May 2, 2018	#4
gothicgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Eldon, Iowa Posts: 48	Dig horseradish in any month that ends in R. Cut the tops off and replant for the next crop. It will grow anywhere but the sidewalk.

May 3, 2018	#5
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Worth, I don't know if it will grow in Texas, but if it does you need a BIG space for a little piece of it. It grows much larger than rhubarb and hangs on to its giant leaves. - Lisa

May 3, 2018	#6
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	I can't believe there's anywhere horseradish won't grow. The root can be huge. I dug up a bunch of very old roots one year, and had to cut away some woody parts, but there was still a lot of usable stuff. And though I dug up everything I could, next year there was still horseradish. Nan

May 4, 2018	#8
CamuMahubah Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Alliance Nebraska Posts: 169	When I bought my house that was built in the early 1900's it came with horseradish and rhubarb. I have no idea when they were planted. This is area is heavy Czech heritage and I'm told that any old farm house you stumble upon would have horseradish growing. I've never harvested horseradish but a neighbor begged me for the tops! The rhubarb is very delicious. When my cat eats the horseradish leaves she makes sure to puke them back up on fresh dried laundry...smells like a Chinese restaurant when I hit them with the lawnmower too..

May 8, 2018	#12
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Be careful where you plant it, Invasive. But I'll have a lifetime supply and the roots freeze well. Mine has been coming up for years twisting throughout my blueberry bushes. For some reason they seem to like each other...

May 20, 2018	#14
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I tried to grow it once and it got destroyed by bugs. I was really surprised that anything would eat it but there seems to be a pest for everything down here. I love good and really hot horseradish and so does my wife. When we make our own cocktail sauce for boiled shrimp and such it is so full of horseradish it is only slightly pink. It kinda slaps you in the back of the head when you eat it but it does a wonderful job of clearing your sinuses. How deep do you plant it? Does it like full sun or partial shade? Bill