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Growing Horseradish

(Armoracia rusticana)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    P P                

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

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.


  • Easy to grow. Plant root pieces. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 cm apart
  • Harvest in 16-24 weeks. Some improvement in flavour if left till after frost..
  • Compatible with: 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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13 Dec 10, Krystyna Clark (USA - Zone 7a climate)
It's 18 degress right now - tonight will be in single digets. Will stay that way for a week - can i still plant horseradish?
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Post a question, comment or tip about Horseradish

No problem! Please let us all know how they turn out!Just a word of caution - protect your eyes when grating old horseradish - it will burn your eyes. Use swimming goggles. I know people who didn't realize this until it was too late - they got a chemical burn, took a week to recover. Cheers!

- Peter


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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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