Armoracia rusticana

Cultivation

There is not a lot of work to do with horseradish, unless you want to get long and even tubers. Grow grafts from the side tubers by planting them in spring to a 30 cm (12 in) pit, filled with 20 cm (8 in) compost. They should be planted into soil obliquely to prevent turning.

Distance between plants

At least 40 cm (15 in) between rows and at least 80 cm (30 in) between plants in a row.

Location

Sunny or half-shade.

Amount

One plant per person is sufficient.

Time of planting

Plant in early spring, as early as March.

Fertilization

Fertilize the soil in fall with barn manure and put compost into a dip where you will plant horseradish in spring. Water occasionally with nettle-comfrey brew.

Watering

Soak once a week during hot summers to reduce the strong taste.

Horseradish’s good neighbors

Potato, plums.

Horseradish’s bad neighbors

Brassica vegetables.

Diseases and pests

Similar to brassica – flea beetles, caterpillars. It helps planting among potatoes, watering with algae brew and using tomato tea or purchased solutions for bigger problems.

Horseradish’s storage

Pull it out with spading fork and make sure you remove all tubers; otherwise they will grow the following years as weeds among other vegetables. Store in moist sand in the basement.

Food

Use the meaty tuber, fresh or cooked. It contains a lot of sulfur which disinfects the whole digestion system. Young leaves are edible too, as well as the sprouts which are full of vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Important

Cultivate it separately to avoid problems with weeds.

Miscellaneous

It is a perennial, originating in Southeast Europe and West Asia, brassica relative.