Horseradish & Asparagus

[Tirzah]

We have a couple of horseradish plants and some Asparagus plants we dug out of a ditch Do you think that these would do well in separate raised beds?

[tomakers]

I would make sure I had some type of containment for the horseradish. It spreads easily and there is no stopping it in my garden. At least 20 years ago someone gave me horseradish roots, which I planted in the garden. I tried to rid the garden of it a couple of years later, as no one but me would eat it, and I wanted the space for something else. I am still pulling plants from that original planting today. It is INVASIVE. They will both do well in the garden or in separate raised beds. Try to plant the asparagras at the same depth as it was growing. Do NOT cut back the tops. Feed it plenty in the spring and weed it well, it will last for many years.
JMO,
Tom

[Pony]

Raised beds are a good idea for both. I have asparagus in a larger raised bed than the horseradish, with no sides, but the horseradish is in a 4x4 bed with wood sides. I do NOT want it taking over the world!

Hey! That reminds me! In a couple of days, we can harvest some horseradish, because September has an "R" in it!

Pony!

[VALENT]

Originally Posted by Pony

Raised beds are a good idea for both. I have asparagus in a larger raised bed than the horseradish, with no sides, but the horseradish is in a 4x4 bed with wood sides. I do NOT want it taking over the world!

Hey! That reminds me! In a couple of days, we can harvest some horseradish, because September has an "R" in it!

Pony!

I got some horseradish root to start this year from NJMama. It has done pretty well, I think.
Pony, how do you harvest? What do you do with yours?

[Tirzah]

Thank you so much everyone for your advice

[Pony]

Originally Posted by VALENT

I got some horseradish root to start this year from NJMama. It has done pretty well, I think.
Pony, how do you harvest? What do you do with yours?

Well, I am not sure how it's going to work out, since this is my very first year. But wow! You should see those plants! The leaves are nearly as tall as I!

From what I've read, you're supposed to dig up the roots, scrub them, and process them OUTSIDE. I'll use the food processor to grind them up.

Then you add vinegar. If you add it immediately, the horseradish will be mild. Wait up to three minutes, and it will be much more pungent.

Sadly, I have not yet read of a way to process the jars at home so that the heat doesn't destroy the Zip. Open to suggestions, though!

BTW, Valent, did you ever get sweet potatoes going? Mine were a flop. Glad the horseradish came through!

Pony!

[VALENT]

NOPE. It did look promising for a short while, but nothing. It is so odd that I couldnt get them to try when a neighbor had one sitting on the counter that sprang out slips in every imaginable direction.

[tomakers]

I would definitely do any processing of horseradish outside. I remember years ago, at the farmer's market in Lancaster, PA, I watched them prepare horseradish and they wore respirator type masks and had a fan going all the time to blow the fumes away from them. I think they also added milk or cream to the ground horseradish to keep it from changing color. I know when it is fresh it has quite a kick, but disperses quickly, unlike the processed horseradish which has less of a bite but persists longer. I never used it any way but to shave a small portion and use it fresh.
Good Gardening,
Tom

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by Pony

Raised beds are a good idea for both. I have asparagus in a larger raised bed than the horseradish, with no sides, but the horseradish is in a 4x4 bed with wood sides. I do NOT want it taking over the world!

I don't know why horseradish has a reputation of trying to take over the world when the opposite it true. If left to itself over many years, it will simply become one monstrously huge plant and go nowhere. The "invasion" comes when Man interferes. Gardener digs out a single root and next year has 20 more plants and claims that it's invasive. It merely that horseradish is one of the simplest plants to get started since only a short piece of root is required to begin a new plant. So, every little root piece left in the ground is capable of becoming a new plant. In Dick Raymond's "Joy of Gardening", he tells how to expand a horseradish bed simply by roto-tilling it!

Hey! That reminds me! In a couple of days, we can harvest some horseradish, because September has an "R" in it!

I've been stepping over several really huge plants for several years so I know that there's some big roots under them. Down to my last pint so they're coming up as soon as cool weather gets here. Don't know why but November was always the grinding time in our family. May have been so frost killed the leaves? I'll at least wait until October.

Martin

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Paquebot

I've been stepping over several really huge plants for several years so I know that there's some big roots under them. Down to my last pint so they're coming up as soon as cool weather gets here. Don't know why but November was always the grinding time in our family. May have been so frost killed the leaves? I'll at least wait until October.

Martin

Maybe the frost holds down the pungency so it doesn't make it to your eyes?

How do you process your horseradish, Martin?

Pony!

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by Pony

Maybe the frost holds down the pungency so it doesn't make it to your eyes?

How do you process your horseradish, Martin?

Pony!

I think that the late digging was due to fall rains making it juicier as well as maximum growth. Doesn't matter how pungent it is as long as you've got a good stiff breeze behind you.

For processing horseradish, it's the same Maverick electric grinder which we use for venison. Normal coarse grind is with the ¼" sausage plate. For cream style, then do a second grind but with a hamburger plate.

Martin