horseradish

Fae · #1 01/14/13, 06:48 PM

I am trying to find horsersdish seed. Does anyone have a source? I have never planted it before so any help is appreciated.

bama-newsteader · #2 01/14/13, 06:52 PM

I read that it doesnt grow well from seed. I ordered some roots from Stark Bros. Johnny's seeds has it too. Havent received it yet so cant really give a recommendation.

ksfarmer · #3 01/14/13, 08:06 PM

Best to order roots for starts. As stated,,hard to grow horseradish from seed, I don't even know where to get seed.

Bountiful Ranch · #4 01/14/13, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fae

I am trying to find horsersdish seed. Does anyone have a source? I have never planted it before so any help is appreciated.

I bought last year 5 plants or horseradish sticks and this year the horseradish was wonderful. I need to go out and get more. Make sure you use one bed away from other plants because they multiply and I have more than I need. Never heard of just seeds, all the gardening suppliers sell by horseradish itself and you just plant it. Big large plants that take off quite quickly. Don't know where you are but they don't like hot summers like here in OK but they survive and again the horseradish was delicious this year.

Fae · #5 01/14/13, 09:18 PM

Thanks everyone. I kind of thought it might be plants instead of seed. I live in Southwest Alabama where it is hot as blazes but, I am going to give it a try and maybe just protect it from the hottest part of the day with shade. I will check out these sources.

Paquebot · #6 01/14/13, 11:06 PM

Horseradish is generally listed as for Zones 4 to 8. It has to have a winter even if it's a short one. That's more important than keeping it cool during the summer. Look and ask around to see if anyone else is growing horseradish in your area. If nobody else is growing it, may be for a good reason.

Martin

bowdonkey · #7 01/15/13, 08:38 AM

About 6 years ago I bought a root at the food store. I cut it up into 18 pieces and planted them in a cardboard box of starter soil. I kept it watered till they all sprouted and had small tops. It was then transplanted to a permanent bed. The bed had been deeply tilled with lots of organic matter and sand added to it. This was mostly to make digging roots easier later on. It's been a great $3.50 investment. I live in a cold zone 3. I do mulch it before winter but mostly for keeping the soil healthy.

DavidUnderwood · #8 01/15/13, 10:00 AM

Round here, Wal-Mart will have roots for sale pretty soon,
if not already, in the inside lawn and garden center.

bowdonkey · #9 01/15/13, 11:07 AM

So there's no misunderstanding, the root I purchased was in the produce dept.

Ellie Mae · #10 01/15/13, 12:11 PM

horseradish grows well here in MS, so would think they would do just fine for you in AL.

It does spread, so I planted it at the edge of the back garden in old tires which has worked really well to keep it from taking over.

I have seen whole roots at the grocery store on occasion and have grown them with no problem in the past.

can't recall for sure, so someone can correct me if wrong, but I think the roots aren't to be harvested until the second year.

Fae · #11 01/15/13, 06:22 PM

Glad to hear you have been able to grow it. I am certainly going to give it a try. I was thinking maybe give it some dappled shade during the hottest part of the day. I have been unable to find it in the grocery store but thought maybe I would look in Mobile before I order the starts.

bama-newsteader · #12 01/15/13, 07:32 PM

Fae - I am in northern Bama and I read it helps repel blister beetles. I had a huge problem with those nasty things last year so I am hoping the horseradish will help. Are you going to companion plant it with anything?

Bountiful Ranch · #13 08/30/13, 12:09 PM

The heat seems to turn the leaves brown at this time of the year. Tell me about companion planting with the horseradish? I have one box garden solely for horseradish and I surely don't need as much as those plants produce, so what else could I plant with them and take out a few of the horseradish plants?

1shotwade · #14 08/30/13, 03:51 PM

I'd just put a wanted on my local craigs list.A lot more people raise it than you think! And that will also give you an idea of how it does in your area.

InHisName · #15 08/31/13, 09:15 AM

I just put some on a trade list on the barter board- can dig up some roots if you like...

cfuhrer · #16 09/21/13, 10:42 PM

I am so glad to find this thread. I planted horseradish on a whim in late June (it was on clearance in the garden center and I didn't think they were even going to sprout). I now have three plants about twelve inches tall with three leaves each. I have never raised it before and NONE of my books even so much as mention it, let alone tell me how to handle it.

I have them in a full shade flower bed, right now they are the only thing in it but I'm planning a late fall planting of garlic and flower bulbs in the same bed.

Now what?

What do they need to get through the winter? What do they need come springtime? Do I harvest this fall or next to account for the late planting, how do I harvest? Are they perennial? Will they play nice with my garlic and color bulbs?

Any guidance is appreciated.

fishhead · #17 09/22/13, 08:27 AM

They are perennials so they should continue to grow indefinitely.

I would find a place in full sun and make some rich soil there. Mine grow waist high and 4' in diameter in the garden. Anything below them is shaded.

It's a battle to get them out of the garden once planted because any little chunk of root seems to grow another plant if not pulled will turn into a waist high plant in just 2-3 years.

I don't think you have enough root to harvest yet. I don't do anything to protect them in the winter.

There are some plants next to my house that look like those in the picture. They never get any bigger probably because they are in the shade and the soil isn't very rich.