- Home
- Planting Guides
- Horseradish Planting & Growing Guide
Horseradish Planting & Growing Guide
Whether it’s adding a fiery bite to a shrimp cocktail or making a savory condiment for meats, nothing tastes like Horseradish. In addition to all its culinary uses, it has long been used for medicinal purposes on account of its antibacterial properties. You can be harvesting your own home-grown Horseradish in a matter of months when you plant root sets and follow our easy growing guide. Read on!
Success Snapshot
PLANTING
DEPTH
Plant sets 1 in. below soil line. Needs deep rich soil for root growth.
WATER
QUANTITY
Moderate
SUNLIGHT
QUANTITY
Full Sun
PLANTING
PROXIMITY
12-18 in.
BLOOM
SEASON
Harvest roots in Late Fall
HARDINESS
ZONES
Zones 3-8. Not suited for Southern climates.
Shop Related Products
Lavender - Munstead 3 Pack
$24.95
Contains: 3 Lavender plants in 3-4 inch grower's pots
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead'
Exposure: Full Sun
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Aloysia - Lemon Verbena 3 Pack
$19.95
Contains: 3 Aloysia Plants in 3-4 inch grower's pots
Botanical Name: Aloysia citrodora, Aloysia triphylla, Verbena citrodora, Verbena triphylla
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Basil - Sweet Italian 2 Pack
$24.95
Contains: 2 Basil plants in 3-4" grower's pots
Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Indoors or move outside past frost as annual.
Rosemary - Blue 2 Pack
$24.95
Contains: 2 Rosemary plants in 3-4" grower's pots
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Exposure: Full Sun
Hardiness: Zones 8-10
Thyme - Lemon Variegated 2 Pack
$24.95
Contains: 2 Lemon Thyme plants in 3-4" grower's pots
Botanical Name: Thymus x citriodorus 'Variegata'
Exposure: Full to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 6-10
Lemongrass 2 Pack
$24.95
Contains: 2 Lemongrass plants in 3-4" grower's pots
Botanical Name: Cymbopogon citratus
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: Zones 9-11
Rosemary - Topiary Plant
$15.95
Contains: 1 Rosemary Topiary shrub in a gallon grower's pot
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Exposure: Full Sun
Hardiness: Zones 8-10
Lavender - Platinum Blonde 3 Pack
$24.95
Contains: 3 Lavender plants in 3-4 inch grower's pots
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia 'Platinum Blonde'
Exposure: Full Sun
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Where to Plant Horseradish
Plant in full sun in light-textured, well-draining soil. In areas with heavy clay soil, plant Horseradish in raised bed or containers.
When to Plant Horseradish
Plant Horseradish in early spring as soon as the soil is workable.
How to Plant Horseradish
- Find a location with full sun and well-draining soil. If you notice that water still puddles 5 to 6 hours after a hard rain, it's best to find a different spot or plant in a raised bed or container.
- Spade or till the soil to make sure there are no clods or stones for a depth of 10 inches.
- Add a generous amount of compost or decomposed manure and work it into the soil. Allow the prepared soil to settle for a few days before planting.
- Plant the Horseradish sets (root cuttings) vertically or at a 45-degree angle, spacing them about 1’ apart and covering the tops with 2 - 3” of soil. Tamp the soil down firmly.
- Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
How to Grow Horseradish
- Water at least once a week, more often in warm weather; 1” of water at a time is a good estimate. Uneven watering may cause the roots to split.
- Add a layer of compost to the surrounding soil to improve drainage, reduce evaporation, and keep competing weeds at bay.
- Harvest Horseradish in the fall, using a shovel or spading fork to lift the roots. Trim the green tops down to 1” and trim off all the side and bottom roots.
Horseradish Tips & Tricks
- For the best quality, when the leaves are 8 - 10” long carefully push the soil away from the upper end of the root. Remove all but the best sprout or crown of leaves and rub off all of the side roots before replacing the soil back around the main root. Repeat this process one more time 6 weeks later.
- Use floating row covers to prevent damage from insect pests such as horseradish flea beetle. Sprinkling the plants with wood ash can also act as a deterrent.
- Store the harvested roots in moist sand somewhere cool and dark, such as a cellar or garage.
- Horseradish can also be overwintered in the ground and harvested in the spring as soon as new growth starts to appear.