Horseradish

Anyone had any experience of growing this?
I bought a piece of root on Ebay, potted it up and it has produced healthy sprouting leaves.
Any suggestions as to how big I should keep it potted before I plant out?
I know that it can be invasive: any tips on containing its spread?

[ 16. October 2007, 09:30 PM: Message edited by: Prastio ]

 

It should really have gone straight in the ground. It is hardy and invasive and delicious. Get it planted out now before any frosts. Here's mine.



The slugs have been at the leaves, but it's the roots what counts.

 

I have never grown it myself but used to pick the roots for my dad when I was a kid. He used to make a very tasty sauce with it albeit hot and strong.

 

Yes it's a very under-rated sauce John. People think that it is only any good with beef. But we use it also with, vegetables fried in batter, as a starter (superb), smoked mackerel, tiger prawns (mix horseradish with mayonnaise). It really is very versatile, as long as you like something with a bit of zing. Oh and don't forget that AS SOON AS it is grated it must be mixed with vinegar, otherwise it goes brown and bitter very quickly.

 

Boys, boys, boys :D

I feel so smug here , because it grows wild in the extensive wood area's that i regularly walk

Horseradish is really great in Strogonoff as well, i use it in sandwiches instead of the 'clover' hubby is so fond off, add a bit of watercress etc., sinply delicious yum yum rub my tum

 

Paula. Nobody has pointed out that it is excellent with slugs. (It's a brassica and you ask my slugs).

 

Sarra,

Does it repel them or do they repel it :D

 

Neither, they make bridal bouquets out of it. :D :D

 

Grating is best done outside on a windy day. If you think onions nip your eyes !!!!

 

I'm told that the leaves of Horseradish are good to eat as well(??). We only planted ours this Summer and havn't tried eating it yet, thought better let it establish a bit. Any recipies? How does one harvest the roots, I presume you pull up the whole plant, take what you want and replant the split roots. :confused:

 

I have posted the recipy of a sauce in the recipy section, taken from:
www.horseradish.org , where there are many more recipies.

 

I understand that the young leaves can be chopped up into a salad - never tried it though.

No need to replant - you will have horseradish for life from the bits you leave in the ground.

 

It sounds as if the Horseradish plant is akin to the Dock and I've been at war with them for years!

 

It is much worse. It will spread, believe me.

I grow mine in very large, heavy gauge, plastic sacks. Sack holds maybe 120 litres of soil. To harvest, I cut open the sack over a builders bag & agitate so as to remove the entire plant. I was fascinated to see how the roots had coiled up at the bottom of the bag (through a full 3ft of soil).

 

I like the plastic bag idea!
More information, please. Any old soil or rich in compost? Presumably some drain holes? Do you sink the bag in a hole or is it freestanding?