Growing Horseradish

Armoracia rusticana : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                    P P

(Best months for growing Horseradish in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Easy to grow. Plant root pieces. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 20 inches apart
  • Harvest in 16-24 weeks. Some improvement in flavour if left till after frost..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best kept separate
  • Horseradish leaf

Horseradish is grown from root cuttings. If you know someone who has it in their garden, just one piece of root will start off for you.

Dig a deep hole and refill with compost as the horseradish has a long taproot. Plant it and then leave it alone. Apart from constant wet or cold, horseradish will grow in any part of the garden.

Horseradish is an aggressive grower and will quickly take over the garden. It will also grow well in a deep container or sink an old bucket in the ground to prevent spreading. Otherwise, remove all the plant when you harvest it and save one piece to replant.

Can be planted in early Autumn or Spring

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Horseradish

Strong, spicy flavour traditionally used with roast beef.

Used grated for horseradish sauce or horseradish cream.

Your comments and tips

02 Oct 21, Mike Austin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, Also looking for Horseradish Crowns , live in Kawerau, BOP .
30 Jun 21, Janet (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi there Don, If you have any extra crowns after your harvest I would really appreciate some please. I look forward to hearing from you Best, Janet
14 May 21, Lesley Greaves (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Can I buy a crown from a garden centre
09 Aug 21, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Search online for a seller.
01 Feb 21, Andree (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Looking for a couple of horseradish plant if anyone has any. Can't seem to get it from the local plant shops. cheers
13 Mar 21, Don McLeod (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Andre have you managed to get the horse radish yet . Am in the waikato and will be harvesting say July/ August if you would like some crowns
29 Aug 22, M H And D I Clear (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Do you have any horseradish crowns. I live in upper hutt
06 May 21, LYN (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Don I'd like to some of your horseradish crowns if they are available. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Lyn
31 Jul 20, Christiane Kennedy (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
where in dunedin can you buy Armoracia rusticana also known as horseraddish root?
03 Aug 20, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Look up seed selling website in NZ.
Showing 1 - 10 of 58 comments

Hi Catherine, I use to mix the horseradish with beetroot and use it as a salad next to grilled steak or sausages. It is delicious! Ingredients: 3-4 small beetroots 1 small horseradish root Salt Splash of vinegar (optional – don’t use if using horseradish from a jar as it normally already contains vinegar) Mustard seeds (optional) Cumin seeds (optional) Method: 1. Rinse any mud off the beetroots and put them in a saucepan (metal is best; it might stain enamel) and cover them with water. 2. Bring the water to the boil and leave to boil for 30-40 minutes. 3. Drain the now very purple boiled water from the pan and refill with cold water and allow the beetroots to cool enough to be handled. 4. Clean off the skin (you should now be able to rub it off with your fingers, but use the flat of a knife to scrap it off if you like) and trim off any roots or stem stubs. (You can bake the beetroot and it will be more tasty and healthy) 5. Cut up the beetroots – you can grate it, julienne it, cube it, slice it...whatever you prefer. 6. In a separate bowl finely grate the horseradish. Be a bit careful here if you’ve never grated horseradish before as it’s tremendously powerful – I recommend you don’t hold your head over the bowl whilst grating it! 7. Teaspoon by teaspoon, add the horseradish to the beetroot and taste until you reach a combination you like. Don’t just throw it all in at once because if it’s too strong it’s hard to correct. Horseradish from the jar normally isn’t as powerful as fresh horseradish so you might need a few extra teaspoons. If you have any horseradish left over, put it in a small jar with some salt and vinegar and keep it for a dressing next time you prepare some beef or lamb. 8. Check the seasoning and add some salt and a splash of vinegar if you feel it needs it. 9. You can, at this point, add some mustard seeds (about a heaped teaspoon) or a sprinkle of cumin if you like these flavours. Mustard seeds aren’t so strong but be a little careful with the cumin as it can overpower. 10. Serve! Enjoy!

- Vali

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