Horseradish is also known as "horseradish" in southern Germany and Austria and has always been cultivated in cottage gardens as a spice plant. The main root is served in grated form as a seasoning or processed fresh and dried into sauces and seasoning mixtures.

Laying the foundation for a good harvest

Already the planting of the side roots of the horseradish, called Fechser, lays the basis for a satisfactory harvest. The fences kept from the previous season must be planted according to certain criteria:

  • in a humus rich and deep soil
  • according to their cut mark with the right side up
  • with the upper end two inches underground
  • with the lower end about ten centimeters below the surface of the earth

A straight and strong taproot can only grow if the Fechser is planted at an ideal angle.

Proper care of horseradish for a bounty harvest

For the cultivation of horseradish from March and April, the soil in the respective bed should be fertilized with fresh manure about six to eight weeks beforehand. If the upper third of the root is briefly exposed in June and freed from lateral roots, the energy supply from the long leaves is better concentrated on the development of the main root. In summer, you can also add a little fertilizer to provide the horseradish with enough nutrients.

Harvest the horseradish

Once the leaves of the horseradish wither in the fall, the growth of the coveted and flavorful roots is complete. They can then be carefully dug up with a spade. However, the roots can also remain in the ground at a frost-free depth and be gradually harvested fresh and used over the winter. For storage in the cellar, the roots are freed from still adhering leaves with a knife and pounded unwashed in moist sand.

Store horseradish properly

A simple and inexpensive way of storing horseradish is to leave the roots in the bed in a frost-free depth in the ground. The roots can also be stored in moist sand for several months, but they lose some of their sharpness. Horseradish can also be gently dried in grated form and stored in screw-top jars for use as a condiment.

tips and tricks

If you want to harvest horseradish again next year, you should pay attention to the side roots of the horseradish, known as foxes, when harvesting. Use a knife to separate this from the main root so that you can still see the side facing up later for replanting in spring. Store the foxes unwashed and ideally in sandboxes in a cool basement room. If you do not want horseradish to multiply in your garden, you must dig up all the root parts. Otherwise, the horseradish can also sprout again from the smallest pieces of root.

Category:

Vegetable garden