Antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory: Because of its ingredients, horseradish was chosen as the medicinal plant of 2022. The hot root is also indispensable in the kitchen, as it gives some dishes their characteristic touch.
Horseradish is very healthy
cultivation
It is worth cultivating horseradish in your own garden, because only the fresh spears contain all the aromatic and vital substances. The perennial, fully hardy perennial thrives in almost any soil and is not high-maintenance.
Put horseradish in a place where it can stay for many years. A root barrier can be useful because the plant is very vigorous.
use horseradish
Horseradish forms several lateral roots (Fechser) on the long taproot. The new horseradish plants are grown from these.
At the beginning of May, lay the hedgehogs at a slight angle in a sunny corner of the vegetable patch. Since horseradish grows into sprawling plants, the planting distance should not be less than sixty centimetres. Then mulch with garden soil or mature compost.
In July, when the leaf shoots are about ten centimeters long, expose the roots at the head end. Cut off the side shoots and cover the root completely with soil again.
maintenance
Horseradish needs a permanently moist substrate to form thick spears. Therefore, when it is dry, water it thoroughly several times a week. For a good yield, fertilize with compost or manure in May and July.
The high content of mustard oils makes horseradish insensitive to diseases and pest infestation. It is rarely attacked by powdery mildew. You can successfully fight the fungus with a mixture of 700 ml water and 300 ml raw milk, with which you thoroughly wet the plant.
harvest and storage
Horseradish is a winter vegetable. Harvest the stalks on frost-free days from October to January. To do this, dig deep into the ground next to the root with a digging fork and lift out the rhizomes.
use
Kitchen:
Potatoes and horseradish go wonderfully together. A few horseradish shavings, for example, give a wintry potato stew a pleasantly spicy note.
medicine:
Horseradish honey is an old home remedy for colds:
- Finely grate about 100 g horseradish.
- Put the horseradish in 200 g of honey.
- Leave tightly closed for a day.
- Strain and store in a cool place.
- For a cold, take a teaspoon three times a day.
tips
You can keep cut horseradish, wrapped in a damp cloth, in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for two to three weeks. Put the grated horseradish in a small screw-top jar and let the seasoning cool.