Horseradish

[floraldi]

A kind lady on the swop forum will be sending me 4 pieces of this
favourite.  Will it need special growing conditions? Can it be grown in a large container?  Be grateful for any advice.

[floraldi]

[ACE]

I have never heard of it grown in a pot, but it is worth a try with one bit. It will grow anywhere but the better the soil the better the plant. I grow a strange  one with a decorative white foliage, in a shady border but it  still has a nice strong taste

[powerspade]

Keep you eye on it as it can spread a lot

[saddad]

As it is incredibly deep rooting it probably won't flourish in a pot...
:-\

[DeeBee]

We kept ours successfully in the pot for a few years before we got the lottie. Absolutely no special care at all. Once in a blue moon I remembered to feed it. And once a year in the spring I would shake it out yank off bits to make sauce, bob it back in the pot and up  it would thrive for another year. MAy just have been luck?  It was one of those long trumpet shaped pots though, about two and a half feet tall, about 9 inch diameter.
Where the pot used to stand we now have horseradish growing out of the ground where a bit must have tunnelled through. :) TRhe original plant is taking over a part of the allotment and still gets pulled apart and has been given to every body else on the site. It's trying to take over the world I'm sure! ;D

[floraldi]

I will try a tall pot then and see what happens.  I really like it with roast beef but am not sure how I will make a sauce to my liking. There are bound to be recipes on the Internet.

[cleo]

It`s not so invasive as some would have one believe,just keep an eye on it.

It`s an eye waterer grated so think about the food processer,spice grinder for the sauce

A touch of mustard,horseradish,some cream-a forerib of beef-I`m drooling :P

[silverbirch]

I just grate it in to a bit of fresh cream.

[Eristic]

so think about the food processer,spice grinder for the sauce

Never ever put horseradish root in a food processor. Trust me, I've done it.

[calendula]

you might  find this saucy enough  ;D

http://www.horseradish.org/

[Robert_Brenchley]

Never ever put horseradish root in a food processor. Trust me, I've done it.

Why not? I do chili in mine, it can't come hotter than that!

[Emagggie]

How about planting it in a bottomless pot? It does seem a bugger to get rid of when it pops up in an unexpected place, (in amongst the spuds on my plot.) I intend to try it myself this year as I do like a bit. (of horse raddish).

[Eristic]

Why not? I do chili in mine, it can't come hotter than that!

It's nothing to do with the heat but the clouds of CS gas that fill the kitchen within a few seconds.

[silverbirch]

I was reading one of my old gardening books last night, published around 1920.  They had a neat idea for horseradish.

You make a mound of soil about 2 foot high, and poke the thongs in to it.  Come the winter, you break up the pile and take out any usable size roots, they can be stored in damp sand in the greenhouse.  Any pieces that are too thin are used for next year's crop.

[debster]

im very kindly being sent more this year because mine died last year in a pot the torrential rain was too much for it  ???

[Belinda]

When to other half eventually gets around to making the boxes for me - this is the method I shall be trying (Taken from another forum)

NON-INVASIVE METHOD OF GROWING HORSERADISH

Plant your individual Thongs 2’ (60cm) apart and allow to establish in the first year.
At the end of the first season clear all plant debris and weeds from the area and build a box 12”x12”x12” (30x30x30cm) with no top or bottom. Place the box over the crown centrally and insert 2-3” (50-75mm) of compost over the crown and top the rest of the box up with sharp sand. You will need a box for every thong.

The following spring the Horseradish will send up several heads and these are new thongs. At the end of the season when the plant is dying back remove the box and pick ALL the thongs from the crown. You must pick all the thongs irrespective of if you want them all or not, or the system breaks down.

When you have taken your young succulent thongs simply repeat the system again. Box over the crown, compost and sharp sand.

If you need Horseradish urgently during the growing season it is possible to unearth a thong and take as much as you need.

NEVER allow Horseradish to flower and at the first sign cut them from the plant.

DO NOT dispose of unwanted surplus thongs on the compost heap, either pass on to another gardener explaining the method or destroy. Suggest you allow them to dry out and burn them.

In the unlikely event of growth outside the box (if you have it centrally positioned) simply keep hoeing it down and deal with the source at the end of the season when harvesting.

When processing Horseradish remember to do so in an unconfined area and be aware that it will affect your eyes at about the strength of Onions x 10!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

[floraldi]

Thanks to all.  I like the idea from Silverbirch about the mound but which way is up with the thongs.  I have four sent by the lady on Swop shop and a couple have knobbly ends and the other end has been cut.

I couldn't do the system with the boxes as I don't have that amount of space.  There is a spot in my garden which I think might be just right.  Last night I looked at an official site about horseradish and it seems that the thongs are laid almost flat.

  Also, I did find some recipes and was surprised that they all mentioned white vinegar to mix with it after grating as the shop bought stuff did seem to be creamy.  I will mix mine with some cream.