All I know about horseradish it that the first year we planted two roots. Spring and early summer were very dry and the roots didn't come up. The next year we planted four roots and due to normal rainfall all came up. Just last summer I noticed that one of the roots that had been planted two years ago during the dry weather came up! We planted the newer four roots about 150 feet away from old two so there's no chance that the newer horseradish could of spread that far. Explain that.

would like to try (again) some horseradish for my father-in-law. horseradish is deffenately NOT one of my success stories... apparently just sticking in into the ground doesn't work too great.

which direction do you put the roots in the ground? like a carrot or on their sides? I tried in a large container, but maybe they need more space? maybe some research is in line. any recommended sites? thanks for any and all input.

Horseradish doesn't spread quite as fast as you think. It will over time start to spread out, but I transplanted 50-60 of my grandma's roots 3 years ago into my garden, and they really haven't gone anywhere.

I think its harder to get rid of it later if you want to move it or are tired of it, because just like dandelions if you leave any piece of the root in the ground it will come back.

I have propegated horseradish by digging it in fall (to process) but saving about 1-2" of the top and sticking it back in the ground, you have to wait a couple of years to get a nice root from this piece but it will grow and produce.

As far as easy to grow, I have found it super easy. I just planted the roots vertical like carrots and wait a year or two for them to get large enough to process. They will get huge leaves on in summer and stand about 5' tall.

With one piece of root you may get a large enough plant to dig it this fall, just be sure to leave some of the smaller pieces of the root in the ground if you want more next year. This is a good way to get a patch going without having to buy several roots at the beginning, but it will be a slower way also.

As far as recommended sites when I first got my grandmas HR I only had a small 2x2 shady area to put it it, and it survived there for 5 years, slowly growing. Really more surviving than thriving.

Then 3 years ago I dug it up and was able to take it out to a large piece of land I purchased with full sun. WOW how it grew that year. I don't think its fussy, in fact the roots I got from her sat in some dirt in my basement for a winter until I was able to get them in the ground the next spring. While the initial roots from the shady area were small, I was suprised to dig and find 50-60 viable roots in that small area. After transplanting the sun and space really gave them the initiative they needed.

wow! thanks josie23. i do have a 10 yr plan on landscaping but don't think i'll need 50 plants! maybe a 4 x 4 raised bed they can have to themselves? how close to you plant them? I assume the longer (yrs) they go unhavested the larger the root? to they get too big and develop a yucky flavor? what about wet feet? part of my back yard is very soggy in the spring. I could raise the bed higher than my normal 6" that I did for my strawberries.

I've noticed that the really large horseradish start to get woody. They don't seem to mind occasional wet ground. I have some very wet ground that I couldn't grow anything of value until I discovered skirret. It loves wet soil.

thanks someguyinmaine. I don't think my FIL (father in law) will let them go too long. he'll be itching to use them. But how often does one havest for opt size? and is harvest in fall? do you need to cover it in winter? I know nothing of this plant.

I hope this response doesn't come too late to be helpful. I planted 3 roots in my garden about 10 years ago and am still regretting it. To say that the stuff is prolific is like describing a tornado as a rain shower. Sigh.

I still fight the shoots in the flower beds, with a hoe. Round-up barely affects it. It gets better every year, but I still curse the day I planted it.

However, that does not mean I don't still grow it. I love it! But I planted it where it is surrounded by lawn. The act of constantly mowing around it controls it very well. no need to mulch around it or clear the grass. Just plop a piece of root where you want it to grow. It is a large, tropical-looking plant that will smother out the grass under the leaves.

I do not bother replanting when I harvest. Even a small bit of root will grow large and strong in short order. And do take care not to use the grass in that area as mulch. You don't want to chance this stuff getting a root-hold in your garden.

Kay

Holy Moly!!! Im going to have to be careful where I plant mine. I have about 4 places id like it, bbut dont want it hugely invasive... I ordered one root figuring ill try it. Maybe ill put it somewhere where I dont mind if it spreads.

Like others have said - be sure you really want it as it's hard to kill. I find it to be one of those things I can buy in the store and be totally satisfied with - especially since I don't use enough to warrant it having valuable garden space.