Harvesting History

The Horseradish – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions

Horseradish is a member of the mustard family and as such is related to kale, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and radishes. It is grown for its thick, fleshy white roots which are ground into a paste and used as a condiment. The zesty bite and distinctive aroma of the horseradish are not present until the root is ground up. The process of grinding crushes the root cells which release volatile oils known as isothiocyanates. Vinegar is known to stop this reaction so for milder horseradish flavor, vinegar is added immediately.
The Egyptians knew and used horseradish as early as 1500 BC. At the time of the Jewish Exodus, horseradish was designated as one of the “five bitter herbs” that the Jews were told to eat during Passover. The early Greeks used horseradish as a lower back rub and an aphrodisiac. By 1300-1600, the root was being used by Europeans especially in Central Europe, Scandinavia and England. It was increasingly used for medicinal purposes such as cough expectorant and treatment for food poisoning, scurvy, tuberculosis and colic. During the 17 th century, horseradish gained new popularity as an ingredient in “Horseradish Ale” made from horseradish, wormwood and tansy. Today, annually more than 24 million pounds of horseradish are processed to produce approximately 6 million gallons of prepared horseradish.
To plant horseradish roots dig a hole 1 foot in diameter and 8 inches deep. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole. Place the root in the hole with the small end at the bottom of the hole and allowing the root to rest along the side of the hole so that the top of the root just breaks the surface of the soil. Refill the hole with a mixture of soil and compost or dried cow manure and mound up the dirt 2-3 inches above the soil’s surface because the dirt will settle with time and watering. Make sure the top of the root is left uncovered.
Keep the soil slightly moist. The composted soil mixture should provide the plant with enough nutrients, but can be supplemented with a low nitrogen fertilizer 2-3 times during the year. For the most pungent flavor, do not harvest the roots until the leaves have seen a hard frost. One year old plants have the most flavor, so dig the roots up each year and replant in the spring. Horseradish roots may also be planted in the fall like onions and garlic.