The Propagation of Horseradish

Garden Location

• Choose a sunny garden location and prepare the garden soil, as usual, in the fall or early spring. Horseradish does not thrive in shady areas. Make sure the garden space is in a sunny location with sufficient room for growth. A mature horseradish plant can reach 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Horseradish can be planted in deep containers, such as whiskey barrels, if your garden is short on space.

Processing Horseradish Root

• Purchase horseradish root from the grocery store, seed catalog or dig up an existing horseradish plant. The plants have a large taproot and fleshy side roots. Remove any part of the root that is 1 inch in diameter and 6- to 8-inches long with a clean, sharp knife. Set the root cuttings aside. Process the remaining part of the root with vinegar for fresh horseradish. If using horseradish root from the grocery store, keep in mind you will not know the variety you are planting.

Planting Horseradish Root

• Lay one root cutting horizontally in the prepared garden soil, with the thick end slightly raised. Make sure the head of the root or the top of the root is raised slightly in the soil. Cover the root with 6 to 8 inches of soil. Continue applying soil to the area until a 2-foot-wide ridge is formed. Water in the horseradish and keep the herb evenly moist. Fertilize the horseradish with 10-10-10 or compost, once the leaves have appeared.

Suckering Horseradish Root

• Suckering horseradish root is one way of encouraging the plant to send energy to the original set or root instead of side shoots. This process is done by removing all but one or two leaf shoots from around the main head end of the plant's crown as they develop. Suckering will continue throughout the season as new shoots appear on the plant.

Lifting Horseradish Root

• Lifting horseradish root is another approach that is used to increase the size of the main root. This is done by digging through the ridge of soil and raising the plant a few inches. Repeat this process a couple of times during the growing season.