Horseradish is known for its hot root. But how is this harvested from the ground and how can you keep it fresh? We'll show you!
Harvest horseradish
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a well-known accompaniment to many hearty dishes. It is particularly popular with fish dishes or as horseradish cream in various flavors. The characteristic spiciness is in the horseradish root. This can already be harvested from the soil in the year of planting. As soon as the leaves begin to wither and dry up, root growth will no longer take place. The coveted taproot is then ready for harvest.
Depending on the weather, this is usually the case from the end of October. The taproot can easily be dug out of the ground. However, since horseradish is very frost hardy, not everything has to be harvested at once. The plants can also be left standing for the time being and the roots are only dug up at a later date. Even constant ground frost has no negative impact on the quality of the sharp root. Shouldn't the plants remain in the bed for a second year? So they have to be harvested at least until they sprout again next spring.
Store horseradish
Clear advantage of horseradish: Not everything has to be harvested at once. This means that a needs-based and fresh harvest is possible throughout the winter. But the usability of the spicy root can also be extended over the winter. At temperatures of -5 to -2 °C, the horseradish root can be stored very well for several months without any major loss of quality. Lower temperatures, as well as too long storage times, come at the expense of the crunchy consistency and pungent aroma of the root. Unfortunately, drying the root is not possible without a significant loss of aroma. But keeping it cool is a good way to get horseradish from your own garden through the year.
If you are interested in horseradish propagation, take a lookcheck out our special article here.