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Planting horseradish. Should
not be planted in a very small garden because the plants are quite
large. Horseradish is adapted to the North and is not suited for
southern planting except in high altitudes. Not much is needed for
the average family, and a few plants, put in an out-of-the-way corner
of the garden, will provide roots for an ample supply of grated
or ground horseradish. It does best in deep, moist, rich loam, well
fertilized, but will grow in any good soil except perhaps very light
sands and very heavy clays. Shallow soil will not serve since this
plant has rough, pronged roots. Mix manure with the soil a few months
before setting the plants or cuttings.
It is a good idea to top dress with
manure each spring, but horseradish will thrive in a good soil of
an old garden without heavy manure or fertilization. This plant
seldom forms seeds. It is propagated by use of crowns or root cuttings.
With crowns, use a part of the old plant consisting of a piece of
root and crown buds, and simply set it in a new location. For root
cuttings take pieces of old roots 6 or 8 inches long and the thickness
of a pencil. Set them on a slant in a trench four or five inches
deep.
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The cuttings sprout in several places. After
they are well established remove the soil around each carefully, by hand,
and all sprouts except one good cluster of leaves near the top of each
cutting, then replace the soil. The plants usually make good roots the
first year. Rows of horseradish plants should be spaced 2 1/2 feet apart,
with 1 1/2 feet between plants in a row. To prepare horseradish, clean
and grate the roots into white wine vinegar or distilled vinegar of 4
1/2 to 5 per cent acid content, bottle, and seal at once. Do not use cider
vinegar, which turns the horseradish dark.
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