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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.
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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