How to Dig Up Horseradish

Growing your own horseradish in a backyard garden will provide a spicy foundation for tasty sauces. Take care when growing horseradish because this energetic plant will grow out of its boundaries if you allow it to grow without digging it up each autumn. Wait until several frosts occur in early autumn for the best horseradish flavor. Dig up the plant, use what you need and save the rest to plant again in the spring.

Things You'll Need

• Garden spade
• Bucket
• Kitchen shears
• Vegetable brush
• Plastic zipper bag (gallon size)
• Coarse sand

Instructions

1. Dig up the entire horseradish plant after two or three frosts occur in the autumn. Insert the tines of the garden spade into the soil and push them beneath the roots of the horseradish. Pry out the roots and place them directly into the bucket. Continue working in the planting area to remove all traces of the horseradish plant and roots.

2. Cut off the foliage from the roots and discard the foliage.

3. Wash the roots with the vegetable brush to remove soil and dirt.

4. Trim away the smaller side roots -- about 3/8 inch in diameter -- from the large main root.

5. Use the large main root for cooking -- grate it up and use it fresh to make a spicy sauce. Store whole horseradish root in the refrigerator for about three months.

6. Fill the plastic zipper bag about half full of coarse sand. Wet the sand lightly to make it damp. Place the smaller side roots into the bag with the sand and seal the bag. Store the bag in the refrigerator throughout the winter.

7. Replant the side shoots in the garden the next spring.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not remove the horseradish plant completely each fall, the plant will spread and overtake your growing space.

References

• Utah State University; Horseradish in the Garden; Gilbert Young, et al.; June 2010
• The Herb Guide: Growing Horseradish