Horseradish is a total fan favorite for anyone who loves that signature spicy, sinus-clearing kick. The best part? It’s incredibly easy to grow in your own backyard. However, because those roots can get seriously long, harvesting them can feel like a bit of a workout. Don’t worry, though—with a few pro tips, you can get those roots out of the ground without breaking a sweat.
Start with Loose Soil
If you want an easy harvest later, you have to plan ahead during planting. Horseradish is propagated via root cuttings. You can take a long root, cut it into smaller sections, and pop them in the dirt. The secret sauce here is making sure your soil is loose and deep.
In loose soil, the plant grows long, straight roots that are much easier to dig up later. I recommend using a mix of nutrient-rich garden soil and sand. Not only does the horseradish love this combo, but the sandy texture makes it way easier to brush away when it’s harvest time.
Dig, Don’t Pull
Horseradish roots can easily grow as long as your forearm, so don’t even try to just yank them out of the ground—you’ll likely just snap the top off. To harvest properly, you need to dig out the soil from the side of the root crown gradually. The nice thing about horseradish is that it usually focuses its energy on one thick main taproot rather than a bunch of tangled side roots. This means you don’t have to worry too much about accidentally slicing through the “good stuff” while you’re digging.
Clear the dirt away from around the main root. Once most of the soil is gone, the root should slide right out. And hey, if the very tip of the root snaps off and stays in the ground, don’t sweat it! That’s actually a bonus—that little piece will likely sprout into a brand-new plant for next year.
Fresh is Best
Horseradish is at its absolute peak flavor-wise when it’s fresh. Fair warning: it’s potent enough to bring a tear to your eye! The great thing is that horseradish is basically in season all year round. Even in the middle of summer when the plant is covered in big green leaves, you can still go out and grab a piece whenever you need a spicy fix for dinner.
Just trim back the greens and dig down from the side as usual. Here’s a cool trick: take the top inch or two of the root (where the leaves were attached), stick it back in the hole, and cover it with soil. Most of the time, it’ll regrow into a whole new plant. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!
Storing Your Harvest
Even though you *can* harvest year-round, trying to dig through frozen ground in the dead of winter is no fun. If you live somewhere with cold winters, it’s a smart move to harvest a few large roots in the fall to keep on hand.
To keep them fresh, grab a wooden crate or bin and fill it with sand. Bury your root sections in the sand and keep it slightly damp. Store the crate in a cool, dark place (like a basement or root cellar), and you’ll have fresh horseradish ready to grate all winter long.
