[ex-cavator]

I've read loads about this on the forum, but just need to clarify a couple of points before I start.

I've got two large stands of horseradish, one on each of my two plots (and inherited, I'm afraid, from the previous owner). The largest (though not by much) is about as wide as it is high, so you can imagine, pretty big. I want to get rid of this one, as it's threatening to envelope my raspberry patch, together with anything else that gets in it's way. And, besides, one clump is more than enough.

My plan was to act now, as following all that rain, digging will be a bit easier. I was thinking of cutting the foliage right down - can I safely compost this?

Then digging out the roots as best I can, taking care to remove as much as possible - I know this won't be easy. But - it seems a waste to chuck it all - how is best to preserve it for later use, and how long can I keep it?

And then nuc'ing any fresh growth with Roundup as it appears, until (hopefully) it finally surrenders. Is that a plan, or fatally flawed?

Do I need protection whilst cutting the foliage / digging it out, or is this just recommended for preparing it for use?

Thank you in anticipation .... 

[sunshineband]

When I saw your name I thought --- that is what he will need 

Sounds  like a good plan.

Yes, you can compost the leaves and digging out as much as possible etc like you suggest should work eventually.

Bear in mind that breaking the roots, which is inevitable, could expose your skin and eyes to the fumes given off, so gloves are essential. As you are in  the open air you can back off if it stings your eyes. Just be careful 

Those roots go down a good way 

[peter168]

didnt realise there was an issue with protection for horseradish, ive been digging loads out of my plot and still comes back in shedloads but never had any issue whats the problem with skin contact?

[Ice]

Hi Peter. that's a very fetching shade of purple but it's hard to read.  Please keep to black as we have members with sight problems.

[peter168]

Hi Peter. that's a very fetching shade of purple but it's hard to read.  Please keep to black as we have members with sight problems.

okey dokey

[sunshineband]

Some people find that neat horseradish juice can give them blisters 

[ex-cavator]

Thanks for the replies so far - so, the plan is good, what about how to store / preserve some of the roots I dig for future use? 

[sunshineband]

You can freeze the grated root, or store it in the fridge in vinegar.

Take care grating it --- the fumes are strong 

[arugula]

You can freeze the grated root, or store it in the fridge in vinegar.

Take care grating it --- the fumes are strong 

Just beat me to it, I got momentarily side-tracked! Or make horseradish sauce... recipe(s) on the site.

[gremlin]

I planted horseraddish last spring and it dug out to make sauce last Autumn.   6 month old roots had got down 900mm through solid clay and were still going down strongly.

All my deep excavations churned up the sub-soil and fragmented the roots, even though I was very carefull and now I have horseraddish weeds growing over a wide area, sprouting from root fragments no bigger than 5mm long.

This year I am growing it in a dustbin buried in the ground, but dont know yet how best to harvest it without spreading the broken root fragments again.

I would happily compost the leaves, but the roots will need need digging up and burning. Probably with Napalm. I personally don't seem to have any reaction to the fumes or sap.

As for saving the roots, we ground them up with a food processor (blender) and froze into ice cube sized lumps.  To use just unfreeze a lump and mix with cream. Yummy.


 

[Yorkie]

I dug out as much as I could, then nuked anything that dared stick its head above ground.  I also used bricks to try to minimise the surface area on which they could grow, in order to concentrate the weedkiller on the right leaves.

After a couple of years it appears to have given up the battle.

[sunshineband]

So ex-cavator, your in for a long haul 

Hope you like horseradish, 'cos it sounds like you'll have plenty for a while yet 

[ex-cavator]

So ex-cavator, your in for a long haul 

Hope you like horseradish, 'cos it sounds like you'll have plenty for a while yet 

I think we'll need a bigger freezer ... 

[Yorkie]

One ALWAYS needs a bigger freezer