Re: now horseradish-

In a message dated 12/8/02 10:38:13 AM Eastern Standard Time, llmen@wi.rr.com 
writes:


> >
> >Interested in your comment about horseradish as a perennial. Never tried
> >growing it.... but sounds interesting. Any facts about it or pictures on
> >the net? Does it grow in zone 5?
> >
> >Donna

Thank Don for that wonderful photo.  Yes, it takes several years to look good 
but then it is permanent.  It is zone Arctic zone as far as I know.  It is an 
indispensable Russian plant.  Ours, the plain green one, is an antique passed 
around the family for more than fifty years. Roots purchased in the market 
are usually somewhat dry so a fresh root is the only way to go if you are a 
fancier.  You will need directions to handle it, preparation is done 
outdoors.  My mother would not have it in the house.  Ed's family did things 
with eggs. Jewish cuisine uses horseradish which is, I suspect,  from Eastern 
European backgrounds. There is so much tradition with this plant, beets go 
along with it.  There is a Polish/Rusian joke about suicide from horseradish, 
so take care handling.

When I wrote that bit, I expected to be chastised by gardeners who let this 
plant loose and are still regretting it.  The variegated form has never been 
dug up for the roots here and therefore is not a menace.  It does not spread, 
the trouble occurs when you discard the parts left after preparing that 
grated for the table.  Both forms flower as well, tall white many flowered 
stalks.

My husband once used some cultivating machine (he was trying to help me) in a 
veg plot we owned and chopped up some horseradish spreading it around.  We 
moved and I would suspect the owner of that house is still dealing with 
horseradish.  The trick is to keep it in one location. After digging the 
roots ( Palm Sunday is the tradition here ) return all scrap, small pieces, 
peelings, EVERYTHING, to the same planting hole.  Do not put in the compost 
as all parts will grow.  Having two big clumps is good, one is enlarging the 
roots and one is dug each spring.  Horseradish likes wet places and will grow 
in watery places.

The variegated form is a strong and beautiful plant, the older the more 
attractive.  The plain form is easy to grow except in very dry soils.  It 
will take some shade as it is naturally a streamside plant.  As all root 
vegetables, deep soil free of rocks and gravel will grow roots easier to 
handle when paring to grate.

Nearly all younger Americans know horseradish as the peppery stuff in shrimp 
cocktail sauce but it's use is far wider in ethnic groups.  If you are not 
afraid of cream sauces (can make from a package, if not handy in the K.) add 
white horseradish and serve over thin sliced boiled beef.  That is a true 
Polish/Russian dish.  If you are more well off, the horseradish is added to 
thick non-sweetened whipped cream and served over the boiled beef.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4

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