Step-by-step instructions for planting horseradish in the fall for beginner gardeners

Horseradish - an amazingly tenacious perennial plant, which many gardeners consider almost a weed. However, horseradish turns into a weed only if it is not properly cared for.

Even a beginner can cope with planting this crop on his own plot. We suggest that beginner gardeners familiarize themselves with the features of planting horseradish in the fall, planting patterns and detailed instructions.

The article will tell you how and when to plant, how to properly care for the plant after planting.

Is it possible to plant horseradish in the fall before winter?

The best time to collect horseradish is October, and then the ideal time comes for its cuttings and planting.

Planting before winter provides the plant with characteristic properties: horseradish will grow with increased pungency and pungency, the rhizome (its main valuable part) will gain the required mass, will be strong and large.

Advantages and disadvantages of autumn planting

With this type of planting, the earliest harvest is obtained. This is especially important for regions with late spring and short summers. In this case, the horseradish harvest is ready for harvest not at the end of autumn, but at the height of the canning season. It is then that it is especially needed - it is used for home canning everywhere, without it it will not be possible to make adjika, horseradish, or properly pickle cucumbers and tomatoes.

The culture does not like return frosts. But plants planted in autumn are not afraid of spring frost. Pre-winter planting is good hardening.

There are practically no disadvantages to winter planting, and another plus is that in the spring you get additional time, which is so precious, for other urgent work at the dacha: in the garden or in the garden.

Landing dates

Previously, people determined when to plant horseradish based on folk traditions. It was planted before the onset of persistent cold weather, when the leaves begin to actively fall and frosts occur at night.

Optimal timing, depending on the growing region

According to many years of experience of gardeners in different regions, a good time for planting horseradish in central Russia and the Moscow region is mid-October. In the northern regions, planting is carried out earlier, in the middle or at the end of September.

Planting according to the lunar calendar

Lunar phases influence plants, which is why many people compare the timing of planting horseradish with the lunar sowing calendar. Choosing the wrong day can negatively affect the future harvest. It is recommended to plant on the waxing moon. It is at this time that the plants are most viable; cuttings planted in the third quarter of the lunar month take root well.

In the second half of October 2019, the most favorable dates for planting are: October 29-31. These are 2-5 lunar days with the waxing moon.

In October 2020, favorable days for planting horseradish are: October 17-23, 26-27 and 31.

How to choose a landing site

Many gardeners consider horseradish to be an aggressive and extremely unpretentious plant.

However, the culture is very sensitive to planting and growing conditions:

1. The soil should be quite acidic; it is better to acidify excessively alkaline soils.
2. Horseradish loves moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging. The soil should be moderately moist, but not too wet.
3. Suitable soil is fertile chernozem or sandy loam and loamy soil, with the addition of peat and organic fertilizers. On poor, heavy soils, it does not gain root mass and the necessary concentration of essential oils, on which its pungent taste depends.
4. The mechanical composition of the soil is important: it prefers light soils, but grows hard and rough on dense soils.

This light-loving crop grows well in partial shade; it does not like dense shade or direct sunlight.

What to plant next to, is it necessary to follow the rules of the neighborhood?

To avoid damaging the roots of fruit bushes and trees in the future, plan to plant horseradish away from them. Plant it in areas where potatoes and any legumes grew.

You should not plant horseradish and strawberries next to each other, otherwise the berry yield will be low, as they will compete for light and nutrients.

Preparation

High-quality horseradish grows only from healthy planting material in properly prepared soil. Make preliminary preparations before planting.

Planting material

Horseradish is propagated by dividing the root into root cuttings. To obtain cuttings:

1. Dig up a horseradish bush and separate the side roots, 20-30 cm long and about 1 cm in diameter.
2. Make the bottom cut at an oblique angle, cut the top horizontally. This will help mark the top and prevent you from planting the cutting upside down.
3. Clean off the buds on the middle part of the cutting using a rough glove or burlap. Leave a few buds on the upper and lower cut, where leaves and roots will form.

The buds are removed if horseradish is planted to obtain large, even rhizomes so that they do not produce a mass of extra small roots. If the goal is horseradish propagation, then all the buds are left.

Reference. Store the prepared cuttings in sand in a cool place until planting.

Soils

When preparing the soil for planting horseradish, dig up the bed to a depth of 40 cm. Apply mineral fertilizers, compost or rotted manure.

How to plant horseradish correctly in the autumn

To ensure that horseradish produces a high-quality harvest of roots and leaves, but does not spread across the site, it is dug up in the fall and planted again with cuttings in the spring.

Step-by-step instruction

Follow the step by step instructions:

1. Prepare holes whose depth exceeds the height of the cuttings by 5-7 cm. Make them with a special hole-forming planter or a wooden peg.
2. Plant at an angle of 45°, deepening the upper part of the cutting by 4-5 cm.
3. When planting a large number of roots, plant in rows according to the pattern 60 x 40 or 30 x 70, where there is a 70 cm distance between rows and 30 cm in a row between plants. The planting frequency is 4-6 plants per 1 sq. m.
4. Sprinkle them with a layer of soil; if the soil is dry, water them. If you plant late, in damp soil, then watering is not necessary.

Mistakes to Avoid

Carefully dig up the area after harvesting to prevent excessive horseradish growth. It is not recommended to leave even the smallest roots in the ground, as this plant can spread rapidly.

Important! Horseradish can remain in one place for more than 10 years, but it is recommended to dig it up 1-2 years after planting. Otherwise, the horseradish will go wild, take deep branched roots and it will be almost impossible to remove it.

To prevent further spread throughout the site, many gardeners plant cuttings in specially prepared containers: deep boxes, buckets and barrels that limit the root system of the plant.This method allows you to obtain high-quality rhizomes and not clog the area.

This is interesting:

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How to properly prune an apricot in the fall and why it is needed.

Planting horseradish in barrels

A popular method to limit the spread of plants throughout the garden is planting in a barrel or other suitable container. Bury it, leaving sides 15-20 cm high above the ground. Or simply place the barrel (without burying it) in a distant corner of the garden. Pour a nutrient mixture of compost and soil into it and plant 5-6 cuttings. In the fall, dig up the barrel or simply turn it over on its side - the roots will be easy to remove without the slightest damage.

Care after landing

Cuttings planted in autumn do not need shelter for the winter; they can withstand temperatures down to -45°C.

In spring, regularly loosen and water the beds, remove flower stems (so that they do not take away the strength of the leaves and rhizomes). Adult plants require almost no additional care.

Conclusion

Take some time in the fall to plant horseradish in your garden. Choose the right place for planting, prepare the soil and planting material in advance. Follow all the recommendations, pay close attention to the advice of experienced gardeners, and then the horseradish planted before winter will grow large, tart and spicy. Have a good harvest!