WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

HORSERADISH

Fiery horseradish is so easy to grow that this useful perennial can take over the garden so keep it in a pot! While you can bandicoot roots from an established plant year-round, horseradish will be hotter when harvested in late autumn, winter and early spring as cooler temperatures promote the formation of the compounds which give it its punchy taste.

SOW AND GROW

Plant root cuttings: March to September in warm areas; March to April and August to September in cooler areas.

Position: Full sun, six or more hours a day.

Harvest: 26 – 52 weeks.

Good for pots.

GET STARTED

For best results, plant horseradish from March to September, as it doesn’t like it too hot, but really you can get away with planting it any time the ground is not frozen. Horseradish is easy-peasy to propagate from a division or a root cutting. In fact, plant any part of it and it’s likely to come away!

If you don’t know anyone with a plant you can pinch a root or a cutting from, then look for it in the herbs section at the garden centre or buy a piece of root at a farmers market and plant it.

STEP-BY-STEP

· Because of its semi-invasive tendencies, it’s a good idea to confine it in a pot, although make it a decent sized pot and keep it in a spot which offers afternoon shade to avoid heat stress, or sink the entire pot into the ground to help keep it cool.

· In a pot, you can space as closely as 5cm apart.

· When transplanting seedlings, make sure to put the small bulb and roots below the soil, leaving the green stem and any foliage sticking up.