Vegetable · Brassicaceae family
horseradish
Armoracia rusticana
In short a 10-second read
Horseradish (vegetable) grows to 0.6–1.5 m tall and 0.75–1.2 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Plant out in March–August. Harvest in October–December. Hardy to −34 °C.
× spread 0.75–1.2 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: little
Soil: clay, humus-rich, loamy, sandy
Soil pH 5.5–8
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
harvest regularly (October–November)
Planting out
root-balled: March–August
Harvest
October–December
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −34 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When is horseradish harvested?
In October–December.
Does horseradish tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does horseradish need?
At maturity 0.75–1.2 m wide and 0.6–1.5 m tall; recommended spacing 60 cm.
Does horseradish survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 2 September 2026.
Show sources (9)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Armoracia rusticana
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension, Horticulture — Horseradish
- The Old Farmer's Almanac — How to Grow Horseradish
- RHS — Horseradish — grow your own
- Wikidata (CC0) — Armoracia rusticana
- EPPO Global Database — Armoracia rusticana
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, EASIN
