We dug horseradish this morning, and processed it this afternoon. I posted a little tutorial about processing horseradish a couple of years ago. That was a fall crop, and it was really good. But we find that spring horseradish has more bite to it, and we prefer to dig it in the spring.
So, we dug up a small amount of horseradish this morning. And I’ve gotten so many questions about the best time to dig horseradish that I took a couple of pictures that I hope will help.
We like to dig horseradish when it first appears in the spring. There is a reason for this. If you dig horseradish when it first appears most of the energy is still in the roots. And that means the roots will have plenty of “bite”. This will produce “hotter” horseradish when it’s processed. We also find that the root will be more pliable and less woody. We prefer it this way.
So…… this is a small patch that we dug. Notice the small leaves? That’s about the largest the should be.
And notice the fuzzy kind of growth there? Well, that’s really the ideal size you want to harvest it. We’re a little late this year because the warm weather snuck up on us.
See all those roots up there? You want to leave those little roots. Just take the big chunks. Well, we take a few of the small roots – because those are gonna have that wonderful heat in them! But don’t pull the whole plant out – you just want to take the biggest roots and a few of the small ones. Every single stinking piece of root you live in the ground is going to give you more horseradish.
Did I mention horseradish can be very invasive? Well it can. It seriously can. That is if you consider too much horseradish to be an issue.
Which we don’t.
But we do like to keep it contained.
Because it will take over……
But….. if you feel you would like to add to your horseradish patch, or maybe start a new patch, or maybe even share your horseradish with friends, well…. just cut off the top part of the plant – the green growth – and stick it in the ground, and you’ll have more horseradish than you know what to do with. When we dig horseradish I either replant the tops, or I wrap them in a wet paper towel and then give them to friends. It’s very easy to grow and share. In fact, I’m not sure what you would have to do to kill it.
Here’s the pint of horseradish we ended up with after it was processed.
We also harvested some rhubarb. Guess what I did with this?
Yes! Of course! I made our first rhubarb pie of the season.
That’s all kinda bubbly yummyness right there.
This picture is for my cousin, Julie. Last year, as we were preparing for winter, I dug up a couple of young Borage plants to overwinter in the greenhouse. As you can see, one of them is blooming and a couple of blooms are going to seed. I’ll save them for you, Julie.
I also noticed that my Bleeding Heart is blooming in the flower garden.
So is the Primrose.
This early spring has been a blessing. I’m very happy about that. Especially since the new baby chicks I ordered will be here Monday. We got the brooder ready for their arrival today. I’ll be sure to post pictures of the new peeps when they arrive.
And I’ll leave you with this picture of Diesel. He’s laying on his “thunder rug” by his daddy’s feet. This is the special rug we put down for him to go to when he get’s nervous about thunder storms. And this early spring has definitely brought some early thunder storms with it.
I think even Diesel would agree that this early spring is worth it.
All your flowers are looking wonderful, I bet all the flowers on the home stead are looking great. I love Diesel on his thunder rug. BobO love getting under his blanket & sleeping when it storms. Love you all. XXXOOO
Love reading about the horseradish — thank you! I’ve learned something new today, and I think I’m going to get some horseradish in the ground.
I keep telling myself I’m not behind in my planting for the summer, but when the days are this nice, it’s hard to remember!
Oh, and borage is one of my favorite plants. I always grow it with my tomatoes. I don’t think it does one thing to deter the tomato hornworms, contrary to popular opinion, but it’s such a beautiful flower, and the bees love it!
Happy Spring, Penny!
Looks like you’ve been pretty busy. Our spring came on all at once, we went from snow to high 70s practically overnight, and what a welcome sight that was.
Can hardly wait to see those baby peeps! Especially since I’m not allowed to go the farm & ranch supply this time of year since I tend to buy all the little chicks. LOL. Instead I am finishing up a quilt I’ve been working on for a couple of weeks, getting ready to do a class on applique for our quilting guild. Still, I’d rather have a dozen new baby chickens.
Awesome post Penny! I missed my horseradish harvest this spring! It happened around the end of Dec. and beginning of January this year! Before I knew it the radish leaves were already grown! ;( I just looked at the extended forcast for the week and Monday through Wed. is supposed to be in the 90′s!!! Can you believe it?!?! This will be the first week of April!
Your Primrose is georgeous!!! I can’t grow them here 
gets too hot!
Anyways…didn’t mean to get carried away, thank you for the pic of the brorage! I love it! And thank you in advance for the seeds
Love and Miss you!!!
XXXOOO
Mmmm that pie looks SO good. We better see pics of your spring broodies (I know you have em’ you can’t hide them from me! lol)
That pie has me KICKING MYSELF (if only I could reach) for not getting rhubarb out yet. Why oh why didn’t I get it out last year? I could just cry, for the lack of pie.
Charlotte – nothing like sweet pups, is there? Give yours a big kiss from his Aunt Penny
And would you believe just yesterday I saw the very first leaves of my Hosta peeking out of the ground? After seeing how big yours is already I was sure mine had died and gone to the Great Greenhouse in the Sky! I guess it’s just a slow starter….
Stacey – I know exactly what you mean! This weather makes me feel so far behind in planting the veggie garden. But just when I think I really should plant something we wake up to a frost. Like this morning. Ugh! I love borage, too. And our honey bees found that one lonely plant in the greenhouse in very short order!
Mary – I try really hard to avoid any place selling chicks this time of year! Bernie reminds me I don’t need any more chickens every chance he gets. And I remind him that “needing” has nothing to do with it
I’m envious of your quilting – I wish I lived close enough to take some lessons from you!
Julie – y’all are already getting summer weather! It’s crazy, isn’t it? If you get a cold late fall/early winter and your horseradish leaves die back you may be able to dig up some horseradish then. Happy Birthday to you, by the way! And, as it turns out, the chicks I ordered didn’t arrive on your birthday, but they hatched on it
They should be here tomorrow and it makes me happy that they will share their birthday with my favorite cousin <3
J.P. – Can you believe I do not have one stinkin’ broody hen yet??? I was praying for a couple to raise up these baby chicks I ordered. Hussies. You know they’re doing this on purpose, right?
Constance – I wish I could share some rhubarb pie with you. But maybe I can do something that will be more helpful….. if you will write and remind me in the fall, I may just be able to send you rhubarb stock to get your future pie producer going …. are you sure it will grow under the cryogenic conditions of Cooter Hollow?
xxx
Charlotte – nothing like sweet pups, is there? Give yours a big kiss from his Aunt Penny
And would you believe just yesterday I saw the very first leaves of my Hosta peeking out of the ground? After seeing how big yours is already I was sure mine had died and gone to the Great Greenhouse in the Sky! I guess it’s just a slow starter….
Stacey – I know exactly what you mean! This weather makes me feel so far behind in planting the veggie garden. But just when I think I really should plant something we wake up to a frost. Like this morning. Ugh! I love borage, too. And our honey bees found that one lonely plant in the greenhouse in very short order!
Mary – I try really hard to avoid any place selling chicks this time of year! Bernie reminds me I don’t need any more chickens every chance he gets. And I remind him that “needing” has nothing to do with it
I’m envious of your quilting – I wish I lived close enough to take some lessons from you!
Julie – y’all are already getting summer weather! It’s crazy, isn’t it? If you get a cold late fall/early winter and your horseradish leaves die back you may be able to dig up some horseradish then. Happy Birthday to you, by the way! And, as it turns out, the chicks I ordered didn’t arrive on your birthday, but they hatched on it
They should be here tomorrow and it makes me happy that they will share their birthday with my favorite cousin <3
J.P. – Can you believe I do not have one stinkin’ broody hen yet??? I was praying for a couple to raise up these baby chicks I ordered. Hussies. You know they’re doing this on purpose, right?
Constance – I wish I could share some rhubarb pie with you. But maybe I can do something that will be more helpful….. if you will write and remind me in the fall, I may just be able to send you rhubarb stock to get your future pie producer going …. are you sure it will grow under the cryogenic conditions of Cooter Hollow?