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How to Grow Horseradishes UK | Regional Planting Calendar

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How to Grow Horseradishes UK | Regional Planting Calendar guide thumbnail

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)

A large dock-like horseradish leaf close-up — “Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 07” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

4 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Plant
Early December to late February
Site
soil pH 6–7.5
Biggest risk
Club root

In the UK, horseradishes go in the ground early December to late February.

Horseradishes (Armoracia rusticana) — herbaceous perennial.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early December in Southern England to early December in Scotland.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

Regional Planting Calendar

A young horseradish seedling growing in soil — “Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2019-05-05 02” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2019-05-05 02” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Region Sow
Southern England early December to late February
Midlands early December to late February
Northern England early December to late February
Scotland early December to late February
Southern England - detail & sources

RHS: propagate by division during winter, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Midlands - detail & sources

RHS: propagate by division during winter, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Northern England - detail & sources

RHS: propagate by division during winter, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Scotland - detail & sources

RHS: propagate by division during winter, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Quick Facts

A tall horseradish plant growing in a grassy field — “Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 01” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 01” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 7.5
Optimal growing temp 15.6-18.3C
Drainage Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand; light, fertile, deep, moist but well-drained; high in organic matter
Lifecycle herbaceous perennial
Edible parts root

At a Glance

A large dock-like horseradish leaf close-up — “Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 07” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 07” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Armoracia rusticana Horseradish Club root DISEASES

Soil & Growing Conditions

A large dock-like horseradish leaf close-up — “Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 07” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 07” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Soil pH range

6 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A horseradish flower cluster surrounded by leaves — “Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 05” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 05” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Propagation 0 Propagate by seed or by root division during winter (RHS).
Leaf growth 3 Forms large dock-like leaves and a vigorous, spreading clump, reaching up to 60cm tall and wide (RHS).
Flowering 6 White flowers bloom in early summer (RHS).
Dormancy and root harvest 8 Takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity; leaves die back in autumn, and the white root is harvested autumn and winter before re-sprouting the following spring (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

A tall horseradish plant growing in a grassy field — “Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 01” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2020-06-07 01” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: Harvest begins after several frosts, which improves flavour; in long-season regions (150+ days) can be harvested at the end of the first year; roots harvested autumn/winter

Diseases

Horseradish's small white flowers — “Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2019-05-05 05” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Armoracia rusticana Chrzan pospolity 2019-05-05 05” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Plasmodiophora brassicae

References

  1. country=INTL

  2. country=UK

  3. country=UK

  4. country=USA

4 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow horseradishes in the UK?

In Southern England, from early December. In Scotland, wait until early December. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow horseradishes?

Sow early December to late February.

What soil pH do horseradishes need?

A pH of about 6–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect horseradishes?

Our data links 1 disease to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions

SoilCommander Editorial Team

UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Last verified 2026-08-29

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