I some horseradish that a friend gave me. It is currently growing nicely in a 4 gallon pot. I would like to put it in the ground without it taking over my entire yard. Do you think in a large platic garbage pail (with some drainage holes) sunken in the ground would do? How much above the ground should the pail be? Love horseradish but don't want to deal with a disaster! Thanks!

Lindy,I wouln't hesitate to plant it directly in the garden; it is not an invasive plant and if you later decide that you would prefer to have it in another location, transplanting would be a simple operation.

For some reason Ed, I understood it to be an out-of-control plant. I obviously misunderstood. My mother-in-law (who is a great gardener) says she has grown it for years and never had a problem. She also harvests it in fall and again in spring. (Also new to me!) Well, I guess I'll be planting horseradish tomorrow.

Ha! Invasive? I got some horseradish roots from a friend. Out of many planted, just one plant came: it only lasted a year. Of course, I can kill just about anything. :(

According to what I've read, though, once it gets established, it can root quite deeply, so you can get the plant reshooting after you move it, if you don't get the whole root.

B

Lindy, you did NOT misunderstand! Horseradish IS invasive! It can very definitely get out of hand if you plant it in your garden.

My neighbours have a beautiful vegetable garden where they are constantly battling the horseradish weed that pops up everywhere, no matter how much they keep pulling it out and digging it up. It seems that every little piece of root left in the soil grows! My neighbour believes that he compounded the problem by rototilling and breaking up the bits of roots even further - more instant horseradish babies!

Several years ago, I planted some horseradish in a half barrel that I set off in one corner of my lawn. It grows very well this way - as do all the little shoots of horseradish popping up in the lawn all around it! I mow it off with the lawn mower and it just keeps on coming back. It must have very long-reaching roots.

If I were you, I'd play it safe and stick to your original idea of planting horseradish in the large plastic garbage pail and keep those roots well away from your garden.

YIKES! I am sooooo glad I didn't have time to plant it yet. Going to stick with the barrel idea just to be safe. Thanks to all!

Horseradish is VERY invasive. My father in law planted two small roots several years ago that have completely taken over two areas of our gardens. It is practically impossible to get rid of unless you dig up every last bit of roots and dispose of it somewhere ( not in your compost!!).

Although I have never harvested any of it it myself, my father in law always says it can be harvested during any month with the letter 'R' in it. Good luck!!