Uses
Toxic parts
Large quantities of this plant can be poisonous due to its content of volatile oils[15].
Edible uses
Notes
The plant is fully hardy and can be left in the ground all winter to be harvested as required[16]. Alternatively, the roots can be harvested in early winter and stored for later use, they will retain their juicy state for some time if stored in dry sand[16].
Seed
Material uses
Horseradish tea is effective against brown rot of apples and other fungicidal diseases[17][13]. The growing plant deters potato eelworm[3].
Medicinal uses(Warning!)
Horseradish is a very pungent stimulant herb that controls bacterial infections and can be used both internally and externally[5]. The plant is a powerful stimulant, whether used internally as a spur for the digestive system or externally as a rubefacient[16]. It should not be used internally by people with stomach ulcers or thyroid problems[5]. The roots are antiseptic, aperient, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, rubefacient and stimulant[16][6][3][18][19][20]. They should be used in their fresh state[16]. An infusion is used in the treatment of colds, fevers and flu and is of value in the treatment of respiratory and urinary tract infections[21]. A sandwich of the freshly grated root is a traditional remedy for hay fever[21]. A tea made from the root is weakly diuretic, antiseptic and expectorant[20]. The plant is antibiotic against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and also pathogenic fungi[20][22]. It is experimentally antitumor[20]. Externally, a poultice made from the roots is used to treat pleurisy, arthritis and infected wounds[5]. It will also relieve the pain of chilblains[23]. Some caution should be employed, however, because it can cause blistering[21].
Unknown part
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Seed - this is seldom produced on plants in cultivation[24]. If seed is obtained then it is best sown in situ during the spring[5]. Division is very easy and can be carried out at almost any time of the year, though it is probably best in spring[8]. It s best to use sections of root about 20cm long, which can be planted out into their permanent positions in February or March, though even very small bits of root will grow away[16][25]. Division should be carried out at least once every three years or the crop will deteriorate[16].
Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Armoracia rusticana. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
A very easily grown plant, horseradish prefers a good deep moist well-drained soil and a sunny position[26][7][8][24]. Plants require a good soil if they are to produce good roots[16], though once established they are very tolerant of neglect and will continue to produce a crop for many years[264, K]. Plants do not thrive if they are in the shade of trees[25]. Excess nitrogen causes heavy top growth and forking of the roots[24]. Prefers a wet clay soil according to one report[3], whilst another says that it will not grow in wet clay[26]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.8 to 8.3. Horseradish has long been cultivated for its root which is used as a food flavouring and medicinally, there are some named varieties[16][27][28][12]. If the roots are given some protection they will produce fresh young leaves for the salad bowl all through the winter. Digging up some roots and putting them into a greenhouse for the winter is the easiest method. If the young shoots are blanched they will produce white, tender, sweet leaves[12]. A very invasive plant[8], it is considered to be a pernicious weed in some areas[24]. Even quite small sections of root will regrow if they are left in the soil[16]. The plant has yet to prove invasive on our Cornwall trial grounds, though it has survived and even prospered in a very overgrown site[K]. The forms of this plant grown in gardens are almost sterile and seldom produce good seed[25]. This is a good companion plant for potatoes since it is said to deter potato eelworm[3][17][13] and the Colorado beetle[5]. One plant at each corner of the potato patch is quite sufficient[13]. When grown under apple trees it is said to prevent brown rot, powdery mildew and other fungal diseases[13].
Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Armoracia rusticana. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Armoracia rusticana.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? 1.01.11.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
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- ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.8 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (32202/01/01)
- ? 4.04.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (32202/01/01)
- ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.75.8 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (32202/01/01)
- ? 6.06.16.26.3 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (32202/01/01)
- ? 7.07.17.2 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
- ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber (32202/01/01)
- ? 9.09.1 Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
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- ? 13.013.113.213.313.413.513.6 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (32202/01/01)
- ? 14.014.114.2 Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. ISBN 0-85613-067-2 (32202/01/01)
- ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (32202/01/01)
- ? 16.0016.0116.0216.0316.0416.0516.0616.0716.0816.0916.1016.11 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (32202/01/01)
- ? 17.017.117.2 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (32202/01/01)
- ? 18.018.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
- ? 19.019.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (32202/01/01)
- ? 20.020.120.220.320.4 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (32202/01/01)
- ? 21.021.121.221.3 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (32202/01/01)
- ? 22.022.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (32202/01/01)
- ? 23.023.1 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (32202/01/01)
- ? 24.024.124.224.324.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
- ? 25.025.125.2 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. ISBN 0 333 62640 0 (32202/01/01)
- ? 26.026.1 Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-050-0 (32202/01/01)
- ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (32202/01/01)
- ? Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
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