My horseradish plant is about 3 years old this spring. Have not harvested it yet. It is currently blooming. Are you supposed to keep the blooms cut? Do they affect the quality of the roots - tenderness, etc.? They are pretty but long stems are falling over. Thanks.
It has bolted. Taking the flowers off forces the plant to focus more on the roots, which is what you want to harvest, instead of flowers and then seeds. So it is helpful to prune the flowers. Here is more information on bolting: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/what-is-bolting-what-it-means-when-a-plant-bolts.htm
In the fall, do you mow off the leaves of horseradish or leave them?
Leave them. I would not trim the leaves, as the plant will use the leaves to create the energy that it will then store in the roots, which results in a larger root.
What is the best way to root a dried horseradish bought at the grocery store?
Horseradish is pretty easy and forgiving. If you plant a piece of the root in some soil - at least 3-6 inches down, it should start to grow. Be careful where you plant it though, as it can become invasive.
When the leaves dry up, can they be cut from the plant? Or should they be left on the plants and pulled off in the spring? Thank you.
Once the leaves turn brow, you can remove them from the plant. They are dead and can no longer help the plant.
Does horseradish need a period of cold weather? Can it be grown inside without a rest period?
While it's not generally recommended to grow them indoors, you can dig horseradish roots in the fall before the ground freezes and replant in a soil-filled container. Cover the roots with a 6- to 8-inch layer of damp sand or sawdust. Keep the soil evenly moist. Give the roots a cool, dark rest in cool temperatures from 50-60 degrees F./10-15 C. (such as in a garage). As the plants grow and leaves reach 8 inches in height, remove soil from the upper end of the main root and trim away small side roots. Then mound the soil up to its original level, repeating in a few weeks.
Here is an article for growing horseradish plants that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/horseradish/growing-horseradish-how-to-grow-horseradish.htm
I recently was given some horseradish plants (i.e. just the leaves with a few roots, not the long hard part of the plant). I have planted them in the house in a deep container. My question is, will these grow into a proper horseradish plant, as at the moment the leaves have grown from maybe 1 centimeter to at least 6 to 8 centimeters. I have looked on the internet but only find the long hard root advertised.
They will develop long roots like you have seen in the pictures, but it may take them 1-2 years to do so. In my own garden, I often lop the tops off the long roots that I harvest and replant them in my horseradish patch. They grow just fine; they just need a little more time to develop the kind of roots that you can harvest. If you are seeing growth from the leaves, this means the plant is happy and growing. Eventually it will produce the roots you are looking for.
We are trying to grow horseradish for the first time. We planted it about a month ago and noticed today that along with the leaves we have a flower head developing on one of the plants. Is this normal or should we pinch it off? Thank you.
There is no harm in leaving the flowers on the plant, they in fact will attract pollinators to the garden.