Latest / The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners / Episode 19 - Horseradish – The Root with a Kick!

Transcript

Episode 19 - Horseradish – The Root with a Kick! · The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners

• 0:29
  Welcome back to the Beanstalk. My name is John.
• 0:33
  Today we're talking about one of the most powerful and eye
• 0:37
  watering plants you can grow in your garden, Horseradish.
• 0:43
  This route has been adding heat to plates for centuries, but did
• 0:47
  you know it's also one of the easiest crops to grow, one of
• 0:51
  the hardest to fully get rid of, and has a fascinating history
• 0:55
  that spans from ancient medicine to modern condiments?
• 1:00
  Today, we'll dive deep into growing, harvesting, and cooking
• 1:04
  with horseradish, and we'll cap things off with a bold recipe
• 1:08
  that's sure to clear your sinuses in the best way
• 1:11
  possible. Why should we grow horseradish?
• 1:18
  Horseradish is an incredible addition to a home garden.
• 1:22
  It's Hardy, perennial, and nearly indestructible once
• 1:25
  established. Its flavor is unmatched, spicy,
• 1:31
  pungent and refreshing all at once.
• 1:36
  For gardeners in zone 6B like myself, it's also a great low
• 1:41
  maintenance crop that can handle cold winters with ease.
• 1:47
  Beyond its flavor, horseradish has a long standing reputation
• 1:51
  as a medicinal plant. Ancient Greeks and Egyptians
• 1:57
  used it for pain relief and digestion, while Europeans later
• 2:00
  prized it for warming the blood. Plus, a small patch can provide
• 2:05
  enough root for you, your family, and a few friends all
• 2:10
  year long. Now let's take a look at how to
• 2:15
  grow horseradish. Horseradish is typically grown
• 2:20
  from root cuttings, not seeds. You can order these online or
• 2:25
  get a piece from a friend's established patch.
• 2:30
  Plant the cuttings in early spring once the ground is
• 2:33
  workable, or in fall before the frost.
• 2:38
  Choose a sunny location with well draining soil.
• 2:43
  Each root should be planted at a 45° angle, about two inches
• 2:48
  deep, with the top end just below the soil surface.
• 2:53
  Space them around 18 inches apart to give each plant plenty
• 2:57
  of room to spread. Here's the key thing to note.
• 3:02
  Horseradish spreads aggressively.
• 3:06
  If you don't want it taking over your garden, plant it in a
• 3:09
  container or an isolated bed. Some gardeners even bury a large
• 3:15
  pot in the ground and plant horseradish inside it.
• 3:20
  That helps contain those tenacious roots.
• 3:25
  Keep it watered evenly, but don't let it stay soggy.
• 3:29
  By late fall, you'll notice thick, leafy growth.
• 3:33
  The plant is storing up all its power in that root system.
• 3:38
  That's your signal. It's ready to go dormant and
• 3:40
  build up flavor for harvest time.
• 3:45
  And of course, we'll talk about how to harvest horseradish.
• 3:50
  Horseradish roots are best harvested in late fall after a
• 3:53
  few frosts. The culture weather actually
• 3:57
  intensifies the roots sharpness. Digit them carefully with a
• 4:02
  garden fork or spade, pulling up as much of the root as possible.
• 4:09
  Any small root left behind will grow back next year, so you'll
• 4:13
  never fully lose horseradish once you have it.
• 4:17
  That's both a blessing and a curse, so pick your planting
• 4:21
  spot wisely. Once harvested, trim off the
• 4:26
  greens and wash the roots well. Store them in a cool, dark
• 4:31
  place, ideally in a sealed container in your fridge.
• 4:35
  They can last months this way. Now for some pros and cons of
• 4:41
  growing horseradish. First up are some pros.
• 4:49
  They are very Hardy and perennial.
• 4:51
  Once horseradish is planted, it's almost impossible to kill.
• 4:57
  It's very cold, tolerant and even drought resistant.
• 5:04
  Horseradish adds bold flavor and heat to homemade sauces and
• 5:08
  dishes, and it's excellent for pollinators when in bloom.
• 5:18
  And here comes the cons. Horseradish can become invasive
• 5:23
  if not properly contained. It has an extremely strong odor
• 5:30
  when graded. It's generally recommended to
• 5:33
  prepare it in a well ventilated area, and it takes up a fair
• 5:39
  amount of space underground, which tends to make companion
• 5:43
  planting tricky. Let's have a look at a common
• 5:48
  pest and problem. Horseradish is fairly resistant
• 5:54
  to most pests. It's natural spiciness keeps
• 5:58
  insects away. However, you might see flea
• 6:03
  beetles nibble the leaves or leaf spots caused by fungal
• 6:08
  infection if conditions are too wet.
• 6:13
  Good air circulation and proper spacing will help to prevent
• 6:16
  most of these issues. One thing to note, once
• 6:23
  horseradish gets established, it's nearly impossible to fully
• 6:26
  eradicate without digging out every last rupees, so be sure
• 6:31
  it's somewhere you're OK with living for years.
• 6:36
  And now for a simple recipe. Homemade horseradish sauce.
• 6:44
  This simple recipe brings out the full fiery flavor of fresh
• 6:49
  horseradish. You'll need One Cup of peeled
• 6:55
  and grated fresh horseradish root, 1/2 cup of white vinegar,
• 7:04
  1/4 teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of sugar, which is
• 7:10
  optional. Here's the instructions.
• 7:18
  Peel and finally grate the horseradish root.
• 7:22
  A food processor works best. It's some pretty potent stuff.
• 7:29
  Mix the grated root with vinegar, salt and sugar in a
• 7:33
  jar. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes,
• 7:39
  then refrigerate. The longer it sits, the sharper
• 7:45
  it becomes. Use it as a zesty condiment for
• 7:49
  roast beef, deviled eggs, or even mashed potatoes for a bold
• 7:54
  twist. Let's dive into the Fun Facts
• 7:59
  corner with some fun things about horseradish.
• 8:04
  The ancient Greeks called horseradish the cough plant and
• 8:08
  used it for back pain and respiratory issues.
• 8:14
  The heat in horseradish comes from a compound called allyl
• 8:18
  isothiocyanate, the same chemical that gives mustard and
• 8:22
  wasabi their bite. Despite its name, horseradish
• 8:28
  has nothing to do with horses. The term horse used to mean
• 8:33
  strong or coarse, so horseradish literally means strong radish.
• 8:42
  Real wasabi is expensive and hard to grow, so most wasabi
• 8:47
  served in restaurants is actually a blend of horseradish,
• 8:51
  mustard and green coloring. Horseradish's volatile compounds
• 8:58
  can temporarily clear nasal passages, making it a natural,
• 9:02
  though fiery, sinus clearer. The world's largest horseradish
• 9:09
  root weighed nearly 20 lbs and was grown in the UK and took
• 9:14
  over a year to mature. Horseradish leaves are edible,
• 9:21
  though quite spicy. They can be used in small
• 9:24
  amounts in salads or as wraps for grilled meats.
• 9:30
  And in ancient times, horseradish was believed to
• 9:33
  enhance passion and energy. It was even depicted on the
• 9:38
  walls of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.
• 9:42
  That wraps up today's fiery episode on horseradish, the root
• 9:47
  that bites back. If you've never tried growing
• 9:52
  it, give it a shot. Just make sure it's in a spot
• 9:56
  where it can run wild without overtaking your garden.
• 10:02
  And as always, if you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to
• 10:05
  follow The Beanstalk on Spotify and on Facebook for photos,
• 10:09
  growing tips, and community updates.
• 10:14
  Until next time, keep your hands dirty, your roots deep and your
• 10:18
  meals fresh from the garden and keep on find me.