When to harvest Horseradish in the UK
Horseradish is planted rather than sown from seed, so the dates below are harvest dates.
Harvest dates by region
Horseradish is grown to the calendar rather than to the frost, so the same dates apply across the whole UK and every region below reads the same. Where a plant’s timings do follow the frost, Plot shifts them from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Harvest |
|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | early October to early December |
| South Coast and Channel | early October to early December |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | early October to early December |
| South East and Home Counties | early October to early December |
| East Anglia | early October to early December |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | early October to early December |
| Wales and West Coast | early October to early December |
| Northern England | early October to early December |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | early October to early December |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | early October to early December |
| Northern Ireland | early October to early December |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | early October to early December |
Growing notes
Plant roots or a young plant in spring or early summer, and grow it in a large pot at least 30cm wide and deep: the RHS specifically advises against open ground, because it spreads vigorously and regrows from any fragment of root left behind. Lift roots in autumn or early winter from the second year onwards.
At a glance
- Yield per plant
- 0.5 kg
- Sun
- Full
- Frost tender
- No
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 30 litres or more
- Minimum soil depth
- 40 cm
- Balcony rating
- 3 out of 5
Bare-root season
Bare-root stock is lifted and sold while dormant, from late March to mid June. Container-grown plants can go in at other times of year, but bare-root is cheaper and establishes well.
How long until it crops
Expect the first worthwhile pick about 2 years after planting.
What usually goes wrong
- invasive spread from root fragments
Companion planting
Grows well near
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for horseradish.