Wild Horseradish

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,

If this question is in the wrong section Mods please feel free to move

I've been looking at having another plot. This one is under a bit of shade by a tree which will mean I can work on it when the other plot gets to hot to work on. Also it means there is shade for the kids.

There are loads of weeds on it but have been on the plot and they are pulling up pretty easily. Also there is plenty of old carpet down.

I have been told there is wild horseradish on it and the previous plot holder did make some attempt to get rid of it. I think I have found it and there quite a bit there. Is horseradish invasive and can I dig it out easily?

Thanks in advance.

[veggiechicken]

Read some of the posts here http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1552777

Trees may mean shady but they also mean roots that are always on the wrong place when you need to plant something! What sort of tree is it and how big? Also where on the plot?

[Scarlet]

Horseradish you will never get rid of.... And as VC has said how big are the trees? I've got a huge conker tree in my garden not only does it shade the borders, it takes all the water in Summer and the border plants really droop. I've always fancied a carpet of daffs underneath it come spring but the roots are quite close to the surface and I just can't get the bulbs in.
Some photos would help.....remember the kids grow up fast, give them a tent?

[noviceveggrower]

I have taken pics but for some reason they wont upload.
The trees are Oak trees and are quite mature trees but they are a good distance from the plot. The gap between the plot and the tree is covered with grass. The gap is wide enough for the council to cut the grass on one of those massive sit on lawn mowers and still leave plenty of grass either side.
There are several plots on the row and they seem ok with watering.

[veggiechicken]

Tree roots extend roughly the same distance as the tree is tall - if that gives you an idea of where they may be. The other thing to think about is how much shadow do they cast - which side of the plot. Not trying to put you off but I have 3 big oaks in the garden and not many veg will grow in their shadow. Soft fruit is better there.

[noviceveggrower]

There's not to much shade but just enough to get a couple of chairs underneath with some cool drinks on a warm summers day. The shade that is there covers just a tip of the plot mainly where the last person dumped all their rubbish. I have looked and can't see any treasure there.

[veggiechicken]

Sounds OK then, NVG, apart from the lack of treasure

[noviceveggrower]

There's quite a few pieces of carpet left with large lumps underneath. Han and I lifted one and its got about 3 pallets underneath. Was hoping for some slabs or other interesting stuff but you never know.

[Zelenina]

I don't think there is any difference between wild and tame horseradish. Probably someone thought it was a good idea to plant it there once upon a time. It's one of those things that's been in my garden much, much longer than I have. I think it's in all Slovak gardens because Slovak people love eating it, but I don't.

In a couple of places it's settled itself into crevices between bits of concrete so I can't dig it out, and it does try to spread, but it doesn't bother me very much. If it pops up where I don't allow it I dig out as much as I can, and cut back the leaves if it's shading other plants.

Sometimes I give bits of the roots to people who like it. Apparently the leaves are edible too, though people don't usually eat them. I expect they are good for composting, probably as good as comfrey because the roots go down deep and must bring up nutrients in the same way. So I don't think it's anything to worry too much about.

[noviceveggrower]

I have googled it to find a picture of it. This stuff is slap bang in the middle of the plot and there is quite a bit of it. If I do go for the plot I am just going to leave it where it is and work round it.

[MarkPelican]

I have googled it to find a picture of it. This stuff is slap bang in the middle of the plot and there is quite a bit of it. If I do go for the plot I am just going to leave it where it is and work round it.

My experience is that you won't have any choice. You won't get rid of it.

[mothhawk]

Just like comfrey, don't let it flower and seed, then it won't spread about. Also like comfrey, because it has very long tap roots, it draws up minerals from deep underground, so good for the compost heap

[MarkPelican]

Just like comfrey, don't let it flower and seed, then it won't spread about. Also like comfrey, because it has very long tap roots, it draws up minerals from deep underground, so good for the compost heap

Mine has never flowered (at least not in the last five years that I know of) but the clump keeps expanding even if I chop it down and dig it out.

[mothhawk]

Mine has never flowered (at least not in the last five years that I know of) but the clump keeps expanding even if I chop it down and dig it out.

Yeah, it's a bit like bindweed - every little chip of root you miss grows a new plant, so you dig up one plant, leave a couple of little roots, and bingo, two plants. If the soil is rich it can spread by runners underground too.

But it's a brassica, so put those cabbage white eggs off the cabbages, onto the horseradish