When to Plant Horseradish in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow September to March. Right now in September you can sow.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Horseradish guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Horseradish

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Horseradish is a robust, hardy perennial grown for its pungent root. Once established, it is almost impossible to eradicate. A feature or a bug depending on your perspective. Best suited to temperate and cool climates where cold winters develop the best-flavoured roots. Extremely low maintenance but must be contained or it will take over the garden.

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
D D D - - - - - D D D D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 11.2°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Horseradish in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Plant October-November after last frost. Cold highland winters produce the most pungent roots of any zone.

Soil
Deep, loose, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Best roots form in sandy loam or loam dug to at least 30cm depth. Tolerates a wide range of soils but heavy clay produces misshapen roots. Remove stones.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun (6+ hours). Tolerates partial shade but root development is reduced.
Spacing
40cm apart, 60cm between rows
Watering
Moderate water needs. Water deeply once per week during active growth. Drought tolerant once established but consistent moisture produces the best roots. Reduce watering in winter when dormant.

Companion plants: Potato, Fruit trees, Grape vines

Avoid planting near: Other brassicas (shares diseases)

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Horseradish

Recommended Varieties

  • Common Horseradish
  • Bohemian

Key Challenges

  • Slow establishment in short growing season
  • Invasiveness

Pro Tips

  • Cold highlands produce the absolute best horseradish, maximum pungency
  • Plant in spring after last frost
  • Roots can overwinter in ground protected by heavy mulch

Harvesting Horseradish

When ready: Harvest after the first frosts of autumn/winter, or at least 16-24 weeks after planting. Roots should be at least 30cm long and 3-5cm diameter at the crown. Leaves may have died back partially in cold climates.

How to harvest: Dig deeply alongside the root with a garden fork. Roots can go 60cm+ deep. Lever out carefully. Any root fragment left in soil WILL regrow, so be thorough if you want to contain the plant. Snap off side roots for replanting or discard in bin (not compost).

Common Horseradish Pests in Cold / Highland Zones

Fungal Pathogens, risk: LOW (score: 30/100)

Organic prevention: Horseradish is so vigorous that pest damage is rarely significant. Focus control efforts on neighbouring brassica crops instead.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this September: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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Common Questions About Horseradish

When do you plant horseradish in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does horseradish grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.