Horseradish is grown for its root, ready to pull about 150 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9 and stands up to deer. Its flowers are a modest draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the root is the prize. As a brassica (the cabbage family), give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
3-9
pH Range
4.5-8.7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
150
Score Horseradish on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether horseradish actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score horseradish against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
See Horseradish
What Horseradish is
Horseradish reaches around 2.5 feet at maturity. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Horseradish
Horseradish grows in USDA zones 3 through 9 and is ready to harvest about 150 days after planting. Horseradish does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8.7, on evenly moist to well-drained ground. It needs around 1,200 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8.7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
poorly (saturated >50% of year), well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
42.8°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
150 days
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
1200+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
150+
plant_species_v5.csv
Sow directly
Sow horseradish seed straight into the bed — root crops germinate fast and resent transplanting. Give them full sun.
Match the soil
Horseradish prefers pH 4.5 to 8.7 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Horseradish is ready about 150 days after sowing (University Extension production guides). Pull while roots are young and tender — sweeter than oversized ones.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — horseradish isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Horseradish offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Horseradish thrives
Horseradish is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–9·Where Horseradish growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Horseradish can grow in these states:
See if Horseradish will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether horseradish actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Horseradish in my zone?
Horseradish grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Horseradish take to grow?
Horseradish is ready to harvest about 150 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Horseradish?
Most growers plant horseradish after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 150-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Horseradish need?
Horseradish needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Horseradish need?
Horseradish prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8.7, on evenly moist to well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Horseradish attract pollinators?
Yes — horseradish's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Horseradish safe for pets?
Horseradish is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.