When planting vegetables in your garden, it’s a well-known fact that there are certain plants that, when grown together, help each other to stay healthy, grow to the best of their ability, and keep pests away. Horseradish is no different in this instance, but what are the best Horseradish Companion Plants?
Growing plants such as asparagus, sweet potatoes, rhubarb, strawberries, Jerusalem artichoke, white potatoes, and many others will help your horseradish grow to its full potential and will each benefit from being grown in companionship. Adding some herbs, like chives, garlic, mint, and rosemary, to your horseradish companion garden can also help to keep pests away from the other plants and improve the flavor of your horseradish
This article will discuss the best plants to grow in companionship with your horseradish plants. So keep reading! We have everything you need to know about the best plants to grow around your horse radish.
Why Grow Horseradish?
Horseradish is a great plant to grow for any garden, but especially for those who are just starting out, as it’s one of the easiest plants to grow due to its flexibility. This root vegetable is a delicious member of the Brassicaceae family and has a long growing season in most climates.
The full grown vegetable is packed with a considerable amount of nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, calcium folate, and dietary fiber. The use of this plant as a medicinal herb dates back thousands of years, and modern day science is now proving this is one of the most nutritious plants you can grow in your garden.
Horseradish contains an oil known as isothiocyanate, which is both antibacterial and antifungal in nature, making it a healthy addition to any meal. So, you can see that horseradish is a great plant to grow in your garden, but what can be planted around it to increase its potential growth and longevity?
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Top 10 Horseradish Companion Plants
If you want to get the most out of this root vegetable during its long growing season, it’s a good idea to plant it with companion plants that will help it grow to its full potential and keep away unwanted diseases and pests in the process.
This plant can come under attack from various pests such as the cabbage looper and flea beetles, both of which will eat the plant’s leaves and, in some cases, the inner vegetable.
So, to provide your horseradish plants with the best opportunities to thrive, here are 10 of the best companion plants you can grow next to them.
1. Asparagus
Asparagus is an excellent choice to plant alongside your horseradish plants. These vegetables produce tasty spears which can accompany a wide variety of dishes and are even great when cooked on the barbeque.
While this plant takes some time before it matures into a full crop, once they get going, it can last for up to twenty years. They grow well planted in a garden bed and can be planted around on the edge of your horseradish plants. They do best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
2. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are another excellent companion plant for your horseradish plants. Sweet potatoes are another nutrient-dense root vegetable, much like the horse radish, and provide humans with beta carotene, vitamins B6, C, and E, potassium, and iron.
When it comes to planting these alongside your horseradish, just remember to leave enough room for these plants to grow underground. A great idea is to plant them in sections, i.e., one square of sweet potatoes, followed by a square of horseradish plants, and repeat this process.
Once sweet potatoes start growing, they can usually be harvested anywhere from three to four months into the season. While they are great companions in the garden, they are also excellent companions for horseradish on the dinner plate.
3. Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a vegetable made up of a fleshy stalk that’s been used as an ingredient in numerous sweet dishes for centuries. It is a great companion plant for your horse radish and can be planted around the edge of the garden bed, and it even brings vibrant colors to your garden.
When growing rhubarb, you’ll need an open sunny area with well-drained soil that you keep moist. Once you have planted your seedling, you’ll want to wait around two years before you harvest any of the stalks, as this will ensure the plants are productive and strong.
4. Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits in the world, known for their sweet taste and vibrant red color and texture. These atomic fruits are great companion plants for your horse radish, and when paired together, both plants thrive.
When growing strawberries, it’s good to remember that they thrive in well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic soil that receives plenty of sunlight during spring and summer.
If you opt for the Alpine species, they thrive in partial shade. Just remember to avoid anywhere that is prone to frost, as this will damage the flowers and reduce the overall harvest.
5. Jerusalem Artichoke
Jerusalem artichokes are another excellent plant to grow around your horseradish plants. These crunchy and nutty-tasting root vegetables are actually a species of sunflower, yet when cooked, they are some of the tastiest on our list.
This plant is not actually an artichoke, instead, it is a brown tuber that resembles ginger in many ways. They provide a great iron, copper, potassium, and magnesium source. When planting these vegetables, you’ll want to prepare the soil with rich compost and plant them around thirty centimeters apart.
6. Spinach
Spinach is a household staple across the world, known for its high amount of iron; it’s the perfect salad veg for any occasion. Planting this leafy green around your horseradish is another excellent way to enhance the overall potential of the root vegetable.
Growing spinach is a relatively simple task once you have prepared the seedlings and soil. They require a decent amount of shade and will grow best when the soil is kept moist and topped up with a good fertilizer. Harvest the baby leaves for salads, as this encourages better growth and a larger yield.
7. Grapes
If you live in a climate that can facilitate the growth of grapes, then this is another excellent companion plant for your horseradish. Grapes are some of the most popular fruits in the world and can be made in numerous items such as jams, chutneys, sauces, oil, and wine.
When it comes to growing grapes, you’ll first want to find a variety that grows well in your climate. You’ll want to plant your seedlings in a large open area that gets a good amount of sunlight. This works well as you can plant them around and above your horseradish plants.
8. White Potatoes
White potatoes are another root vegetable that pairs well with your horseradish plants. These two plants work together and help ward off disease from one another, as well as flying pests and unwanted insects.
Growing potatoes is relatively similar to growing horseradish, as they are both root vegetables that enjoy a good amount of sunlight. The tubers need loose and fertile soil, as hard soil will lead to misshapen tubers.
9. Apples
One of the companion plants that may seem usual to grow around your horseradish is fruit trees, such as an apple tree. Fruit trees are easy to grow and are an excellent project for beginner gardeners. On top of this, they provide your horseradish plants with extra nutrients.
When choosing a position in the garden for your apple tree, you’ll want to find somewhere that receives a good amount of sun and is away from other trees. Planting them close to garden beds that hold root vegetables will enhance the overall yield of both plants.
10. Pears
Pear is another excellent fruit tree that is great to plant around your horseradish beds and vice-versa. Pears and horseradish plants work in harmony to repel many fungal diseases that often attack plants, and the horseradish can produce a higher yield for your fruit tree.
What Should Not Be Planted Close To Your Horseradish Plants
While numerous plants can help ward off disease, keep your horse radish plants healthy and produce a high yield for both plants, there are also plants that you should avoid planting around your horseradish.
This includes vegetables from the brassica family of crops, such as; Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, turnips, and cabbage. These vegetables, once harvested, will leave behind a swarm of pests that will instantly attack your horseradish plants.
Conclusion
So, from all the information in this article, you’re ready to get into your garden and ensure that your horseradish will thrive thanks to the numerous companion plants you can now surround them with. Just remember to check what grows best in your region and go for these varieties.
Hey, I’m Lisa and I’ve been an avid gardener for over 30 years. I love writing, talking and living in the garden! Feel free to connect with me on my socials below
