root · transplant · beginner friendly
Horseradish: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating horseradish a few times a week needs about 2 plants in ~8 sq ft, worth about $4 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~4 sq ft | ~2 | ~$2 |
| 2 people | 1 | ~4 sq ft | ~2 | ~$2 |
| 4 people | 2 | ~8 sq ft | ~3 | ~$4 |
| 6 people | 2 | ~8 sq ft | ~3 | ~$4 |
Spacing
18" in row · 30" between rows
Sow depth
3"
Days to harvest
150 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 1 – Jun 14 | — |
| Zone 4 | Apr 26 – Jun 9 | — |
| Zone 5 | Apr 16 – May 30 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 6 – May 20 | — |
| Zone 7 | Mar 22 – May 5 | — |
| Zone 8 | Mar 11 – Apr 24 | — |
| Zone 9 | Feb 6 – Mar 22 | — |
| Zone 10 | Jan 17 – Mar 2 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Dig after a couple of hard frosts kill the tops, cold builds the heat. One season minimum, fall of year one.
Yield
About 1 lb per plant over ~2 productive weeks (~1 lb).
Neighbors
Plays well with potato.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Horseradish keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Horseradish planting questions
How many horseradish plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 2 plants, which takes around 8 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does horseradish need?+
Space plants 18" apart in the row with 30" between rows. Sow 3" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant horseradish?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing horseradish worth it?+
At about $2.00/lb retail and ~1 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $4 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.