Are you growing horse radish in Virginia, but don’t know when the best time to harvest them is?

Harvesting horse radish is not as easy as it seems.

Here’s why:

• Horse Radish have a very short window when they can be harvested and still taste great.

So if you harvest them too early they may not be ready and taste bad. And if you harvest them too late they may become infected with mold, fungus, insects, etc., and become inedible.

Today, I’m going to teach you the ideal time to harvest horse radish in Virginia:

• To Learn More About HOW to Grow Horse Radish, Check Out This GUIDE!

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When Do I Harvest Horse Radish in Virginia?

As you may have already guessed, there are two main factors that determine when you should harvest your horse radish: the physical features of the horse radish & weather (time).

Harvest Horse Radish if They Look Like This!!!

The physical features of horse radish are what most gardeners commonly rely on to determine if they are ready to be picked off the plant or not.

In general, you should harvest horse radish if they have the following physical features:

• The entire horse radish is a solid red color. If the horse radish is a lighter shade of red, it is not ready to be harvested
• The horse radish is slightly soft. Too hard means it is not ready. Too soft means it is overripe (but still edible)
• Easily able to be deattached from the the plant. This means it has absorbed all the nutrients it needs and is ready.

Harvest Your Horse Radish During THIS Time of Year!!!

In general, you should harvest horse radish:

• 65 to 85 days after starting horse radish from seed
• 40 to 50 days after planting horse radish in your garden
• 20 to 30 days after horse radish first appear

And no matter what, you should ALWAYS harvest your horse radish before the first frost of the year. Frost will immediately kill your horse radish plant and make your horse radish inedible.

For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in Virginia. If your city is not listed below you can find its Last & First Frost Dates HERE.

Virginia Last & First Frost Dates

It should be noted that you should not overly rely on the first frost of the year. The average first frost of the year is only correct 30% of the time.

Instead, pay close attention to your local weather.

When you know a frost is coming you need to take action.

• If horse radish are in pots, bring them inside
• If horse radish are in the ground, cover them in burlap and hope they survive
• Pick all horse radish. If they are not ready, place them in a brown paper bag and store them for approximately 1 to 2 weeks to see if they become edible.

If you want to learn WHEN to harvest ANY Vegetable in Virginia, head over to HERE and just type in the vegetable you want to grow.