2011 Herb of the Year:  Horseradish

Latin Name:   Armoracia rusticana, a member of the mustard family

Growth: Herbaceous perennial that grows in well drained, loose garden soil and full sun. It is often not successfully grown in the coastal and lower South.  There can be foliar diseases and nematode problems.  Also the roots may not be well developed in size and flavor due to our mild winters. Probably grows best above Zone 8.

Propagation: Cuttings and crown division

History and Origin:  The history is obscure. Southern Russia, the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and eastern Asia all claim early use of horseradish. It was originally used for medicinal purposes being recommended by physicians and healers for everything from sore throats and digestive upsets to back aches (poultice). During the middle ages, AD 500-1500, horseradish began to be incorporated into the Jewish Passover Seder as one of the bitter herbs.

  In the 1800s immigrants from Europe living in northeastern Illinois planted horseradish with the intention of selling the roots. Today the town of Collinsville, Illinois refers to itself as "the horseradish capital of the world" and hosts the International Horseradish Festival each May. According to Festival organizers the area around Collinsville is part of what is known as the American bottoms, a Mississippi River basin area adjacent to St. Louis.  After the ice age, the soil was rich in potash, a nutrient on which the horseradish thrives.  Read more about horseradish at www.horseradish.org

Culinary Use:  Horseradish is a member of the mustard family and is cultivated for its thick fleshy white roots. The bite is not evident until the root is grated or ground releasing a volatile oil, isothiocyanate.  Vinegar added to the grated root stops this reaction and stabilizes the flavor. This is the base for horseradish sauce that is so popular with beef and seafood. The tender new leaves of the plant can also be added to salads or cooked as a potherb alone or mixed with other greens.

Herb Day "2011"   Presented by The Gulf Coast Herb Society and Mobile Botanical Gardens Come out and join us Saturday, September 24, 2011  9AM - Noon  for " Herb Day 2011"  "Click here for more information"