The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: sellickbhoy on May 12, 2009, 11:13:38 am

Title: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 12, 2009, 11:13:38 am
i was watching that unusually addictive program "Come dine with me" last week

one of the chaps on it was a bit of a "grow your own" type - we've all seen them, Holier than though sorts taking the moral high ground because they don't rely on tesco!! tut tut!! LOL

anyway, one of the things he used in his recipe was wild horseradish.

he just walked out the house and down the lane and dug some up from the side of the road. He then said that the stuff grows all over the place and you'll have no trouble finding it.

it looked just like doc leaves to me.

so, how do i identify wild horseradish and does it indeed grow freely in the countryside? and does it look just like a doc leaf?
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: doganjo on May 12, 2009, 11:42:06 am
And apart from anything else is that not now illegal - to dig up roots of wild plants?
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 12, 2009, 12:45:07 pm
i think it might depend 'where you dig it up from'

You can buy it from B&Q in root form for plantting, I got some before i went away in march and planted it up and it startting to show in the BIGGGGGGGGGGG pot i put it in.

Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 12, 2009, 12:51:04 pm
i'll be asking the farmer who owns the field if i can lift it - so no legal issues

but i'm not about to go digging up dock leaves for him!! :-)

i don't really want to plant any in my garden - i'll only use it once in a blue moon and if it grows freely nearby, then that's one less thing for me to look after.

Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: The Relic on May 12, 2009, 02:18:41 pm
seen the same program he came across as a bit of a nob to me "oh i dug this up from my garden" (your mothers garden the narrator is great lol) did he win the money as i didnt see the last girl cook (saying that she was a bit of a nob also) but i have to say i went out with my spade to dig up the wild horseradish which apparently grows everywhere. only managed to dig up dock weed which does grow everywhere.
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 12, 2009, 02:59:09 pm
yeah, he won and the money was going to help pay for finishing his house - which might be nice if he ever gets around to finishing it.

yeah, all the veg came from his mothers garden - as his wasn't quite ready yet

he was one of these people who would put me off wanting to grow my own. Dunno what it was about him, just his air of superiority I guess - or the fact he was a grade a knob (as you put it)

Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: The Relic on May 12, 2009, 03:23:51 pm
what got me also was when yer one asked him were is pigs organic and he kinda paused then said "not organic but free range" the last time i looked free range pigs dont live in a shed. not sure if he had them there permentally or just cos the sow had little piggys. also i cant see him butchering a whole pig on the little butchers block he had in his kitchen.
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: The Relic on May 12, 2009, 03:25:16 pm
p.s any look finding wild horseradish
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 12, 2009, 03:35:16 pm
well, i've not looked much more, but i suspect what's growing near me is just dock.

when i'm taking the dog out tonight, so i'll go via the farmers field and have a wee close look and see what i find.

as for the come dine with me chap - can't help thinking Mummy and Daddy had a little bit of money and were funding his free range lifestyle.

oh yeah, i'm that judgemental with everyone btw!!!
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: doganjo on May 12, 2009, 03:38:32 pm
I think it's called cynicism lol

I don't like horseradish so i'm not going to look for any
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 12, 2009, 03:49:40 pm
I don't like horseradish so i'm not going to look for any

i've never tried it, but i like nippy things!!! so thought i'd try some.

Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: Rosemary on May 12, 2009, 09:22:24 pm
I love horseradish on beef. Someone gave us a bit of root but it didn't come to anything.
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sanman on May 12, 2009, 09:42:47 pm
It does grow around everywhere.  Dock normally has a redish tinge to the leaf stem and veins that horseradish doesn't.  Also horseradish leaves a larger, they stand more upright and look a little like large spinach leaves.  Once you get your eye in they are easy to spot - its especially prolific in Lincolnshire.
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: The Relic on May 12, 2009, 10:15:29 pm
are you mates with yer man from "come dine with me" sanman lol.

i know what you mean about dock having the redish tinge to the leaf stem and im
sure if yea spot one youll see them everywhere

Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: doganjo on May 12, 2009, 10:18:45 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseradish
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: northfifeduckling on May 12, 2009, 10:48:20 pm
bought some horseradish at T's 10 years ago and planted it in MY garden, how subversive is that?
Shame I missed that program now, all those people being nasty after they've been cooked for just got on my nerves a few episodes back...
If anyone wants to gather some dock, come to my garden and help yourself! You don't want the horse radish, it makes you cry once you cut it's skin! Maybe the wild one's milder.
Must check out the edible weed pages again lol.
:&>
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: gillandtom on May 15, 2009, 03:46:17 pm
Does anyone know if it grows wild in Scotland - Food for free book only says south England?

 ???
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 15, 2009, 04:04:10 pm
Does anyone know if it grows wild in Scotland - Food for free book only says south England?

 ???

no one tell Alec Salmond!!! the Scottish Parliament will demand Scottish Horseradish grown freely in our lands and we will not be held over a barrel by the south east of england on the availability of horseradish!!!
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: doganjo on May 15, 2009, 04:06:56 pm
And hear hear to that too!  Them thieves ain't gettin nuttin of mine!  When I was in Norway last weekend, people kept referring to the oil as us Scots having to share it with England even though it's ours - they couldn't understand why we had to do that and come to think of it neither do I!  Anyone guessed I'm a Nationalist yet?  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sheila on May 17, 2009, 05:21:29 pm
well, well. nationalism rears it's ugly head.What is the point of being anti English? we people down here don't even want you to be English. A Scot is a Scot and should remain so. Anyway I am interested in where I can get this wild horse radish in lincolnshire.
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 17, 2009, 05:30:56 pm
lol Am not scottish , don't want to be either  :P

Am a Welsh lass, SO THERE !!!!! who happens to live in scotland lol
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: doganjo on May 18, 2009, 11:50:51 am
I don't think horseradish sauce is an English dish as such anyway.

History

Horseradish has been cultivated since antiquity. According to Greek mythology, the Delphic Oracle told Apollo that the horseradish was worth its weight in gold. Horseradish was known in Egypt in 1500 BC and has traditionally been used by Jews from eastern Europe in Passover Seders, often representing maror. Cato discusses the plant in his treatises on agriculture, and a mural in Pompeii showing the plant has survived until today. Horseradish is probably the plant mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History under the name of Amoracia, and recommended by him for its medicinal qualities, and possibly the Wild Radish, or raphanos agrios of the Greeks.

Both root and leaves were used as a medicine during the Middle Ages and the root was used as a condiment on meats in Germany, Scandinavia, and Britain.  It was taken to North America during Colonial times.
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: The Relic on May 18, 2009, 01:10:35 pm
ah good old Wikipedia
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: doganjo on May 18, 2009, 04:37:33 pm
Hmmm, yes, but I do wonder how accurate WP is?  It seems very open to be changed by anyone who doesn't think it's correct.
Title: Re: Wild Horseradish
Post by: sheila on May 18, 2009, 04:42:56 pm
pliny the elder ??? And here I thought this was a gardening programme!