CULTIVATION and HARVEST
THE GROWING
We have been passionate about horseradish since we were founded over 100 years ago. Through our passion for the plant, continuous research and the optimization of agricultural processes, we have revolutionized cultivation and use: new varieties, perfected cultivation methods, modified harvesting machines and new innovative concepts in processing are the pillars of our company and offer our farmers long-term prospects. Our developments include planting machines for precise planting, hoeing machines and special machines for soil loosening.
In this way, we make a significant contribution to saving resources and reducing manual labor in the field. Our developments include planting machines for precise planting, hoeing machines and special machines for loosening the soil. These innovations make a significant contribution - both to saving resources and to reducing manual labor in the field. As a result, horseradish can be grown and harvested more sustainably and economically.
The climate shift also calls for new approaches to planting methods: for example, we no longer base our sowing and harvesting times on outdated standards, but on actual weather conditions. This "on-time production" requires powerful agricultural machinery that allows us to act quickly and flexibly. Once the so-called "Fechser" (the pencil-thick lateral root of the horseradish plant) has been planted, it is very important that it "closes up" quickly - i.e. that its leaves grow quickly and the foliage protects the soil from moisture loss and weeds. Around 1500 hours of work in twelve intensive steps are now required to grow a fully grown horseradish plant from the young fennel. By comparison, only around a tenth of the effort is required for potato cultivation.
The horseradish wants
his master
see every day
THE HARVEST
As soon as the horseradish stops growing, it is harvested. First the leaves are cut off, then the appropriate harvesting machine is selected depending on the soil conditions, variety, growing area and current weather conditions. As horseradish is a living product, we have developed special transport pallets for it, which we make available to our farmers.
This means that the roots can be transported "first class", without any stress or pressure. We also avoid plastic packaging to prevent suffocation and to protect the environment. Stress development also reduces the quality of the horseradish because bitter substances produced in the process can cause an undesirable taste.
After harvesting, the quality of the horseradish is checked, the roots (Fechser) are cut off (these are then set directly for the next year), cleaned, placed in our pallets, transported as quickly as possible, peeled and processed or stored.
In our own cold stores, we use an optimized process to control and regulate the humidity of the horseradish. In addition, a specially made foil hood is pulled over the pallets to prevent them from drying out. This has a valve at the top to dissipate heat so that it does not rebound as ice. This allows the horseradish to "sleep" for up to two years.
