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When to Plant Horseradish in Lincoln County, OR

Lincoln County, Oregon Zone 9a May

Lincoln County, Oregon gardeners: here's your May plan

Your Lincoln County, Oregon garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for May and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost April 19
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Move horseradish into the garden

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

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Horseradish is a vigorous perennial grown for its pungent, spicy roots used as a condiment. Once established, it can be difficult to eradicate, so choose its location carefully.

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 267 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 41.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Horseradish to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, OR (Zone 9a) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 22 – Oct 31
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Sep 6 – Nov 15
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Sep 28 – Dec 7

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Lincoln County

How your county's soil matches Horseradish's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.4) is more acidic than Horseradish prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Lincoln County is excellent for Horseradish — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Horseradish will thrive.

How to Plant Horseradish

1"
Planting Depth
30"
Between Plants
42"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 192 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Horseradish

Horseradish needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Horseradish Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 6.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.6" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 5.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Lincoln County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Horseradish Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Horseradish needs ~1,838 GDD — county provides 2,388 GDD Good fit

Horseradish Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, OR

Horseradish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 – May 17
Harvest September 6 Sep 6 – Nov 15

Plant 1" deep · 30" apart · Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July
August
September Harvest
October Harvest
November Harvest
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

120–180 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

195 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Horseradish in Lincoln County

Direct sow Horseradish outdoors after April 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Horseradish in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Plant root cuttings at a 45-degree angle in early spring. Harvest roots in late fall for strongest flavor. Contain the plant with barriers or grow in large containers.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Horseradish in Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Horseradish planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln County (Zone 9a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Lincoln County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.