No, I don't eat it by itself. Since I live on a sand/gravel hill, it is not as hot when grown in good black gumbo. Grown in black dirt, it will light you up. It's mellow grown in sand, and sweeter. That is sweet for horseradish.
My folks told me dig in any month with an R in it.
Nice thing about spring dig is that you replant the tops and have more by fall.