50 Seeds.
Other Names - Black Salsify, Oyster Plant, Vegetable Oyster…
Scorzonera is an easy and fairly trouble free crop to grow. An old heritage variety that has been around for century's. Scorzonera has a flavour that resembles oysters, similar to Salsify however some say that it has a more refined and delicate flavour. The roots grow large with a dark brown skin and white flesh. Simply peel the skin and treat like a parsnip, roast, steam or boil. This root has an excellent flavour and is well worth growing as it is a prolific and non demanding vegetable to grow.
Suitable For - Vegetable plot, raised beds
Sowing Months - May - July
Harvest - October - April
Scorzonera roots grow long in deep stone free soils similar to carrots needs. Add some well rotted manure or compost the previous autumn and add some organic general purpose fertilizer 1 - 2 weeks before sowing, remove any weeds.
General Information | Sowing & Planting Information | ||
---|---|---|---|
Habit | Perennial, grown as an annual | Module Grown & Transplants | |
Type | N/A | Distance between plants | N/A |
Position | Full sun | Distance between rows | N/A |
Average height | 70 cm | Direct Sowing | |
Average spread | 40 cm | Sowing distance between plants | 1 - 2 cm |
Hardiness | Fully Hardy | Distance between rows | 35 cm |
Overwintering | Stored or left in the ground | Sowing depth | 1 - 1.5 cm |
Soil Ph | 6.5 - 7.0 | Germination temperature | 10 to 20℃ |
Days to germination | 14 - 21 days |
Just like carrots the plants are best sown direct to prevent any damage to their fragile roots.
Sow one seed approx. 1 - 2 cm apart at the depth and row distance suggested above. Cover the seeds with soil and water well. When the seedlings are large enough to handle thin the row to 1 strong seedling every 15 cm.
Weed often, taking care not to disturb the seedlings. The plants will benefit from a mulch of compost in summer to help prevent the soil from drying out. Water well in dry weather. The foliage will start to die off in autumn.
Scorzonera roots are ready for harvesting from October to April. Scorzonera are hardy and can be left in the ground over the winter months up until April, however it will be very difficult to harvest the brittle roots when the soil is frozen.
Some gardeners prefer to harvest all of the roots before the freezing weather arrives and some choose to harvest a few in October / November, store them in boxes of damp compost or sacks for winter use and then harvest the rest in March / April when the soil has defrosted.
The roots can grow to 20 - 30 cm long. Use a spade to help harvest the long thin roots taking care not to snap them. Any remaining scorzonera roots left in the ground will grow pretty flowers after April.
Avoid sowing too early as this vegetable will bolt if sown before mid May.
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