Garden calendar for the kitchen garden - vegetables and herbs. See what to plant right now and for next month.

Select your climate zone What is my climate zone?

Growing Salsify, also Vegetable oyster

(Tragopogon porrifolius)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
			P	P

(Best months for planting Salsify in USA - Zone 5a regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 15 - 20 cm apart
Harvest in 14-21 weeks.
Compatible with: Beans, Brassicas, Carrots, Celeriac, Endive, Kohl-rabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Alliums, Spinach

Harvested salsify roots

This root vegetable is not seen in supermarkets but is as easy to grow as carrots or parsnips.

It is a fairly slow growing vegetable but can be harvested in small amounts as required. The ground can be loosened with a fork and a few roots lifted for use.

Scorzonera is a variety of salsify which has black skin on the root.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Salsify

Wash and scrape the roots then boil before frying or roasting. They can also be used to make a creamed soup.

Your comments and tips

25 Feb 13, Douglas Duckmanton (Australia - temperate climate): has anybody grown NZ yams in NorthEast Vic,and if so where may i get some tubers
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Sep 12, Laurie (Australia - temperate climate): Hi does any one know where I can but the seeds for salsify around Nowra NSW or on line? Thanks
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Oct 12, reni (Australia - temperate climate): try Diggers seeds in Dromana Victoria -Im growing the large salsify successfully
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Nov 12, Mordecai Veldt (USA - Zone 5b climate): I am in a bind! I would really like to have some preserved salsify seed head puffs for my fiancee's wedding bouquet in may, but they won't be ready here in the USA by that time. If you are successfully growing them in Australia, we could work together to show you how to preserve them and have them shipped here? Can anyone help me out?
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Oct 12, PhilB (Australia - temperate climate): I obtained my salsify seeds from New Gippsland Seeds & Bulbs and sowed seeds for the first time - seedlings are growing very well. reni, what spacings are using between seedlings/plants? (If you check the entry for salsify on the Vegetables and Herbs page you will find that information - Liz) Also has anyone had any experience growing scorzonera (aka Black salsify) ? I had very poor germination when I tried this year.
Reply or Post a new comment
05 Aug 12, Karen Hawkins (Australia - temperate climate): Where can I buy salsify seed in Tasmania have just tryed it and enjoyed very much. thank you cheers Karen
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Aug 12, Paul Yacopetti (Australia - temperate climate): theitaliangardener.com.au Very fast service,reliable seeds and big quantity in pack. Have bought a few lots off them;hignly recomended
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Jul 12, d james (Australia - sub-tropical climate): yes I also like growing it transplanted 30 seedlings and all still alive and very happy by the garlic
Reply or Post a new comment
26 May 12, Yvonne Gill (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Do you where I could obtain seeds for salsify in South Africa?
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Mar 12, Fini (Australia - temperate climate): Hi I bought salsify seeds from the lost seed.
Reply or Post a new comment

Post a question, comment or tip about Salsify

Replying to:

Do you where I could obtain seeds for salsify in South Africa?

- Yvonne Gill

Your name:

Where are you?

Email address (if you would like us to email you when your comment is listed):

Your reply

All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting may not appear immediately

Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

Site design and development by Hutchinson Software