Free Shipping on $50+ orders!

Basket

Organic Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify Seeds

Tragopogon porrifolius

  • HOW TO GROW
  • FAST FACTS

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: Salsify takes 4-5 months to mature, and should be planted immeditely after the last spring frost for a fall crop. After soaking the seeds overnight, direct sow in deeply worked soil 1/2" deep and 1" apart in rows 12-24" apart. When the seedlings emerge, thin them to 2-4" apart.

Growing: Apply mulch to conserve moisture and control weeds, which tend to slow the growth of salsify.

Harvesting: Harvest salsify as needed as soon as it reaches its mature length of 8". Since the roots keep well in the ground but not in the refrigerator, harvest salsify only for fresh use. Salsify can be left in the ground until spring, if covered by mulch; this gives it a deeper flavor.

Seed Saving: Salsify must overwinter before producing seed. In warmer climates, a layer of mulch will be sufficient for protection. In colder climates, dig up the roots; cut the tops to 2" and store them in damp sand at 33-40 degrees F until replanting in spring. The roots will send up flowering stalks with seed heads that resemble those of a dandelion. Since they fly away very easily in the wind, gather them as soon as they mature. Remove the fluff and spread the seed to dry for several weeks out of the sunlight. When the seeds have dried completely, they will break easily in half. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.

FAST FACTS

Latin Name: Tragopogon porrifolius

Type: Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Cool Season

USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Seeds per Ounce: 2,600

Planting Method: Direct Sow

Planting Depth: 0.5

Planting Spacing: 2

Row Spacing: 24

Days to Maturity: 120

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 24 Inches

Color: White

Size Price Quantity
XL Mylar Packet (~100 Seeds) $3.96 Notify Me
1 Oz Mylar (~2,600 Seeds) $8.93 Notify Me
1/4 Lb Mylar (113g) $19.29 Notify Me
1 Lb Mylar (454g) $60.00 Notify Me
5 Lb Mylar (2.27kg) $270.00 Notify Me
Sold out

DESCRIPTION

The roots of Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify are about 9" long and tapered. The white flesh of these roots is wonderful for use in soups when peeled and boiled. They have a flavor similar to oysters, so this variety is sometimes called vegetable oyster. These take a good 120 days to grow but are a good keeper that can be overwintered.
Salsify in its modern form comes from 16th century Italy, and later made its way to the rest of Europe. European cooks traditionally served this white parsnip-like root steamed or boiled with cream. Mammoth Sandwich Island salsify, developed in the 1860s in the United States, has been the preeminent salsify variety ever since.

HOW TO GROW

Sowing: Salsify takes 4-5 months to mature, and should be planted immeditely after the last spring frost for a fall crop. After soaking the seeds overnight, direct sow in deeply worked soil 1/2" deep and 1" apart in rows 12-24" apart. When the seedlings emerge, thin them to 2-4" apart.

Growing: Apply mulch to conserve moisture and control weeds, which tend to slow the growth of salsify.

Harvesting: Harvest salsify as needed as soon as it reaches its mature length of 8". Since the roots keep well in the ground but not in the refrigerator, harvest salsify only for fresh use. Salsify can be left in the ground until spring, if covered by mulch; this gives it a deeper flavor.

Seed Saving: Salsify must overwinter before producing seed. In warmer climates, a layer of mulch will be sufficient for protection. In colder climates, dig up the roots; cut the tops to 2" and store them in damp sand at 33-40 degrees F until replanting in spring. The roots will send up flowering stalks with seed heads that resemble those of a dandelion. Since they fly away very easily in the wind, gather them as soon as they mature. Remove the fluff and spread the seed to dry for several weeks out of the sunlight. When the seeds have dried completely, they will break easily in half. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.

FAST FACTS

Latin Name: Tragopogon porrifolius

Type: Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Cool Season

USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Seeds per Ounce: 2,600

Planting Method: Direct Sow

Planting Depth: 0.5

Planting Spacing: 2

Row Spacing: 24

Days to Maturity: 120

Sunlight: Full Sun

Height: 24 Inches

Color: White