Salsify (Sandwich Island)

Sandwich Island Salsify Seeds

Salsify is a hardy biennial that produces both greens and an edible root in the first year. An extremely hardy plant, it can overwinter in many climates and once planted, can be harvest all the way through early spring. Unlike most garden vegetables, the tops of salsify tend to spread and look more like a clump of grass than anything else. The roots are beige, about the size of a large carrot, and bumpy like a parsnip.

Salsify is grown mostly for its roots, though the young shoots are also quite tasty, as are the flowers and flower buds. Unlike carrots or parsnips, salsify is both extremely easy to germinate and to care for. The plants are both generous and resilient, and when left as a biannual, offer up stunning flowers their second year.

Common Questions

Can you transplant Salsify seedlings? No. Sow directly to the soil as you would with any root crop to avoid miss-shaped crops.

Why won't my Salsify seeds germinate? Salsify needs a minimum soil temperature of 8°C to germinate. Even at 8°C you can still struggle to get all your seeds to germinate due to rot before sprouts emerge. The best time to germinate your Salsify is once soil temperatures reach around 12°C.