Black salsify has long been forgotten as a he althy, digestible winter vegetable that can be stored for a long time. Growing them in the garden turns out to be uncomplicated. A good background knowledge is required at the time of sowing.
How do I sow salsify correctly in the garden?
For sowing salsify, choose a sunny location and deep, humus-rich soil. Sow the seeds between late February and mid-March about 2cm deep, with 6cm between plants and 30cm between rows. Water the seeds heavily and keep the soil moist until they germinate in 10 to 12 days.
Making the right choice: location and soil
Before you start growing salsify in the garden, a suitable location and soil that is conducive to it should be selected. Please pay attention to the following:
- a sunny location is preferred
- in the autumn of the previous year or at the latest 2 weeks before sowing: loosen the bed to a depth of 30 cm
- Soil: deep, humus-rich, moist
The optimal period for sowing
In order to be able to harvest salsify in the first winter after sowing, the seeds should be sown between the end of February and mid-March. In cooler regions where the young plants would be exposed to excessive frost, sowing should take place by April at the latest. A harvest during the salsify season is therefore largely guaranteed.
Now the sowing can begin
The following varieties of salsify are recommended for sowing:
- ‘Hoffmann’s Black Stake’: tried and tested
- 'Meres': new breed, mildew resistant
- ‘Duplex’: strong-growing
- 'Russian giants': proven, particularly big
- 'Black Peter': tolerates heavy soils
The rod-shaped seeds of salsify are placed 2 cm deep in the soil. A distance of at least 6 cm should be maintained between plants. It is also possible to separate the young plants later or, even more easily, to use seed tapes (€9.00 on Amazon). A distance of 30 cm is sufficient between the rows.
After watering vigorously and keeping moist, the salsify seeds begin to germinate after 10 to 12 days. So that the soil does not become compacted through regular watering, it should be loosened up again and again.
What else is there to consider?
For great harvesting success, the following aspects must also be taken into account:
- Never grow salsify after tomatoes or carrots
- ideal pre-culture: potatoes, lupins, cucumbers, leeks, celery
- suitable mixed culture: beans, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, onions, leek
Tips & Tricks
Annual seeds should be used for sowing. The ability of salsify seeds to germinate quickly decreases, which can lead to a longer wait for harvest or complete failure of germination.