Anyone who dares to try the adventure of growing salsify in their own garden naturally hopes for high yields. But a lot can go wrong during the harvest. This is how the professional gardeners do it!
How do you harvest salsify correctly?
Black salsify can be harvested from mid-October to April. Loosen the soil with a digging fork or spade and carefully pull out the roots. Make sure the ground is not frozen and wear gardening gloves to avoid discoloration.
The best harvest period
When the cooler days arrive and the plant's foliage begins to fall, the salsify season begins. As a rule, the roots can be harvested from mid-October until spring (April at the latest) of the following year.
Caution: If the harvest takes place in spring, the risk of damage to the salsify by voles is significantly greater. They should no longer be harvested later, as the strength of the roots is transferred to the inflorescences from May onwards.
Really lend a hand
Now it's time to really get hands on:
- Variant 1: Use a spade to pierce directly behind the plant and pull out the root
- Variant 2: Loosen the soil with a digging fork and pull out the roots
- Variant 3 (for very clayey soils): Dig a groove and push the roots out there
The ground should not be frozen when harvesting. Otherwise it will be difficult and the roots could break. It is also advisable to wear gardening gloves (€97.00 on Amazon) when harvesting, as the roots stain heavily.
How can you recognize good quality?
Under ideal conditions, yields of 15 to 20 tons per hectare are possible. But it's not just the quantity that decides. The quality of the salsify is also important. You recognize good quality:
- Roots without branches
- thick and strong roots
- not broken roots
And after the harvest?
The roots are best consumed immediately or processed and preserved. Alternatively, they can be stored in moist sand in a cool basement for several weeks. However, the roots should not have any breakages, as this will cause them to lose moisture.
After the harvest in spring, a new sowing of salsify can be carried out immediately. Because the saying goes: 'The early bird catches the worm.'
Tips & Tricks
If you want to enjoy the vanilla-smelling basket flowers, you should leave a few of the roots in the ground. After flowering in July, the seeds can be harvested.