- The best harvest period
- Lay the right hand
- How can you tell good quality?
- And after the harvest?
- tips and tricks
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Anyone who dares the adventure of growing black salsify in their own garden naturally hopes for high yields. But things can go wrong during the harvest. This is how the professionals among the gardeners do it!
The best harvest period
As the cooler days roll in and the plant leaves its foliage, salsify season begins. As a rule, the roots can be harvested from mid-October and until spring (by April at the latest) of the following year.
Caution: If the harvest takes place in the spring, the risk of damage caused by voles eating the black salsify is significantly higher. They should not be harvested later, since the power of the roots is transferred to the inflorescences from May.
Lay the right hand
Now it's time to get really hands on:
- Variant 1: Prick with a spade directly behind the plant and pull out the roots
- Variant 2: Loosen the soil with a digging fork and pull out the roots
- Variant 3 (for very loamy soil): Dig out a channel and push out the root going there
When harvesting, the ground should not be frozen. Otherwise, it becomes troublesome and the roots may break. It is also advisable to wear gardening gloves when harvesting, as the roots stain heavily.
How can you tell good quality?
Under ideal conditions, yields of 15 to 20 tons per hectare are possible. But not only the quantity decides. The quality of the salsify is also significant. You can recognize good quality by:
- Roots without branches
- thick and strong roots
- unbroken roots
And after the harvest?
The roots are best consumed immediately or processed and preserved. Alternatively, they can be stored in damp sand in a cool basement for several weeks. However, the roots should not have any fractures, as this would cause them to lose moisture.
After harvesting in spring, a new sowing of black salsify can be carried out immediately. Because the saying goes: 'The early bird catches the worm.'
tips and tricks
If you want to enjoy the vanilla-like scented basket flowers, you should leave a few of the roots in the ground. After flowering in July, the seeds can be harvested.