Black salsify has long been forgotten as a healthy, easily digestible winter vegetable that can be stored for a long time. Cultivation in the garden turns out to be uncomplicated. A good background knowledge at the time of sowing is required.

Make the right choice: location and soil

Before you start growing black salsify in the garden, you should choose a suitable location and soil that is beneficial to it. The following must be observed:

  • 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, rich in humus, moist

The optimal period for sowing

In order to be able to harvest black 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, sow by April at the latest. A harvest in the black salsify season is thus largely guaranteed.

Now the sowing can begin!

The following varieties of black salsify are recommended for sowing:

  • 'Hoffmann's Black Pole': tried and tested
  • 'Meres': new breed, resistant to mildew
  • 'Duplex': strong-growing
  • 'Russian giants': proven, particularly large
  • 'Schwarzer Peter': tolerates heavy soils

The rod-shaped seeds of black salsify are placed 2 cm deep in the soil. There should be a distance of at least 6 cm between the plants. It is also possible to separate the young plants later or, even more uncomplicated: to use seed tapes. A distance of 30 cm between the rows is sufficient.

After watering vigorously and keeping moist again, the black salsify seeds begin to germinate after 10 to 12 days. So that the soil does not become compacted by regular watering, it should be loosened again and again.

What else is there to consider?

For a great harvesting success, the following aspects must also be considered:

  • Never plant salsify after tomatoes or carrots
  • ideal preculture: potatoes, lupins, cucumbers, leeks, celery
  • suitable mixed culture: beans, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, onions, leeks

tips and tricks

Annual seeds should be used for sowing. The germinability of black salsify seeds decreases rapidly, which can lead to a longer wait for harvest or a complete failure of germination.

Category:

Vegetable garden