Common salsify

Plant family

Daisy family (Asteraceae)

Also known as

Purple Salsify, Oyster Plant, Vegetable Oyster, Jerusalem Star, Jack Go to Bed

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Semi-shaded

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Light germinator

Plant distance

7 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

2 cm

Instructions

Description

The oat root, also known as white root, purple buckbeard or habermark, belongs to the genus of buckbeards (Tragopogon) and the family of composite plants (Asteraceae). The taste is sweet-aromatic and sometimes reminiscent of oysters, which is why the plant is sometimes called a vegetable oyster. It produces many purple, decorative flowers in the 2nd year, which are edible. It is hardy and grows up to 1.2 m tall. The actual oat root is white, with milky flesh, and grows between 20-30 cm long and about 5 cm thick. It is low in calories and high in protein and is also used as a remedy.

Growing tips

Cultivation as for black salsify. Water sufficiently in dry periods, otherwise the roots will become woody and the plant will start to shoot. Harvest with a digging fork, cover with sand and store in a dark place. For a winter harvest, cover the beds with straw. The shoots of the plant are also edible, so cut off the leaves in winter and pile up the roots approx. 10-15 cm. The shoots can then be harvested in spring. Does not need to be fertilized during growth, but preparing the soil with fertilizer makes sense. Remove weeds. The milky sap from the roots can stain hands and clothes, so it is best to peel or cut under water.