Scorzonera
Also known as: Black salsify · Spanish salsify · Scorzonera hispanica
1 types of scorzonera
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Sow fresh seed into deep, stone-free, sandy loam. Roots snap easily — loosen 12 in of soil and lift carefully with a fork. Yellow daisy flowers in year two are edible.
Grower's tip
Black-skinned white-fleshed roots with a refined, mildly sweet, almost coconutty flavor. Peel under running water — the skin exudes a milky sap.
Soil preferences
Deep, loose, stone-free sandy loam — rocks and clumps fork roots.
6.0–7.0
Avoid fresh manure or heavy nitrogen (causes hairy or forked roots). A light compost and rock phosphate work well.
Watering
Steady moisture — 1 in per week. Uneven watering causes cracking.
Deep soaking; avoid shallow daily watering that keeps roots near the surface.
Overwatered: cracked or rotted roots, foliage disease. Underwatered: woody, hot-flavored, or bitter roots.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water deeply at the soil surface so moisture reaches the whole root zone — carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips, and radishes want steady deep soil moisture. Bottom-watering is not practical in the ground.
Temperature tolerance
60–75°F (15–24°C)
45–65°F (7–18°C)
Carrots, parsnips, beets sweeten after frost. Storage roots can often overwinter in the ground under heavy mulch.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
12+ in deep for full-size carrots and parsnips; 8 in deep is fine for radish and short carrots
Pick short or round cultivars (Parisian carrots, Chioggia beets) for shallow containers.
Succession planting
Radish every 2 weeks. Carrots and beets every 3–4 weeks spring through late summer.
Detailed harvesting
Loosen soil with a fork before pulling to prevent snapped tops. Twist off greens 1 in above the crown for storage; leave 1 in of stem on beets to prevent bleeding.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Trim tops; store unwashed in damp sand or perforated bags in the fridge or root cellar at 32–40°F. Most root crops keep 3–6 months.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Fresh, roasted, fermented (kraut, kimchi), pickled. Tops of beets, radishes, and turnips are edible greens.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Biennial and insect-pollinated. Root crops cross widely (carrots cross with Queen Anne's Lace).
1/2 mile in the open or use cage with introduced pollinators.
Overwinter the best roots; replant in spring; collect the dry umbels/seed stalks in year 2.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for scorzonera in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
From your kitchen — grow scorzonera from what you already have
Root crops are usually biennials — the root is year 1, the seed is year 2. Store your best roots over winter, replant in spring.
- 1At harvest, save 5–10 of the best roots and store them cool, damp, and above freezing.
- 2In early spring, replant them tops-up at soil level.
- 3They'll bolt, flower, and set seed heads later that summer.
- 4Cut dry heads into a bag, rub free, sieve, and store cool and dry.
Storage: 3–5 years dry for most root seed.
My Scorzonera notes
Scorzonera seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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