Salsify 'Mammoth Sandwich Island'
identification
description
Long white roots with an oyster-like taste and an excellent winter vegetable
Salsify “Mammoth Sandwich Island” ( Tragopogon porrifolius ), offered by OSC Seeds
A heritage vegetable cultivated since the 1860s , 'Mammoth Sandwich Island' salsify produces long, smooth, thick, and slightly tapered white roots, measuring about 20 cm . Their mild flavor, delicately reminiscent of oysters , makes them a remarkable ingredient in stews , soups , and casseroles. The flowers are edible and delicious in salads, and the young shoots can be eaten like asparagus. A hardy variety, resistant to zone 5 , classified as a variable biennial but cultivated as an annual for its root.
Propagation: Direct sowing
Height/Habit: Upright foliage, edible root
Package size: Approximately 60 seeds
Harvest time: 120–150 days
Frost tolerance: Cold resistant (harvesting up to deep frost)
Companion plants: Carrots, parsnips, onions
Incompatible plants: Very heavy or compacted soils (deforms the roots)
Planting and maintenance:
Sow directly in the garden in full sun in deep, loose, well-drained soil. Sow in rows 30 cm apart, then thin to 7–10 cm to ensure well-formed roots. Keep the soil evenly moist during germination, which can be slow. Harvest the roots from October until the first hard frost —they become sweeter after the first cold spells. The roots can remain in the ground as long as the soil hasn't completely frozen over.
