🎨 AI-generated botanical illustration
🥕 Salsify (Oyster Plant)
Tragopogon porrifolius
vegetables
biennial
☀️ Sun
full sun
💧 Water
moderate
🗺️ Zones
[3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
🧪 Soil pH
6.0-7.5
🪴 Soil Type
deep, loose, well-drained
📏 Spacing
4-6 inches
📐 Height
2-3 ft
⏱️ Maturity
120-150 days
🤝 Companions (3)
🤝 Carrot
Both root crops; salsify's deeper root doesn't compete
🤝 Leek
Different root depths; complementary flavors in soups and stews
🤝 Parsnip
Both winter root vegetables; similar harvest and storage
⚠️ Keep Apart (1)
⚠️ none — but needs deep, loose soil; fork-till deeply before planting
📝 Growing Notes
The vegetable that tastes like seafood. Simmer the peeled roots and they develop a delicate oyster-like flavor — hence the name. Beautiful purple daisy-like flowers that close at noon. The seed heads are giant dandelion puffs. A forgotten Victorian vegetable making a comeback in farm-to-table restaurants.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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