When should I harvest the roots?

Harvest the roots in late autumn of the first year or early spring of the second year.

Why do my flowers close so early?

This is a natural behavior, as the blooms are light-sensitive and close once the sun reaches a certain angle.

Guide botanique

Salsify.

Tragopogon porrifolius

Prononciation tra-go-PO-gon por-ri-FO-lee-us

Aussi appelée Jerusalem star, Oyster Plant, Oysterplant, Purple goatsbeard

Salsify is a cool season biennial often grown for its edible, parsnip like taproot. It produces lovely purple flowers in its second year before going to seed. You will enjoy its unique flavor that many people compare to oysters.

Une autre photo de Salsify — Photo de Annette Herz (CC BY) via iNaturalist

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien: Facile
Type de plante: Biennial vegetable
Lumière: Full sun
Lumière en intérieur: Soleil direct
Arrosage: Tous les 3 à 7 jours
Taille adulte: 3 to 4 feet tall
Croissance: Moyenne
Rusticité: USDA 4 à 9
Floraison: Late spring to early summer

Entretien

Grow this plant in deep, loose soil to ensure the roots develop straight and long. Watch for aphids on the flower buds and keep the soil consistently moist to prevent the roots from becoming woody. Harvest the roots in late autumn after the first frost for the best flavor.

Arrosage: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged to encourage steady root growth.
Engrais: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once during the growing season to support root development.
Taille: Remove spent flower stalks if you want to focus energy on root growth rather than seed production.
Rempotage: This plant is typically grown directly in the garden and does not require repotting.
Sol: Deep, loose, well drained soil
pH du sol: 6.0 to 7.5
Température: -20 à 35°C
Humidité: 40 à 70%
Résistance à la sécheresse: Moyenne
Durée de vie: Biennial, typically 2 years
Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins: Moyenne

Signes qu'il faut rempoter

Roots circling the bottom of the container.
Stunted growth despite regular feeding.
Soil drying out much faster than usual.

Sécurité

Humains: The plant is generally considered non-toxic and is commonly consumed as a root vegetable.
Enfants: The milky sap can be messy and potentially irritating if rubbed into eyes or onto sensitive skin.
Allergènes de contact: The milky latex sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Allergènes aéroportés: Pollen may cause mild reactions in those with severe grass or composite allergies.
Comestibilité: Ensure you correctly identify the plant as wild-harvested roots can be confused with toxic lookalikes.

Comment l'identifier

Long, narrow, grass like leaves
Large, purple, dandelion shaped flowers
Fleshy, tapering, cream colored taproot
Milky sap present in stems

Hauteur: 0,6 à 1,2m
Envergure: 0,2 à 0,4m
Feuilles: blue-green, gray-green, deciduous
Fleurs: purple, violet, 4 à 8cm
Fruits: brown, Summer

Problèmes courants

Rust — Fungal infection causing orange pustules on the undersides of leaves.
Aphids — Small insects that cluster on tender new growth and flower buds.

La cultiver

Multiplication: seed
Quand planter: spring, autumn
Hivernage: Leave the foliage to die back naturally in late autumn. If you live in a very cold climate, a light mulch can protect the crown.
En pot: It is not ideal for containers due to its long taproot, but it can grow in a very deep pot.

Direct Sowing

Prepare loose, stone-free soil to a depth of 30 cm.
Sow seeds 1 cm deep in rows during early spring.
Thin seedlings to 15 cm apart once they emerge.

Plant in well-drained, loose soil to ensure the taproots grow straight and long.

Bonnes associations

Carrot — They share similar soil requirements and root development patterns.
Lettuce — It grows well alongside leafy greens without competing for space.

Espèces similaires

Tragopogon dubius — It is a related species with yellow flowers instead of purple.
Pissenlit — It shares a similar seed dispersal mechanism and rosette growth habit.

Science

Famille: Asteraceae
Genre: Tragopogon
Ordre: Asterales
Classe: Magnoliopsida
Région d'origine: Mediterranean region
Préservation: It is not of conservation concern and is often considered a naturalized weed in many regions.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open meadows where it can compete for light.

Intérêt pour la faune: nectar source
Pollinisateurs: abeilles, papillons
Utilisations: culinary root vegetable, ornamental garden plant, edible young shoots

Au fil des saisons

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Floraison

Fructification

Feuillage

Repères écologiques

Salinité: 2/9
Réaction du sol: 6/9
Lumière: 7/9
Température: 6/9
Humidité: 5/9
Nutriments: 5/9

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

When should I harvest the roots?: Harvest the roots in late autumn of the first year or early spring of the second year.
Why do my flowers close so early?: This is a natural behavior, as the blooms are light-sensitive and close once the sun reaches a certain angle.

D'où vient le nom

Tragopogon comes from the Greek words for goat and beard, referring to the hairy pappus of the seeds. Porrifolius means leek-leaved, describing the appearance of the foliage.

Bon à savoir

The roots are known as salsify or oyster plant because of their mild flavor.
The seed heads are large, spherical, and resemble dandelion clocks.
It was historically cultivated in Mediterranean gardens for centuries.
The name oyster plant comes from the flavor of the cooked root.
It is a biennial that forms a rosette in its first year.

Ta plante a mauvaise mine ?

Cette page est un guide général. Pocket Botanist diagnostique les problèmes directement à partir d'une photo de ta plante, adapte l'arrosage à sa luminosité et te prévient quand il faut t'en occuper.

Télécharger l'appli

Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.