Tragopogon pratensis
Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon
Tragopogon - salsify - is a hardy biennial root vegetable in the dandelion family, usually grown as an annual. It is also known as the oyster plant, because when cooked it has an oyster taste.The root somewhat resembles a long thin parsnip, with thick skin and creamy-white flesh that can be used in the same way as any root vegetable. Tragopogon pratensis is not usually grown for it's edible root. It is a wild-flower - but the root is edible. It has a yellow dandelion-like flower which closes at the first sign of bad weather, and usually anyway by noon - hence the common name of Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon
Contributed by @tiggrx
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Full sun
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Occasional watering
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Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)
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Rich and free draining
Common name
Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon
Latin name
Tragopogon pratensis
type
Root Vegetable
family
Asteraceae
ph
6.0 - 6.8 Acid - Neutral
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Light
Full sun
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Frost
Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)
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Soil
Rich and free draining
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Water
Occasional watering
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
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When to harvest
full grown dimensions
0.25 M
0.60 M
Tragopogon pratensis
Tragopogon - salsify - is a hardy biennial root vegetable in the dandelion family, usually grown as an annual. It is also known as the oyster plant, because when cooked it has an oyster taste.The root somewhat resembles a long thin parsnip, with thick skin and creamy-white flesh that can be used in the same way as any root vegetable. Tragopogon pratensis is not usually grown for it's edible root. It is a wild-flower - but the root is edible. It has a yellow dandelion-like flower which closes at the first sign of bad weather, and usually anyway by noon - hence the common name of Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon
Flowering
From Early Summer TO Mid Summer
The very attractive pink-purple spiky flowers appear in Summer
Planting
From Early Spring TO Mid Spring
As with most root vegetables, salsify does not transplant well, and should be sown in situ,
Propagating by seed in Spring
From Early Spring TO Mid Spring
Salsify requires 120 to 150 days to reach harvest. Once the soil temperature has reached around 40 deg.F, sow salsify in a sunny site in soil that has had organic matter dug into it to a depth of 8" - 12" full sun. Remove all stones as these can cause the roots to fork and split. A ph of 6.0 - 6.8 is preferred. Sow ½ inch deep and ½ inch apart, and thin to 3" - 4" apart. Space rows 18" - 24" apart.
Propagating by seed in Autumn
From Early Autumn TO Mid Autumn
Salsify can be sown in Autumn for a Winter crop. Sow in a sunny site in soil that has had organic matter dug into it to a depth of 8" - 12" full sun. Remove all stones as these can cause the roots to fork and split. A ph of 6.0 - 6.8 is preferred. Sow ½ inch deep and ½ inch apart, and thin to 3" - 4" apart. Space rows 18" - 24" apart.
tiggrx
chey.davis91