Mammoth, Salsify Seeds

Mammoth Salsify Seed

Vegetable Oyster roots offer an intriguingly seafood-like flavor
Tapered pale roots reach eight to ten inches
Pre-1900 heritage adds old-garden appeal
Store roots for roasting, soups, and winter meals

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Tragopogon porrifolius

Days to maturity

120 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

200 Seeds

About Mammoth, Salsify Seed, Salsify Seed

The Mammoth Salsify is known as the "Vegetable Oyster" due to its uncanny oyster-like flavor. This pre-1900 variety is shaped like a carrot and is native of the Mediterranean. Its long tapered roots average 8-10" long and 1" in diameter. Mammoth has a creamy white skin and white flesh with upright grass-like leaves

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/2"

Days to Germination

7–14 days

In-row plant spacing

2-4"

Row Spacing

18-24"

Plant profile

Maturity

Fall, Winter

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

36 inches

Growth Habits

Rosette, Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

2,688

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Growing Season

Cool-Season Crop

Before Planting

Before planting Salsify, select a full-sun site with deep, loose, well-drained soil. Remove stones, clods, roots, and undecomposed organic matter, then work the bed to a fine texture so salsify roots can develop evenly. Avoid fresh manure and excessive nitrogen, and correct soil fertility only as indicated by a soil test.

Planting

For salsify, sow seed directly in cool weather as soon as the soil can be worked. Keep the seedbed evenly moist and prevent the surface from crusting until seedlings emerge. Because salsify roots are easily disrupted, avoid transplanting. Thin salsify to 3–6 inches apart.

Watering

Maintain consistent moisture around developing salsify roots. Water gently and deeply during dry weather, avoiding both drought stress and sudden heavy irrigation that may split or distort the crop.

Fertilizer

Feed salsify sparingly with a balanced fertilizer when soil fertility is low. Too much nitrogen produces lush tops, delayed roots, and inferior shape or flavor.

Harvesting

Salsify is ready when roots are fully colored, firm, and properly sized. Loosen the bed before pulling, especially for long roots, and harvest young for tenderness or later for storage use.

Tips

Prevent competition by keeping salsify beds weed-free from emergence onward. Avoid compacting the soil, thin before roots crowd, and sample roots regularly so they do not become oversized.

Pests & Diseases

Salsify may develop white rust, powdery mildew, leaf spots, and root rots. Rotate away from related Asteraceae crops, keep foliage dry, and avoid heavy soil. Harvest carefully; discard roots with dark sunken lesions, soft tissue, or internal discoloration rather than placing them in storage.

Salsify may suffer from wireworms, root maggots, nematodes, flea beetles, or voles. Inspect foliage and sample roots, maintain crop rotation, and use physical exclusion where practical.