How to grow Purple Salsify

Tragopogon porrifolius

Full Sun
Medium

Salsify does not transplant well and germinates in cool soils so it is usually just sown directly into the garden.

Seeds should be about half an inch (1 cm) deep, about 2 weeks before last frost. Thin out weaker plants when plants are 2" (5 cm) high to 6" (15 cm) apart.

Salsify is slow to grow, and needs to be kept well weeded, as it is easily overwhelmed. At first the plants need lots of sun, but will do better with light shade in hot weather.

Water regularly and do not let soil dry out.

Growing Purple salsify from seed

Treat as for carrots or parsnips.
Sow direct, starting in pots or modules may cause the root to not develop correctly
Germinates quickly, and the little plants are relatively hardy

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.95 inches (5.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.39 inches (1.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 10°C / 50°F to ensure good germination.

Transplanting Purple salsify

Direct sow in sunny location with deep, well drained soil, enriched with organic matter and vegetable fertilizer. Keep moist, weed free, and fertilize very lightly with slow release fertilizer. Germinates in cool soils.

Ensure that temperatures are mild (minimum night temperatures should be around 0°C / 32°F) and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Purple salsify is a half hardy plant.

Harvesting Purple salsify

Harvest from October until spring. Can store in garden if soil is well drained until ready for use. Dig with spade or fork to keep the root whole

Seed Saving Purple salsify

Salsify flowers in its second season, so to save seeds, leave a plant to grow on over winter.

How long does Purple salsify take to grow?

These estimates for how long Purple salsify takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Purple salsify to germinate?: 17 days
Average 17 days | Min 11 days | Max 43 days (4)
Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Purple salsify?: + 0 days
Average 0 days | Min 42 days | Max 42 days (1)
Days to Maturity How long until Purple salsify is ready for harvest / bloom?: + 120 days
Average 120 days | Min days | Max days (0)
Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Purple salsify?: = 137 days

Purple salsify Folklore & Trivia

Contains Calcium, Iron, and vitamins A, B1, B2, Niacin and C.

Other names for Purple salsify

Salsify, Salisfy, Oyster Vegetable

Tragopogon porrifolius L.