dpmichael, others - I need your help with Salsify

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Terry Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) Aug 29, 2001

This is a truly homeless plant :) It is technically a perennial or biennial, depending on the species. But some sources refer to it as an herb, and others classify it as a vegetable. I just added Trapogon porriflorus, T. pratensis and Scorzonera hispanica in the database under vegetables, but I'm not sure that's where they should be.

Any ideas or opinions, especially from those who have grown or eaten Salsify?

(It's on my list of things to try growing next year, since my DH loves oysters, and I can't stand 'em....I figure a vegetable imposter has to be better than the real thing, LOL!)

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herbin Park Hill, OK(Zone 5b) Aug 29, 2001

Things cross over so much! I would feel, if you must classify and I suppose you must, it would be a vegetable.

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dpmichael Rethymno, Crete, Greece(Zone 10b) Aug 30, 2001

I feel very flattered in the idea that I will give you help on such theoretic matters, but...
I only saw - and admired - the flower of this "weed" in the last two years. I connected it to the "parachutes" we used to blow in the direction of the wind as kids, watching each seed create its own choreography in the field, and as we saw them we wished each and every one to root well...
Nobody I know of eats salsify here in Crete - I am curious to find out how they cure it in Italy, France, England. I don't think it tastes like oysters; not the wild oysters of the Aegean I used to dig out of the rocks in 6 - 8 meters depth in my youth - I don't see them any more. I bet it tastes like the root of dandelion - perhaps more spicy.

I am happy to pick more seeds next Spring - right now I only have enough for 3 - 4 people from DG who already asked for them. I am slow to reply, bot not forgetful, just busy.

SO, how can I say it... I am not the person to differentiate between porrifolius and pratensis, but I would like very much to know, for the sake of knowledge itself.

Best wishes, Dimitri.

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Terry Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) Aug 30, 2001

Thanks, Dmitri; it's good to hear from you! I was thinking you were raising them (vs. picking from the wild.) Let's be sure to compare notes next year on the taste and visual differences exist between the species, as well as between Trapogon and Scorzonera.

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