scorzonera flowering

[Helen Johnson]

Hello!
I'm growing scorzonera for the first time and its flowering. Should I dig up the plants that have flowered or leave them? Whens the best time to harvest them?
Thanks!!

[terrier]

Treat them like potatoes. Take the flowers off and dig them up as you need them, that gives the roots time to swell. Dont forget the foliage tastes just as good as the roots so cook the whole thing. They wont keep long once they're dug up and don't leave them too long in the ground or they will go woody. Definately one of my fav veg.
Welcome to the vine Helen

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Can I hijack this thread? I have just bought a packet of Scorzonera Russian Giant. Any tips/ideas? Does it taste like potato?

[terrier]

It tastes a bit nutty, not really like potato at all. If you're going to grow it you need light, deeply dug soil, it grows a bit like giant carrots. If the ground is too heavy, you'll just get long thin roots that you can't dig out.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Thanks Terrier for the info.

[quark1]

Helen - I'd be tempted to leave at least one, if you have space, and try and gather the seeds - now that they've got to the flower stage. I wouldn't have thought it would be too long before seeds would set?

Perhaps try the veg first and see if they're to your taste eating-wise - otherwise the seed could be used within the seed swap - someone I'm sure will love them! And who knows what you might get in return......

[Helen Johnson]

Thanks for that. Ive never eaten them before,someone gave me a packet of seeds for crimbo. I must get digging!!

[Helen Johnson]

Hello! ive never eaten it before, not yet anyway!!

[Helen Johnson]

Thanks, will give it a go. Hopefully i'll like the taste. Does the seed swap operate through these posts? i'm new to this!!