Anyone grown salsify?

[bario1]

My salsify seeds just arrived on my desk...

Anyone grown it? Does it need to be netted like carrots and parsnips?

[PyreneesPlot]

Sort of - scorzonera! I didn't net, but then I don't net carrots or parsnips anyway, so no help at all.

[roitelet]

Gurgled it and it is attacked by carrot fly so I would net.

[bario1]

I'm not really into wacky vegetables, but I'll do a row in my roots bed just to see it works. I've had it once or twice in restaurants and it was delicious.

[Yasminh14]

Yes, tried once - but barely any of them germinated, so I gave up

[snakeshack]

I've planted it 3 years running so far it's failed to germinate at all

[HoneyChild]

I got some seeds free as they were old stock and sowed them 2 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for anything to happen.

[Nicos]

I used to grow it in the UK.
I fleeced mine to keep the soil damp which I suppose would also keep pests away....much as I do now with carrots!

[Snadger]

I've grown it before but enjoyed the flowers more than the root. It sets seed prolifically and the following year was coming up all over the place as a weed.

[sparrow100]

I absolutely love it. I haven't netted when I've grown it, but when I tried to grow it for seeds they flowered really early and there were no pollinators about.

[rollingrock]

like carrots and parsnips ;salsify can take long as 3 weeks to germinate. you need keep soil most an preventing it from drying out. I always plant radishes in same bed as carrots,parsnips and salsify so the soil does crust over while am waiting for germination.
you need make sure the seed is not mishandle because to much heat in storage will kill the seeds.

ps you did not mention which variety of salsify you are growing

[Jay-ell]

I've grown it the last couple of years and didn't bother netting

[bario1]

Thanks for all the advice peeps, I'm going to sow some today. I'll sow under netting. I think it's called Sandwich Island or something.