Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify Seeds
Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify Seeds- Tragopogon porrifolius - Oyster Root
Oyster Root
- Hardy to Zone 4
Full Sun
- Germination Tested November 22, 2024: 100%
- Approximately 30 seeds per packet
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Mammoth Sandwich Island Salsify is a perennial vegetable with edible roots, leaves, and flowers. It is also known as "oyster root", although I don’t find the roots have much of an oyster flavour. They taste more nutty to me, and have a great texture- it’s creamy like a waxy potato crossed with a parsnip. Great in soups and stews, or roasted, boiled, or steamed and served with a pat of butter. The roots can also be eaten raw when young.
The creamy white roots can be dug up anytime from fall to spring, like parsnips. They store very well in the ground over winter.
If the roots weren’t enough, the leaves and flowers are edible too! The flat leaves are mild and delicious. And if you allow the plant to overwinter, the flower buds taste like small artichokes when boiled or steamed. The flowers are purple and are edible as well. This plant is a one-stop-shop!
This is a very old heritage variety dating back to the 1800s. Native to the Mediterranean. It has been rarely grown in North America recently, but is having a resurgence, for good reason!
The plant’s sap is a milky white colour, but it can be rinsed off after harvest. Roots can turn brown quickly when peeled or cut (like apples), but lemon juice or lemon water can prevent that and keep them white.
If allowed to flower in its second year, Salsify will self-seed around your garden, guaranteeing a supply for years to come! To avoid self-seeding, harvest all plants in their first fall/winter, or eat the flower buds as they appear.
Growing Instructions
Growing Instructions
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We ship seeds via Canada Post within Canada for $6 to $8 depending on weight, United States for $12, and Internationally for $20*. Live plants and large bulbs can only be shipped within Canada.
Any shipping overages will be refunded.
Shipping in Canada
We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order. Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.
Shipping to the US
We ship all US orders via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive.
In our experience shipping seeds over several years, most small orders will make it across the border without issues, but occasionally they will be held at US Customs.
It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that seeds or bulbils are allowed to be sent to your region. We are not able to replace packages that are confiscated or destroyed by customs in your country.
Shipping Internationally
International orders are usually shipped via untracked packet. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held of confiscated by customs.
International shipping countries include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page
Please reach out if your country is not on this list, email us and we will try to arrange an alternate shipping option.
If you have any issues with your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will do our best to make it right.
*Shipping fees listed here are in Canadian dollars.
Ecologically Grown
Ecologically Grown
Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
