Anyone grow Scorzonera? (and Salsify)

I've seen seeds packets in the shops for years and often wondered about it. Presumably they sell some seed, otherwise it would only be available mail-order?

Anyways, I looked it up in my Dr Hessayon bible and he says "You will find these [Salsify is listed on the same page] vegetables in all the seed catalogues, but in very few gardens. ... Salsify looks like a poorly-grown parsnip - long, rather thin, and slightly corky. The flavour however is much superior to the parsnip ... its black-skinned realative is Scorzonera which has an ugle appearance and an awkward name but a delicious flavour."

Sounds like I ought to be trying some ... anyone love / hate them?

 

Never grown salsify but I have and do eat it-outstanding. It's impossible to find it in a supermarket and can only occasionally get it from my local ( village local) market.

Doesn't taste like parsnip though, it tastes a bit like a really tasty artichoke if anything, but the scorzenara is a better eater because salsify is a bit tough.

 

HI folks. Funny thing, I too was thinking about growing this, having read the same passage. I like to try though first, but it seems VERY hard to get hold of. Artichoke (I assume you mean Jerusalem ?), another that I can't seem to find. Cheers...freddy.

 

I'll be growing some this year. One of my favourites (Scorzonera). Can be grown as a leaf crop as well. Beware, the roots go deep so need deeply dug soil or you'll never get them out.

 

"Hamburg parsley"

I've heard of that, I'll stick it on the list, ta. Sadly we don't make anything like enough soup - but I think we should be making more use of chicken carcasses etc. so I'll have a word with the Indoor Department!