Scorzonera hispanica

Garden salsify ( Scorzonera hispanica)

The garden salsify ( Scorzonera hispanica ), also called Spanish salsify or True Black root, belongs to the genus salsify ( Scorzonera ) in the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). It is also called Skorzenerwurzel and mocking winter asparagus or " poor man's asparagus ". Scorzone ( it.) means poisonous black snake, it alludes to the medieval use for healing of snake bites and heart disease at.

Description

It is a perennial herbaceous plant. The root is 30 to 40 cm long, reached a diameter of 2 to 3 cm and is slightly conically tapered. The root skin gets its color by an almost black cork cover, which also inhibits evaporation. The root takes botanically an intermediate position: It meets the criteria of a taproot, but not completely that of a turnip. The black salsify is frost hardy. The plant is biennial, but is grown as an annual. The leaves are entire, long-oval to oval pointed round.

Inflorescences are formed only in the second year. The flower stems 65 to 120 cm long. In an inflorescence are several basket- shaped part inflorescences together. The flower heads consist of many individual flowers. The petals are yellow.

The thousand-seed weight is 13-14 g The seed is white and has a rod- like shape. The seed is viable for only a year. After that, it germinates only at a fraction. It is dark and warm germinator germinator.

Origin and History

She is the best known species within the black roots. Conrad Gesner already reported that he cultivated in his gardens. How did Latin name suggests, she is originally from the Iberian Peninsula, Spain, from where it was introduced in the 17th century to Central Europe. She pushed the front of it for the same purpose cultivated oat roots by their better root quality. Today it is grown most in Belgium and France, but also in other European countries again become more socially acceptable.

Cultivation and harvesting

Black root should be as second culture of the year. As the best location areas and soils are suitable with the longest possible period of culture. Only then maximum yields can be achieved. The floor must be easy to edit his profound and easily, otherwise the roots remain short. The best are lighter sandy soils. Grades for the culture are preferred, which do not form roots legged. The most famous is ' Hoffmann black pile ' and hobby applications 'Duplex'. However, there are at least 30 varieties. Through their frost hardness she is überwinterbar on the field and can be harvested, weather permitting. Beginning of harvest is October. At harvest, the roots must not be broken, otherwise the milk juice runs out and the root loses too much moisture. One expects a yield of 15-20 t / ha. The roots can be stored in damp sand and are so durable to March.

Diseases and Pests

The counting of the downy mildew fungi White rust ( Albugo tragopogonis ) is the most common. Also important are powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum ), Alternaria leaf spot and downy mildew. Rare is also damage caused by infestation with root- ( nematodes), Erdschnaken and lettuce root aphids to find.

Ingredients

Except for the content of minerals and vitamins that easily digestible vegetable also contains inulin, a particularly suitable for diabetics sugar which contains little glucose. The inulin is simultaneously also responsible for ensuring that it can cause digestive problems when consuming salsify in sensitive people. The whitish- yellow, rubber-containing latex stains the skin brown during processing.

Use

From the roots adhering soil and sand are washed away, after using gloves ( against the strongly adhering latex ) peeled with a vegetable peeler and immediately soaked in water so they do not start brown. Will they peeled dipped in vinegar water, hands and kitchen utensils are less polluted. Easy precooked can also deduct the skin.

The black root can then be used as a soup, boiled vegetable side dish and leaves or roots as a salad. Formerly the waste field, the leaves are used as cattle feed. Today that is no more common because the areas too small or livestock is too large, so not worth the effort.

For stretching of coffee beans salsify were also used (similar to the related chicory ).