How to grow salsify
Tragopogon porrifolius · Asteraceae · Vegetable
When to plant salsify: the short answer
Sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 75°F, fastest near 60°F.
Zone 5: sow Apr 11 – Apr 30. Zone 7: sow Mar 17 – Apr 5. Zone 9: sow Feb 1 – Feb 20. See every zone.
Salsify is a cool-season vegetable in the Asteraceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 110–150 days. It is one of the toughest crops here, standing through hard frost and often improving for it.
Grower’s note: A long, thin, cream-coloured root with a faint oyster flavour, grown like a parsnip. Needs deep, loose, stone-free soil and a long season. Flavour improves after hard frost and roots can be dug through winter. Use fresh seed each year.
Sowing
Sow about 0.5″ deep, into soil between 45–75°F — germination is quickest near 60°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (10–21 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 4″ along the row with roughly 18″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 9 per square foot. Allow at least 24″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 18″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, salsify does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long salsify takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 110-150 days (16-21 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 10-21 days in soil around 60°F.
When to plant salsify
When to plant salsify by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | Apr 26 – May 15 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | Apr 21 – May 10 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | Apr 11 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Mar 27 – Apr 15 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Mar 17 – Apr 5 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Feb 1 – Feb 20 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Jan 11 – Jan 30 |
Companions
Carrot, Onion
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: carrot rust fly.
Diseases & disorders: white rust, leaf spot.
Same family (Asteraceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant salsify?
Sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 75°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does salsify take to grow?
About 110-150 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 10-21 days, fastest in soil around 60°F.
How much sun does salsify need?
It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH does salsify need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant salsify?
Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart, or 9 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep.
Can I grow salsify in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 18 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.