MAXIMA SCORZONERA (Scorzonera hispanica), also known as Black Salsify, black oyster plant, serpent root, viper's herb or viper's grass, is a unique vegetable virtually unknown to most American kitchen gardeners. Despite its nickname, it is actually not closely related to salsify, though it is a perennial member of the Asteraceae family which includes it, along with sunflowers, lettuces, chicory and artichokes. While salsify is also ignored at your culinary peril, scorzonera is more refined in taste, texture and actually more productive. Perhaps it is the black exterior, making it look like a mutated truffle or a rotted parsnip, or its shape -- it looks like many stick-like roots I dig up and discard in my garden -- or perhaps it is simply that we don't know about it! Grow this wonderful vegetable and your ignorance will become bliss! The root can grow up to 18" long and produces yellow flowers.  120 days. 25 seeds.

ABOUT SCORZONERA: It is nicknamed the "oyster plant" because to some it tastes similar. To me it is simply a unique, flavorfull, slightly sweet and completely delicious delight. All parts of the plant are edible. The flowers, foliage as well as the root. A nutritious vegetable that contains proteins, fats, asparagine, choline, laevulin, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, sodium and vitamins A, B1, E and C. A good choice for diabetics as it contains fructose. The plant is also an important food source for the Nutmeg moth. Scorzonera goes back centuries to at least the 16th Century, believed to have been part of the Celtic and Germanic peoples larder, but didn't become truly popular in the better kitchens until Louis XIV of France adopted it and it went into large scale commercial production by the late 17th Century. Unlike any other vegetable in its preparation, it is delicate, crisp and cooks quickly and overcooks just as quickly. Many cooks prefer to clean with skin intact and roast it or saute in a little butter. Breading before sauteeing is also desirable. Some prefer to peel - either before or after cooking. If removing before, immerse in cold water with lemon or vinegar to prevent discoloration. If you want an easy preparation, simply clean, cut into 2" lengths that you then quarter, and sautee in butter and herbs with some shitake. You will note some sap stickiness if peeling, so that is why many prefer to cook in the skin. One note about a rather delicate subject - scorzonera does have a high amount of inulin, which may induce flatulence in those sensitive to it.

MEDICINAL: Folklorists note that Scorzonera was used for snake and other poisonous creature bites. It was also thought to help ward off the bubonic plague.

GROWING TIPS: Scorzonera seed will not keep more than a year, unlike other seeds, so plant what you buy, and save seed from that planting for next year, or buy new seed every year. The plant can take up to 2 seasons to reach its maximum size. Like all root crops, soil preparation is key. Scorzonera, like carrots, prefers a light, loose, sandy soil with no stones or other obstructions, so sifting down to growing depth is essential. Perhaps the easiest path is to grow in deep containers that you fill with the preferred pre-sifted mix. When harvest time comes, tip the pot over in the garden and voila! Plant in the spring at a time approximately 120 days from your first frost date so that they can benefit from that before harvest. Soil pH should be on the neutral to slightly sweet side, 6.5-7.0. A little potash benefits and a rich organic addition, but, like other root beds, not manure unless fully composted. A sunny position is favorable. Plant the seed liberally because Scorzonera typically has a slow, finicky germination so plant fairly close together at 2" apart.

CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS & PLANTS offer hundreds of heirloom and vintage open-pollinated varieties. Most have histories dating back centuries and are tried and true producers. Some are rare, or threatened with extinction. When you grow a plant from heirloom seed and save that seed, you are participating in a practice that goes back for generations. Our grandparents and their grandparents grew these varieties. Often the seeds were prized possessions carried to the New World when they emigrated.

Ever notice how most seed catalogs require you to buy much more seed than you could possibly use in a season? If you have a budget for garden seeds, this limits your choices! Although seeds can be viable for longer than one growing season, it requires that they be stored at a consistent temperature and humidity. Few of us do this. CherryGal sizes its seed packets for the home gardener, because we know you may want to grow 5 different lettuces, or three different corns, or 50 different vegetables, herbs and flowers -- and don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it all! We strive to keep our overhead as low as possible so our seed prices can stay as low as possible. So we do not have a huge staff, no printed catalogues -- just very fine fresh heritage seeds at unbelievable prices. CHERRYGAL SEEDS ARE A TREMENDOUS BARGAIN!

Another important reason to grow a large variety of plants is that one of the chief culprits in honey bee colony collapse disorder seems to be that their immune systems are weakened by the prevalence of commercial mono-cropping. In other words, bees pollinating only one variety crop have a diet equivalent to eating only bread. Growing an abundant variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers will help sustain our precious honeybees!

All seeds offered are FRESH stock, with high germination rates, tested by the growers and myself. Varieties are specially selected for home gardeners. If you want the flavor you remember from grandma's kitchen garden or the beauty of her cottage flowers, choose CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS.

ABOUT OPEN-POLLINATED SEEDS . . . All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are heirlooms (dating at least 100 years) or vintage (mid-20th Century or older) varieties, with an occasional modern variety included which I believe merits special attention. All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are OPEN-POLLINATED. This means saved seed will be true to the parent. Don't be dazzled by the never-ending array of hybrid seeds promoted by gardening suppliers. First, seeds from that produce will not grow true to the parent -- you have to keep buying the hybrid seed (get the picture?). Second, most hybrids are developed for market – not home -- growers with an emphasis on extended shelf life, storage and shipping qualities -- NOT flavor, texture, fragrance and all those other elements that home growers seek.

All CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS come from reputable growers (with a preference given to small independent farms) and wherever possible ORGANIC suppliers (so noted). We do not knowingly offer any genetically modified seeds, and customers should understand that in order to be designed “certified organic” a seed is by law not genetically modified. By buying CHERRYGAL SEEDS you are supporting the growing worldwide movement of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and with a little practice you will be able to save even more money in the future by growing these open-pollinated varieties and saving seed for next year.

Please Note: CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are guaranteed to be fresh to the season stock, but are not guaranteed as to results. Sorry, but there are too many variables in gardening that can impact germination so please do not ask for a refund, replacement or to return unused seed. I always recommend that if you are new to gardening, or to a particular type of plant or variety, that you grow just a few at first to test your germination method. Email with any questions - I always respond promptly. Having said all that, we think you will be pleased and would like to hear about your gardening success!

SPECIAL NOTE TO MARKET GROWERS: We market to the home gardener, but we are happy to fill your order for multiples of any variety available. We do not offer bulk discounts. Also, we will not accept responsibility for crop failures, so please keep that in mind as purchase constitutes acceptance of 100% of the risk involved in growing any seed offered at CherryGal.com.

SHIPPING: This is important! Practiced gardeners know that the best time to order seeds is as early as possible in the season. I do not list varieties for sale that are not in hand, unless it is noted as "coming." I also add/subtract varieties all season long as inventory fluctuates, so check back often. We are constantly improving our fulfillment procedures to decrease the amount of time from order to shipping. We have added a SHIPPING BANNER to the front of the site and on every listing page which will give you the current time frame for shipping seeds. In off-season, seeds ship very quickly - usually the next business day. But as the prime season comes on, shipping can slow. Please consult this shipping banner before you purchase, so there will be no disappointments! We fulfill orders in the order received. Choosing priority or express shipping does not influence the speed with which your order is processed, only the speed with which it moves through the postal system. I package my seeds for shipping in a manner appropriate to the amount and type of seed - larger orders and larger seeds require more packaging. Whether you choose first class mail or priority shipping, your seeds will ship using a delivery confirmation number which will be supplied to you. Our checkout system is keyed to the US Postal System. For small seed orders, I recommend choosing FIRST CLASS mail at checkout. Larger orders (over 13 ounces) can ship either parcel post, or you may find PRIORITY MAIL to be less expensive, depending on your zipcode. (I gave up trying to figure out the US Postal System rates a long time ago).

I appreciate all my CherryGal.com customers, but have a special affinity for my seed customers. If you have a problem, please email me, using the contact links that are all over the website. Calling is likely to be a frustrating experience, as I do not have the staff to answer the phone, but your email will be promptly responded to.

Lastly, keep an eye out for my end of season sale which starts in June until all inventory is sold. It is always a bargain and helps us clear the shelves each season so that I am offering you only the freshest seeds year to year. Happy Gardening and don't forget to share your garden surplus with your local food bank.