Scorzonera seeds (black carrot)

Scorzonera or Black Carrot / Scorzonera hispanica

It is a frost- and drought-resistant, unpretentious plant, which, due to its very high content of insulin, is an indispensable dietary food, especially for diabetics.

In one place, scorzonera can grow for 5-7 years, but every year the root crops loosen more and more, and therefore, in order to obtain high-quality products, it must be grown in an annual crop.

On well-cultivated soils, root crops grow up to 35 cm in length and 3-4 cm in diameter. The pulp of the root is white, dense, saturated with milky juice, has a pleasant aroma of vanilla. Ripening period 100-120 days. Root weight: 60-80 grams.

Seeds can be sown in two terms - in spring and summer. Harvesting of root crops is carried out one to two weeks before the onset of stable frosts. You can dig out gradually, even in winter, at the time of the thaw. Scorzonera has popular names: black root, black carrot.

Common names black salsify or Spanish salsify, also known as black oyster plant, serpent root, viper's herb, viper's grass or simply scorzonera.